THE WOOING OF MRS PEEL : PETER CUSHING AND DIANA RIGG 'RETURN OF THE CYBERNAUTS'

Steed and Mrs. Peel go up against the charming but ruthless Paul Beresford, who holds the crime fighting pair responsible for the death of his brother…Oh, if you have not seen this episode, please do so before reading this little write-up.

Peter Cushing is renowned for many things on screen, but he is seldom thought of as a leading man, romantic type. He didn’t have the “manly” qualities that one typically associates with such actors. He was slight of build, a bit on the fussy side. As such, he seldom had an opportunity to really display much of a romantic quality on screen. Just think of the roles for which he was best known: Sherlock Holmes, Baron Victor Frankenstein and Dr. Van Helsing were all so single minded and obsessive, they never had much time for sex.

As such, Cushing’s performance as Paul Beresford in this season six episode of the hugely popular British TV show The Avengers is of great interest. True, Beresford is a sociopath and a villain, but he has some scenes with the delectable Mrs. Peel (played, as usual, by the stunning Diana Rigg) which hint at the Don Juan side of his personality. Cushing and Rigg absolutely sparkle in their scenes together; he is witty and charming and she responds with warmth and interest. The Avengers brought on a number of familiar faces as guest stars (Christopher Lee, Dennis Price, John Carson, Clifford Evans, Donald Sutherland, Michael Gough [whose character Cushing is looking to avenge in this episode, if you will pardon the expression], etc) but nobody quite displayed the on-screen chemistry with Diana Rigg that Peter Cushing did in this episode.

It’s a pity the character had to be disposed of at the end; it’s the type of character that could have been built up as a recurring villainous mastermind. But, no matter: at least we have this one, wonderful opportunity to see Cushing hawking his wares as a seductive cad, much to the delight of Mrs. Peel… and the audience.

Written By Troy Howarth 
Images and Design: Marcus Brooks

Enjoyed this piece? Look up Troy Howarth 'The Haunted World of Mario Bava' and the soon to come, 'The Tome of Horror' on amazon and at www.midmar.com

DOCTOR WHO: THE UNMASKING : DID YOU SPOT IT? *SPOLIER ALERT*

THIS SCENE MADE PETER CUSHING BUFFS JUMP UP AND SHOUT: 'IT'S CUSHING'S FRANKENSTEIN UMASKING SCENE FROM 'FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED'.....

A fantastic episode..an amazing kick off performance from Peter Capaldi as The Doctor...and I for one, can wait for more....

OUR VERY BEST WISHES TO PETER CAPALDI AND JENNA COLEMAN AND ALL AT BBC WALES

The wait is ALMOST over! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE : THE DRACULA AD DAILY MIRROR PHOTO SESSION

ALSO NOT LINDA HAYDEN: #throwbackthursday You may have caught the little bit of detective work on finding the name behind the ..er..face of the actress who featured prominently in the 'Daily Mirror Dracula AD 1972' shots we posted on Tuesday..and her recentely being mistaken for Linda Hayden. I knew that wasn't the end of it, because there was another face that some, also thought was Linda Hayden too. So she too had to be identified.... And ironically, she also appeared briefly in #draculaad1972.

I must admit she wasn't that hard to find, but the work came in closely (!) examining those shots. So, I can reveal the 'other' in the Daily Mirror shots was.... the model popularly known then, and today as Flanagan. Maureen Flanagan was born in 1941, in Islington, London. She started work in a hairdressers at 15, and was spotted by a photographer when 18 at a 'hairdressers convention' where she'd been asked to model. The photographer showed the pics to an agent, who suggested she model on the catwalk. Maureen became a very much in demand model for all the top fashion houses & stores in the UK. In her 20's, she was known as the most photographed model in Britain and her legs were insured for £25,000.

Her connection also with the tabloid newspapers, kept her in the public eye...she was a known face., that was why Hammer films featured her in the film...and later in the publicity Daily Mirror pics. So the pics: 1) In this, Dracula AD 1972 lobby card image, Flanagan lets rip with her funky seventies strut on top of the party piano next to, Johnny Alucard himself, Christopher Neame. 2) Our originally posted contact pics from the Daily Mirror Newspaper session with Christopher Lee and Glenda Allen. 3) A close up of Flanagan..taken from the Daily Mirror shots.

