CHRISTOPHER LEE ON FRANKENSTEIN AND PETER CUSHING

CHRISTOPHER LEE ON PETER CUSHING . . .

TODAY'S POST and all our posts here are also posted and shared at the official

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I MONSTER : RARE PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY : PART ONE

EVEN AS THE CAMERA first began turning on 10th of October 1970,  it was felt that the Amicus film 1971 film,  'I MONSTER' was not going to have an easy time either during production or after it. What should have been a subtle dream-like and different gear, for the well worn telling of the JEKYLL and HYDE story, it was instead rapidly turning into a nightmare, just days into production. Amicus films producer, Milton Subotsky was, compared to his business partner, Max Rosenberg, quite a shy and reserved fellow. He left the contracting and book work to Max in the USA, while Milton managed the more creative side of production, at the studios in the UK. Milton though calm and reserved, could be quite passionate and stubborn, when he thought he had discovered something that would improve and enhance any of their film projects. He was known for dabble editing and probing into areas, where crews and managers, reacted in REAL horror. 

IN THE CASE OF 'I MONSTER', Milton thought he had discovered, a cheap and effective way of making the classic Jekyll and Hyde tale, a 3D masterpiece and CHEAPLY! His vision was discovered one day, when playing with his young son at home, looking through plastic candy sweet wrappers, colours blue and red. What Milton had come across was the school boy chemistry set, hit and miss theory of 'The Pulfrich Effect', so named after Carl Pulfrich its founder. It was a system that depending on your vision, could not be relied upon, and certainly not thought good enough, to stand as a 3D effect, to enhance an entire movie. The crew was instructed to suddenly rehash the many weeks spent blocking and plotting camera direction set ups. All of that went out of the window. On top of that, director Stephen Weeks felt rumblings of resistance and the beginnings of a sour working relationship with the crew, who resented an unknown 'young guy' being chief. The industry at this time,  was strongly union, tight and fighting cuts and lack of work. The  shrinking of what was once a major industry in the country, was dying a slow death and Weeks felt that his 'boyish looks and early twenty's age', was going against him. Even though he was more than experienced and competent, the crew made problems. All these factors, made for shaky foundations on what was, a tight budget, short schedule, that now appeared to have changed direction, with a ham fisted idea of 3D, that hardly anyone could see! You can read MORE about this in a NEW feature arriving here at the PCASUK website this week.   

I MONSTER, has been ignored and kept out of any chance of revival, that many other fantasy films made in the 60's and 70's, have enjoyed of late. No remastering, no DVD or blu ray repackage and that is shame. The film does have some issues, but it has three things in it's favor. The direction is very good, the performances of both CUSHING and LEE are as we would expect, excellent. Lee pulls off something quite different, compared to the many of his known characters roles, over those years, DRACULA, FU MANCHU and a VAST array of villains. Lee's Mr Blake is like a brain fractured child, with a sledge-hammer approach to anything he doesn't understand. 

IT REALLY IS SOMETHING quite different for Lee, and is wonderfully enhanced by make up artist Harry Frampton's touch, as Dr Marlowe's face and body, slides into a horrifying vision of  hate and evil! CUSHING did best with what he was presented, playing the 'good-guy' who will save the day. What is different in his role of Frederick Utterson, is how he applies his rules of inquisitiveness and doubt. Unlike with Vampier Hunter, Van Helsing there is no chasing and dramatic crosses and stakes. Here he is trying to rescue his friend and colleague, Marlowe from an unwelcome visitor called Mr Blake. Not knowing, they are one...and the same.  

THE PACE OF EDITING ACCOMPANIED by a beautiful musical score from composer CARL DAVIS, from the beginning flags up, this wasn't going to be anything like the tried and tested, familiar sights and sounds,  of market leader, Hammer films, who were Amicus films only genre competitor in the UK at this time. What we are given is a almost dream-like flip of a well known story. All sets look authentic for the time, as do the costumes. The language and reserved quality of communication among professional men, plays out well. All guys are emotionally tongue tied, stiff as their starchy collars and wrought in the game of upper class frigidness and good manners. 

