HAPPY BIRTHDAY BERNARD CRIBBINS!

IT'S A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to BERNARD CRIBBINS TODAY! Born in 1928, Cribbins started his acting career at the tender age of 14! An actor since the age of 14 and was a major star on the London stage by his mid-20s. It would be another ten years before he became a national star with  success in film comedies, with likes of Peter Sellers and a string of hit records, the most popular probably being, 'A Hole In The Ground' and 'Right Said Fred'. He appeared in several of the "Carry On" series, and also achieved a great degree of success doing voice-overs for cartoons and TV commercials. One of his biggest successes being the 1970's children's animated puppet series, 'The Wombles'.

CRIBBINS was interviewed for the role of DOCTOR WHO in 1974, as the BBC prepared for Jon Pertwee, leaving the role. 'I didn't actually audition. But when Jon Pertwee was leaving, the producer Barry Letts - who died quite recently - interviewed a lot of actors, one of whom was me. I went along and sat down and he said 'now then what can you do?' I said 'I'm a very good swimmer, I was a paratrooper, I could fight' - and he said 'Oh no, no fighting no, the Doctor is never seen fighting at all!' So Tom Baker became the next Doctor, and one of the first things I remember him doing was knocking somebody out.'

BERNARD CRIBBINS also appeared in many tv drama programes as a guest star throughout the 1960's and 70's including the popular 'The Avengers' in TWO episodes. 'The Girl From Auntie' and the weird, 'Look, Stop Me If You've Heard This One, But There Are These Two Fella's'! Of all his movie roles, Cribbins has a fondness for 'The Railway Children' directed by Lionel Jeffries in 1970, where he played Albert Perks. Cribbins has a longstanding association with the science-fiction series Doctor Who (1963). Not only did he play a companion in the second Peter Cushing film, 'Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.' (1966), which was 40 years before his regular role as a companion, Wilfred Mott, in the Russell T. Davies version of Doctor Who (2005).

CRIBBINS also appeared with Peter Cushing in the Hammer films, 'SHE' in (1965). Peter also appeared as a guest on his  BBC light Entertainment show, 'CRIBBINS' in the 60's!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BERNARD! 

REMEMBER! IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA

THE LITTLE BIRD OF CINEMA PT 1 : YVONNE MONLAUR RARE STILLS GALLERY

CUSHING FEMME FATALE FOUR: YVONNE THERESE MARIE CAMILLE BEDAT DE MONLAUR was born in France, the daughter of a French poet and a Russian ballerina and pianist. As a youngster she was trained for ballet and in her late teens worked as a model for Elle fashion magazine. By the mid-1950's, she also began appearing in French and Italian films. Her good looks and some positive reviews paved the way to bigger roles towards the end of the decade. With this came increased publicity. In June 1959, she was featured on the cover of the weekly Milanese news publication Tempo. Another Italian paper heralded her as the year's 'most promising actress'.

IN 1959 YVONNE MONLAUR suddenly became THE FACE and was a hot property across Europe. The flash point, of all the excitement was an Italian magazine, that voted her, the year's sexiest screen newcomer. Her face was featured on the cover of a June issue of Tempo magazine that called her 'the year's most promising actress'. 

ABOVE : YVONNE MONLAUR DANCES AT THE PARTY IN 'AVVENTURA A CAPRI'

DURING THE SHOOTING of the comedy 'Avventura a Capri/Adventure on Capri' (Giuseppe Lipartiti, 1959) she had a serious accident. She suffered bad facial burns in a speedboat accident, which resulted in months of recovery in hospital. But, just as things seemed to be at their worst, Hammer films producer contacted Yvonne having seen her in 'Avventura a Capri'. Hinds invited her invited her to England where she was cast in a little-seen television drama, 'Women in Love' (1958). A writer for the Daily Mail described this -- her first credited part in an English language production -- "as bubbly as a glass of champagne".