Flanagan went to become good friends with footballer, George Best, Malcolm Allison, 'Carry On' actress, Barbara Windsor and went onto work with Tony Curtis, Roger Moore, Charlton Heston and featured in shows such as, The Benny Hill, Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Dave Allen Show, The Likely Lads and Only Fools & Horses...

She is currently an acknowledged expert on the lives of the Kray Twins and their family, having been a close friend to the Twins and their brother, George..and mother Violet's, hairdresser...!

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 The Final Piece of the Puzzle:
Dracula AD 1972 Daily Mirror Photo Session 

THE MOST PROFESSIONAL ACTOR I EVER WORKED WITH : CHRISTOPHER LEE ON PETER CUSHING

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#THROWBACKTHURSDAY : CUSHING LEE BEACHAM MUNRO SEPTEMBER WE ARE GOING BACK!

How we will be spending our SEPTEMBER #THROWBACKTHURDAY'S here at PCASUK. Hoping you'll be joining us too

(Large scan: An image you won't find anywhere else! Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing rehearse the coach wheel staking with director, Alan Gibson ...... #draculaad1972 #hammerfilms

Find and Join Here!

DAILY MIRROR DRACULA AD PHOTO SHOOT : WHO IS THAT GIRL?

For those who have been following the 'Linda-Hayden-Mistakenly-Autographs-A-Photograph-That-isn't-Her-At- A-Signing-Session!' saga... and that then unfolding into 'So-If-Isn't-Linda Hayden-Who-Is-it?' question...I think we may have the answer..

She is an actress-model who appeared uncredited in #hammerfilms Dracula AD 1972, has been for many years mistakenly credited in magazines and certain blogs as 'Flanagan'. She is in fact, actress-model GLENDA ALLEN. And it is her who appears in the recently emerged photograph that is causing the faff... 

Born in Norfolk in 1951, Glenda launched herself into a career of dancing, modelling and acting soon after leaving school. Regular appearances in the red top newspapers...modeling, soon brought her to the attention of tv and film casting agencies...her face and other 'bits and bobs' soon became very well known. So well known enough for Hammer to cast her in the party scene in Dracula AD 1972...and in an after production promotion/publicity shoot. This publicity shoot, was commissioned for inclusion in a 'Daily Mirror' newspaper Halloween feature..the shoot would also included the star of Dracula AD 1972....Christopher Lee....Peter Cushing was probably 'unavailable'. Lee wasn't happy....but that's another story. The pics taken on the day, had to meet the remit of said newspaper, that is, the models had to be semi naked.. Allen no stranger to the art of revealing ones 'bowlers'... so was an obvious choice, she of course appears as 'dancing girl standing on the piano' in the film!

So, the pics: 1) Her hippy party girl shot with Christopher Lee for the Daily Mirror newspaper shoot. 2) Glenda as dancing girl on right in Dracula AD 1972. 3) One of the Daily Mirror photographs, mistakenly signed by Linda Hayden. 4) Glenda featured in one of photo shoot contact prints... part of the Christopher Lee Daily Mirror session. 5) A well known publicity shot of Glenda on set on Dracula AD 1972. This shot is usually credited to 'Flanagan'. 6) Glenda as she appeared in 13 episodes of 'Space 1999', sometimes also playing the role of an unnamed nurse.

In the contact prints I have previously posted, you can see she is prominently placed in the foreground of nearly all the shots, because of her Dracula AD connection...along with someone else. Because, as Yoda once famously said..'There IS another' Who that is, I'll reveal shortly..... 

Dracula AD Promo Shoot:

Who's That Girl?

TWINS OF EVIL ACTRESS MADELEINE COLLINSON DIES 1952 - 2014

I am very sad to hear that actress Madeleine Collinson, passed away last night. Many of you will know Madeleine and her twins sister, Mary from the Peter Cushing Hammer film, 'Twins of Evil' in 1971.