IT'S BLEAK, and all wrapped up in soup like fog, which Blake LOVES and uses as cover, as he stalks, like some man-child-rabid rat. When the end comes, it's sad to see him go. Like a naughty child, who has no concept or understanding of what he has done wrong, the climax of his violent collapse plays like, the waking up from a personal bad dream. He fades away. But like those nightmares, the visions and echo's of what one has been experienced and seen, stay with you long after the lights have come up, and a new day begins . . .  'I MONSTER' deserves a better and a patience audience, who appreciates, not all tales are told with screaming sound and busty vampire bites!

PART TWO of our I MONSTER GALLEY will be posted here MONDAY 6th AUGUST. Some of the rare pics from this and part one gallery are also posted at our FACEBOOK PETER CUSHING APPRECIATION SOCIETY UK FAN PAGE where followers of the page and lovers of Peter Cushing work, can discuss and debate the film, 'I MONSTER' and Cushing's role in this and other films for Amicus. Wherever you are in the world, you are invited to join us at our PCASUK FACEBOOK FAN PAGE along with over 33 thousand other friends and fans. Just CLICK HERE  and CLICK LIKE THERE! We would love top have you along!  

ON THE FACE OF IT MUCH WORST IS YET TO COME!

THE HAVING FUN promotional photograph of both actres sDONNA REED and CHRISTOPHER LEE at the Savoy Hotel, during a cock-tail party for the release of 'BEYOND MOMBASA' a film that Reed and Lee starred in, gives a little insight to how soon Christopher Lee's career and public persona would soon change forever and no one would dream of pulling his beard ever again!

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RARE COLOUR PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ZOO GANG PLUS THE SMOKING JACKET CONNECTION!

PETER CUSHING AND JAQUELINE PEARCE in THE ZOO GANG! Peter Cushing appeared in an episode of the UK ITC series called 'THE ZOO GANG' back in 1974. In 'THE COUNTERFEIT TRAP', CUSHING plays Judge Gautie and appears with the very neat cast of actors who play the 'GANG', which included John Mills, Brian Keith, Lili Palmer and Barry Morse... the majority CUSHING had much experience of working with in previous productions, like Amicus films to Sherlock Holmes and theatre too! The Zoo Gang was released in a blu ray box set earlier this year. I would love to hear from anyone who also purchased it and hear what they think of the great extras and episodes. . .

THE SMOKING JACKET that Peter Cushing wore in this episode of THE ZOO GANG, was also worn by Peter in Amicus films, 'THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' (1970). The jacket also went up for sale at auction back in April 2016. The auction house, Bonham's had a problem, in that they knew Peter had worn it, but were not sure in which tv show or movie. When they purchased the jacket, they were told that Peter wore it in a Sherlock Holmes episode for the BBC back in 1969! They dropped us a line and asked if we knew. I immediately recognised it from The House That Dripped Blood... and The Zoo Gang! They generously gave us a credit in the auction catalogue, and the jacket went for a great price! You can read the whole story HERE!  

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LUST GOES BUST AND INTO DUST : CHRISTOPHER LEE AND STRIBLING IN RARE PRESS PROMO PHOTOGRAPH

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY! THE BRIDE THAT GOT AWAY! Christopher Lee and Melissa Stribling at the premier of Hammer films, 'DRACULA' / 'Horror of Dracula'... Stribling played Mina Holmwood, who falls heart and head over heels for Lee's blood sucking Count.... he almost gets her too! Peter Cushing's heroic vampire slayer, Van Helsing, dramatically pulls the rug AND castle curtains on them! Poor Lee's Dracula goes from LUST to...DUST!

