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

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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

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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?