Madeleine Collinson was born on July 22, 1952 in Malta. She's the identical twin sister of Madeleine Collinson. The Collinson twins arrived in Britain in April, 1969. Noted British glamor photographer Harrison Marks cast the duo as saucy maids in his 8mm short "Halfway Inn." Mary and Madeleine were the Playmates of the Month in the October, 1970 issue of "Playboy;" they have the distinction of being the first pair of identical twins to pose for a nude pictorial in "Playboy." The Collinson sisters went on to act in a handful of movies together; they were especially effective and memorable as the  radically contrasting siblings in the typically fine Hammer vampire horror outing "Twins of Evil". with Peter Cushing.

wikipedia

STAR WARS DON HENDSERSON : REMEMBERS PETER CUSHING

DON HENDERSON Remembers:

"At Peter Cushing's 80th Birthday Party, I remember turning to my wife, actress Shirley Stelfox, and saying, " He will go forever, won't he!?" and then, at once, with great sadness, I realised the impossibility of what i had just said, and that - Peter could not have many years left on this earth. But, he was so lively, so full of life - so enjoying his party, and the friendship of all his close mates around him, that he did seem to be an old 'Peter Pan' figure, who could never die.

Peter always had that quality, plus the REAL nature of a truly old fashioned Gentleman. I never, ever, heard anyone say one bad word about him, and that I don't think I can say that about any other actor I know of. And I never heard Peter say one bad word about anyone else.

He had a very jokey sense of humour, full of fun and laughs - which would have suited him exceptionally well in playing comedy roles, as opposed to the more serious roles he became serious for.

In the film, 'The Ghoul' I played the title role, Peter's son. It was during the making of this film that I realised the importance that Peter's late wife, Helen played in a totally non macabre way, in Peter's daily life. Peter was as much in love with Helen, AFTER she died as he was during her lifetime.

I think he was quite a deeply religious man, he often said during shooting...in a jolly undramatic, totally realistic way... that death had no fear for him, and that when his time came, he would embrace the moment with great joy, as it would mean he could be with Helen again.

Peter and I worked together also in the feature film, 'Star Wars'. For some reason, he was without his character's jackboots, and had to wear red carpet slippers. So, he ended up, stomping around in his full costume, but with slippers!

Peter inspired love in everyone he met. I loved him dearly. At that 80th Birthday party, I realised, that the fact that he could not possibly have many more years left, was NOT a matter for sorrow. But that, one should share his joy... because for him, he would have his wish... he would be together again, with his dear, Helen.."

#PeterCushing20yearsontoday

SHOCK WAVES: FINE DETAIL ON BLU RAY AND EXTRA FEATURES REVEALED

It's COMING... freshly transferred and fully restored in High Definition by Blue Underground from the only known surviving materials!

Beneath The Living… Beyond The Dead… From The Depths of Hell's Ocean!

In the dark days of World War II, the Nazi High Command ordered its scientists to create a top secret race of indestructible zombie storm troopers – un-living, unfeeling, unstoppable monstrosities that killed with their bare hands. They were known as The Death Corps. No member of this horrific SS unit was ever captured by the Allied Forces – and, somewhere off the coast of Florida, they have survived…

Peter Cushing (STAR WARS), Brooke Adams (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS) and John Carradine (THE BOOGEY MAN) star in this suspenseful and genuinely creepy shocker co-written and directed by Ken Wiederhorn (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART II). One of the great horror "sleepers" of the 1970s, SHOCK WAVES has been freshly transferred and fully restored in High Definition by Blue Underground from the only known surviving materials!

Look for it in stores on November 25th.

Special Features
Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Ken Wiederhorn, Make-Up Designer Alan Ormsby and Filmmaker Fred Olen Ray
Nazi Zombies On A Budget – Interview with Producer/Cinematographer Reuben Trane
Notes For The Undead – Interview with Composer Richard Einhorn
Sole Survivor – Interview with Star Brooke Adams
From FLIPPER To SHOCK WAVES – Interview with Star Luke Halpin
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spot
Radio Spots
Poster & Still Gallery

'LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF' RON MOODY AND PETER CUSHING

Ron Moody Remembers Peter Cushing:
 

"Some scripts are so terribly over the top, there's a terrible temptation to send them up" I said to Peter Cushing. We were sitting in the late summer sunshine outside a very realistic French bistro on the lot of Pinewood studios, between takes on Tyburn films, 'Legend of the Werewolf'. I was playing the zooo keeper, and regarded the whole thing as a bit of a half term holiday, so i was decked out in a stove pipe bowler hat, a black embrosse wig, a ten o'clock shadow and set of buck teeth that made me look like a Neanderthal throwback! Actually, I rather thought I looked like Humphrey Boart. Anyway, if the hero could be a werewolf, why shouldn't the zoo keeper be an ape? Here, I must add, Freddie Francis, the director, thought it was a very funny idea.