THIS SHOT and pose is probably one of the most iconic images from Hamer's early films... it certainly is very impressive in the additional ADDED and restored shots included in the Hammer DRACULA blu ray from Lionsgate. Love the film, love the blu ray

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HOW LONG HAD RAAN BEEN RUNNING? TAKE THE CHALLENGE BUT DO YOU HAVE THE ANSWER?

ABOVE THIS WEEKS TUESDAY TOUGHY! Not too difficult for anyone who loves that show and remembers the episode or who has read our features, at the website! This post is ALSO being shared on our FACEBOOK PETER CUSHING APPRECIATION SOCIETY FAN PAGE so feel free to chat and contribute to others comments and answers to this weeks and LAST WEEK'S Toughy Question . .

BELOW LAST WEEKS TOUGHY QUESTION AND THE ANSWER!

BELOW THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEKS TUESDAY TOUGHY!

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NEWS UPDATE: WHITSTABLE BENCH TO BE RESTORED AND THE BRASS PLAQUE TOO!

A VERY GOOD UPDATE, to the story about the Peter and Helen Cushing Bench at Cushing's View in Whitstable. Also news on the brass plaque and the reason why it went missing. I am SO happy to know, it's disappearance was NOT down to an act of vandalism and theft. These details were printed on the Canterbury Council News site today . . . This is good news, thank you Canterbury City Council!

WORK TO RESTORE Peter Cushing’s memorial bench in Whitstable is about to get underway. The city council has commissioned artist Will Glanfield to carry out the project. He originally made the seat, which is located at Cushing’s View on the seafront behind Keam’s Yard car park, in 1990 and will be restoring it using original Jarrah timber. A few weeks ago, a member of the public contacted the council to say the bench’s plaque had gone missing. The council had begun making arrangements for a replacement when Peter Cushing’s former personal assistant, Joyce Broughton, got in touch to say the original plaque had been handed into Whitstable Museum. The council believes the screws had rusted and the plaque had become loose, prompting a member of the public to remove it and hand it in. And when an officer met Joyce at the bench to collect it, the need for the restoration work to the bench itself became clear.

Peter Cushing on the day of the grand opening of Cushing's View on the sea front at Whitstable, Kent.

THE BENCH WILL BE REMOVED in the next week or so and repairs are expected to take around a month. The bench’s dedication plaque will also be reattached. Chairman of the council’s Community Committee, Cllr Neil Baker, said: “We know how important Peter Cushing’s bench is to the people of Whitstable. The last time it was removed for repairs, there were concerns it had been taken away forever, so we want to be clear this is only temporary and that it will be back in a little while, looking better than ever. “It’s particularly good that we’re using the original artist, Will Glanfield, for this project. He will treat the bench with the tender loving care it deserves and we know he’s going to do a great job.”

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RARELY SEEN CUSHING PROMO PHOTO : VINCENT PRICE AND THE LADIES : MONSTER VARIATIONS ON DVD AND CINEMA ART :

THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH you don't often see and one I have not shared here before. A splendid portrait of Peter . . can you name the movie and the character?

VARIATIONS ON THE SAME TITLE: ABOVE and below, two versions of promotion material of cinema posters and DVD boxes. It seems the Baron's 'From Hell Wig' might not have been a promoter's WIG of choice when it came to DVD box design either, maybe?   

PANNED TO DEATH when it was released back in 1972, Hammer films, DRACULA AD 1972 now enjoys a certain 'Risen From The Dead' cult status, and the artwork and promotional material from this period, leaves much of what we see today, as promo art in the dust!

YOU NO DOUBT know the film, but can you give us the connection to one of those actresses in this pic and Christopher Lee?. Peter Cushing and Vincent Price only appeared TOGETHER in TWO films including the one where this photo was taken . . but they did have the opportunity to also work together on radio. Can you name the films in which they shared scenes and the titles of drama's in which they appeared together on radio? ANSWER AND MUCH MORE in the comments at our FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE!

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