IN 1959 YVONNE MONLAUR traveled, accompanied by her mother, to England for a series of films. First she co-starred in the comedy 'Inn for Trouble' (C.M. Pennington-Richards, 1960). Yvonne's introduction to the horror genre came via 'CIRCUS OF HORRORS' (1960), made by Anglo-Amalgamated. She still had some difficulties with English, but recalled receiving some benevolent mentoring from her co-star Anton Diffring.

AT HER BLOG I recalled in 2008, ' I always loved the circus world. I did not hesitate for one second before accepting this opportunity to share the life of travelling artists by playing the part of Nicole, adoptive daughter to the fiendish Dr Rossiter, played by Anton Diffring.The film crew was staying within the circus grounds. As for me, I slept in a caravan, close to an Italian trapeze girl artist and Russian clowns.'

'The make-up cabin had been set up near the menagerie, which led to funny situations. For my circus acts, I wore a splendid set of feathers, that the monkeys always tried to catch when I had to pass along their cages on my way out. When I was not shooting, I was rehearsing my horse riding act, like any other artist of the Billy Smart Circus. Generally speaking, I have very good memories of my fellow actors. I particularly remember Diffring and Conrad Phillips'. 

'Sometimes, professional acting relationships mimic those of the characters they play. Such was the case with Diffring, as charming and protective to me as Dr Rossiter was in the movie. It also happened with Erika Remberg, but this time I regretted it, because she was playing the circus artist who could not stand feminine rivalry… in the ring or real life !' 

SOON PART TWO OF YVONNE MONLAUR : LITTLE BIRD OF CINEMA

WITH THE EXPOSURE from appearing in 'Women in Love' and 'Circus of Horrors', the direction of Yvonne's career would soon be taking a sharp turn, into the land of 'dark forests and whispers'. NEXT she would be sharing company with one of the most charming of fellows, the most evil of sons and a whole nest of trouble and horrors. The year 1961, would see her walk down the aisle, but first she would become, a BRIDE of DRACULA . . .

YVONNE MONLAUR: THE LITTLE BIRD OF CINEMA:

PART TWO COMING SOON!

PLEASE VISIT Yvonne Monlaur's wonderful OFFICIAL BLOG. Since her sad passing earlier this year, her son and her editor have decided that it should remain in the public area, for her fans and friends to visit, in her memory. You can find it by clicking :HERE 

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS co-ordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA 

REMEMBERING CARRIE FISHER ONE YEAR ON . . .

IT STILL SEEMS quite surreal writing this, one year on. A year today we lost CARRIE FISHER. The shock rippled around the world, and I am sure today, many will again feel that disbelief. Many here of course will know her connection to Peter Cushing, through the movie, STAR WARS. As Tarkin, they together played a key scene, with Peter cranking up his performance, as the cruel and most Machiavellian of characters in the Star Wars universe. Carrie later shared how difficult it had been for her to find the motivation, to hate Peter's Tarkin. She too,like many before her, had been charmed and moved, by his kindness and manner on set, it was quite a task to actually say those lines.

WHILE CREATING the banner for today's post, I dug though many hundreds of images of Carrie in file. They were ALL magical. They ALL projected her sense of fun, wickedness and love of life. Many were taken long before she started that painful and disabling struggle, that tripped and distracted her later in life. There were so many photographs, picking one, was just too difficult, picking TWO, was really no easier. Just like the fact she is no longer here, it's just not good enough . . . She really stands as one of the brightest STARS, not just in that Star Wars Galaxy, but in the lives of so many that she continues to touch. And today, we remember CARRIE FISHER, as one very special star, who still shines . . . .

REMEMBER! IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA

COMPETITION! WIN HAMMER VOLUME ONE BLU RAY BOX SET FROM INDICATOR!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! As promised here is the FIRST of our FESTIVE CUSHING FEARSOME COMPETITIONS! Please read ALL the details on the competition banner here. Any answers posted on the thread below, will be deleted and void, sorry. This PCAS COMPETITION is OPEN TO EVERYONE TO ENTER! MANY many thanks to everyone at INDICATOR DISTRIBUTION for the generous and exclusive sponsor of our Christmas PCAS Competitions this year. TAKE TIME to read ALL the details. GOOD LUCK and thank you to taking part. You can also easily purchase this fabulous REMASTERED blu ray box set by following this link HERE! and placing your order. It's a LIMITED RELEASE!