Peter didn't. He surveyed me quizzically for a moment, his eyes twinkled. "If you were sending it up" he said, "We wouldn't have you on the film." And he MEANT it. For this sweet-natured, gentle man, dangerously on the verge of sainthood, there could be no mockery of his beloved craft. He played every one of his 'horror roles' with no less dedication then he had applied to his earlier classical career and the stream of powerful dramas that had established him as television's leading actor. His total belief and immersion in everything he did lifted these fantasy / horror tales from the banal to the believable, he commanded respect for the genre, lifted it up, almost single highhandedly, to the level of credibility that made everyone of them a minor classic!

Working with a great actor, something always brushes off! My zoo keeper, hair, hat, teeth and all, was never sent up! In fact, I like to think that my animal man was totally believable, completely identified within film, and had, dare I presume to say it, a touch of Cushing

CHRISTOPHER LEE REMEMBERS PETER CUSHING: 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ACTORS DEATH

 

 

 Christopher Lee Remembers Peter Cushing

TWENTY YEARS ON TODAY: ROY HUDD REMEMBERS PETER CUSHING:

ROY HUDD REMEMBERS PETER CUSHING:

"I made my first appearance in a feature film mid September 1967. It wasn't quite 'Gone with The Wind', but a small budget horror film called 'The Blood Beast Terror'. I had a smashing little part as the mortuary attendant. I could hardly believe my luck when I looked at the script and saw i had two scenes with Peter Cushing!

I religiously leaned every word of my dialogue, backwards and sideways. Anyway, I arrived a good hour before I was called, around five am, at a tiny studio off the Goldhawk road. Eventually, I was called for make up and there, in the next chair , was the great man himself. "Good morning" he said 'I'm Peter Cushing" - as if I didn't know. "Have you seen the script for today?" he asked, Had I seen it? - Seen it?? I'd LIVED it for the past seven days. "oh yes" I stuttered. "Not very good is it?" said Peter. "Well..." I blustered. "No we can do better than that", he said. "Can we?", I said. "How can we make it funnier?" asked the great man. "Well...." I advised.. And that was the start. Together we rejigged the whole two scenes. Peter was very patient, encouraging, and VERY inventive. It was his idea to have me eating pickled onions from the jar between the legs of the cadaver!

If you have never faced a studio full of camera people, lighting guys, production staff, actors and extras then you don't know what FEAR is! I was, petrified! So anxious not to make a fool of myself. The director shouted, "Lets rehearse" but Peter said, "No, Roy's never done a film before, so I just want him to feel at home" He held up shooting for a good half hour while he showed me the set, where the lights would be, and where the camera would move, the lot!'

He did make me feel at home and that, all too short morning spent in his company has stayed with me for forty odd years. A GREAT star, taking time and trouble to make a raw beginner feel able to give his best.

Thank you Peter. You were a gentle, dear and wonderful man...

Photograph: Peter Cushing and Roy Hudd on right, on set during the making of 'The Blood Beast Terror' (1967)

MARKING THE DAY TWENTY YEARS ON AFTER HIS DEATH: REMEMBERING PETER CUSHING

Veronica Carlson Remembers Peter Cushing:

'My high regard for Peter, allows me to say how happy the days were, that I was privileged to work along-side him. I can only reiterate my deep respect for this wonderful man, who was a perfect gentleman in every sense of the word. I was doubly fortunate to be able to work with him twice - once. before Helen his beloved wife, died, and after her passing. I saw the happy Peter, and the bereft Peter - I laughed with him, and I wept for him. I remember those days with joy, - and with sadness. I regret not a moment of them. I recall them often, especially certain beautiful moments, and I smile. He gave me so much to remember and to be glad I knew him . . .'