The SPECS for the title contents and the superb extras are below. This is a REGION FREE release, so will play on all blu rays.

MANIAC (Michael Carreras, 1963)

THE GORGON (Terence Fisher, 1964)

THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB (Michael Carreras, 1964)

FANATIC (Silvio Narizzano, 1965)

FOUR CLASSICS from Hammer, each presented on Blu-ray for the very first time in the UK. Whether it's a madman brandishing a welding torch, a mythical monster whose looks can kill, an ancient royal with diabolical powers, or a mad woman wielding a pair of scissors, this set has something to unease everybody. Containing a wealth of new and exclusive extra features – including title-specific documentaries, cast and crew interviews, expert appreciations, introductions and more – this stunning Blu-ray-only Limited Edition box set is published in a horribly limited, numbered edition of 6,000 units.

INDICATOR LIMITED BLU-RAY EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES:
• HD restorations of all four films
• Original Mono audio
• New title-specific documentaries exploring aspects of each film: 

White-Hot Terror: Inside ‘Maniac’ / Heart of Stone: Inside ‘The Gorgon’ / Blood and Bandages: Inside ‘The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb’ / House of Horror: Inside ‘Fanatic’
 
• Hammer’s Women: Nadia Gray (2017): horror film expert Lindsay Anne Hallam looks at the fascinating life and work of the Romanian stage and screen actor
 
• Focus Puller Trevor Wrenn and Clapper Loader Ray Andrew on ‘Maniac’ (2017): original crew members share their memories of working on the film
 
• The Gorgon audio commentary with Daughters of Darkness’ Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger (2017)
 
• The Gorgon introduction by actor and filmmaker Matthew Holness (2017)
• Hammer’s Women: Barbara Shelley (2017): academic and author Patricia MacCormack examines the life and career of ‘the first leading lady of British horror’
 
• 'The Gorgon' Comic-Strip Adaptation: Goodall, Goring & Coyas’ 1977 comic strip, originally published in House of Hammer magazine
 
• Hammer’s Women: Jeanne Roland (2017): Diabolique magazine’s editor-in-chief Kat Ellinger offers an appreciation of the Burmese-born actor’s short career
 
• Interview with Michael McStay (2017): the British film and TV actor looks back at his time working for Hammer
 
• The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb Super 8 Version: original cut-down home cinema presentation
 
• Hammer’s Women: Tallulah Bankhead (2017): Kat Ellinger explores the life and work of the inimitable star of stage and screen
 
• David Huckvale on Wilfred Josephs (2017): an appreciation of the composer’s work by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde
 
• Fanatical Detail (2017): continuity supervisor Renée Glynne and second assistant director Stuart Black recall the making of Fanatic
 
• Matthew Lombardo on Tallulah Bankhead and ‘Fanatic’ (2017): the acclaimed playwright discusses his play Looped and his fascination with Tallulah Bankhead
 
• Die! Die! My Darling!: alternative presentation of Fanatic with the US title sequence
 
• Original trailers
 
• Extensive image galleries with promotional and on-set photography, original lobby cards and poster art
 
• Four box set exclusive booklets with new essays by Kim Newman, Marcus Hearn, Kat Ellinger and Jo Botting, archival interviews, contemporary reviews, and full film credits
 
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
 
• World premiere Blu-rays of Maniac and Fanatic
 
• UK premieres on Blu-ray of The Gorgon and The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb
• Limited edition box set of 6,000 copies
BBFC cert: 15
REGION FREE

INDICATOR HAMMER VOLUME ONE: FEAR WARNING BLU RAY BOX SET: NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER HERE!     

JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT CUSHING CHRISTMAS 2017 COMPETITION HERE ON NEW YEARS EVE!

 

REMEMBER! IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA