ACTOR JOHN CARSON 1927 - 2016

Very sad to hear of the passing of actor John Carson today . . .for Hammer fans he will be remembered for his performances in The Plague of the Zombies, Taste the Blood of Dracula and Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter. His last professional role was for Donald Fearney, in his Amicus films documentary, 'The Amicus Vault of Horrors' last year . . .

CARSON AS SQUIRE HAMILTON IN HAMMER'S 'PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES'

John Carson with Peter in the BBC broadcast of 'CAVES OF STEEL' in 1964. All that remains of the production are just a few minutes, saved because they were included in another BBC programme a few years after the play's initial broadcast...after which the play was wiped. . .

John Carson and  Horst Janson in Hammer films, 'Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter' 1974.

#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING : DRACULA AD 1972 : PROLOGUE

GET THE CUSHION IT'S CUSHING: 'Dracula AD 1972... by PeterCushingAppreciationSociety

#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING: AT ONE TIME it was THE Peter Cushing film that we received most negative comments about, if we discount the 1968 'The Blood Beast Terror' . .  (though I am convinced with Blood Beast, the negative grew purely from a comment Cushing once made in an interview, not about the actual content of the film, but the non too subtle sound of the title.) 

FOR A WHILE, the comments for and against the film, arrived about 50-50. Now, it appears DRACULA AD 1972 has come full circle. Since the early 90's, an appreciation of retro 1970's produced films have enjoyed a revival, with many features now striving to replicate that 70's look, the sound, the fashion. Hammer films through-out their time, always seems to just miss-time fads and crazes. Although their timing was spot on with a resurrection of Dracula in 58, and twisting the focus of Frankenstein on the 'Doctor', rather than the creation, in CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, Hammer went into co production on Kung Fu vampire flick, after the chop socky had cooled off.





REGRETTABLY, for some audiences, they dragged Dracula to the land of hot pants and psychedelia, when the trendies had long consigned their loons and tank tops, to jumble sales, and 'love ins' and 'pot fueled flower power drop ins and outs', had puffed their last and had really gone to pot. BUT, that didn't stop Hammer. A band of 'teenagers' out for kicks, and looking for all the world like a Brit styled 'bunch of meddling kids' from Scooby-Doos, would form the film's doe-eyed victims and as usual, it would be Peter Cushing's #VANHELSING who would save the day. But, what scriptwriter Don Houghton did to shake up the formula, and the placing of Van Helsing, how and when . . . . would male all the difference.

IMAGINE IT, sitting in your local cinema, in September 1972, watching DRACULA AD 1972 to for first time. The opening pre credit scene is the stuff of Hammer fans dreams. Van Helsing and Dracula face to face, fighting to the death, on top of a horse drawn carriage!! The narration explains the year is 1872, we are in our element! Then, the carriage wheel, Dracula dies, but Van Helsing perishes too! Where now? And then, the gravestone and the jet plane . It must have been a shock to an audience who were getting settled in to a film, they must have thought, was a return to Cushing, Lee and Dracula 1958 land?
The prologue to AD 1972, is a terrible tease, for what could have been, the Dracula film that never was. Maybe that is why, fans cherishes those four minutes . . . it was just 86 minutes short of what could have been a classic.   

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#BONFIRENIGHT GUSTAV READY TO BURN!

 

BONFIRE NIGHT! TONIGHT in the UK, being November 5th we celebrate ‪#‎guyfawkes‬ . A quaint olde custom, which marks the thwarted 'Gun Powder Plot, of one Fawkes and his merry band of conspirators and their failed plan to blow up the ‪#‎houseofparliament‬ in London, along with the government of the time. Fawkes was captured and with his friends, there was a 'right old carve up'!! Tonight across the land, as we light roaring bonfires, let off fireworks and raise a glass of warm mulled wine, to Fawkes... please take care. Remember the 'Firework Code', put your pets safe inside your home and have a great time...as I am sure there is someone else who would have loved to have been with you tonight!

#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING TOMORROW!

#GIMMETHEGIFWEDNESDAY: MAKING AN ENTRANCE FIGHTING THE COUNT IN THE MADHOUSE!

#GIMMETHEGIFWEDNESDAY: Peter Cushing as Sebastian Grisbane makes his dramatic entrance from the shadows while Julie Peasgood as Mary Norton looks on, from House Of The Long Shadows (1983).

 

#GIMMETHEGIFWEDNESDAY: A touching moment between Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) and his granddaughter Jessica (Stephanie Beacham) from Hammer's Dracula AD 1972.

FINALLY once again, INGRID PITT'S Vampire Turn in Amicus films 'THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' gets a call up. Leon Taylor, Texas gets his wish and request, granted! 

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#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY: BAG YOURSELF A HAMMER FRANKENSTEIN BLU RAY

#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY! OUR SECOND COMPETITION THIS WEEK! We have FOUR COPIES of #THEEVILOFFRANKENSTEIN on bluray to giveaway! To be in with a chance of winning, watch the very short video clip and send your answers by email to petercushingappreciationsociety@gmail.com. GOOD LUCK!

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CRAFTY CODE HINTS THAT TARKIN WILL RETURN ROGUE ONE

A secret message hidden in Rogue One promotional media may contain proof that the menacing Grand Moff Tarkin could make his return to the Star Wars film universe, after all.  Recently, the final wave of Rogue One’s in-movie theater promotion included cardboard stand-ups of the film’s characters. Surrounding Jyn Erso, K-2SO, and other Rebel heroes are various letters in “Aurebesh” the official language of Star Wars, which a few select people here on Earth can read. One such person is Star Wars superfan YakFace who posted the translations of the messages on Twitter. And the results were surprisingly pro-Empire.

THE #ROGUEONE DISPLAY MATERIAL

Here are all the decoded/translated phrases:

• “BEAT BACK THE REBELS”

• “JOIN THE EMPIRE”

• “SUBMIT TO OUR WILL”

• “ALL POWER TO THE EMPIRE”

• “CRUSH THE REBELLION IN ONE SWIFT STROKE”

• “THIS STATION IS THE ULTIMATE POWER IN THE UNIVERSE”

• “THERE WILL BE NO ONE TO STOP US THIS TIME.” 

7 phrases translated #rogueone pic.twitter.com/QJytQOjlmY

— Yakface (@yak_face) October 26, 2016

Now, even though these Aurebesh phrases are positioned next to the faces of good guys, all the sentiments here are all coming across like Imperial propaganda. And at least one of these statements — “crush the Rebellion in one swift stroke” — is a direct quote from Grand Moff Tarkin, the commander of the Death Star in A New Hope. Leia mentions she should have “expected to find him holding Vader’s leash” in A New Hope. And maybe we should be expecting the same with Rogue One. If Vader’s in it, then his BFF Tarkin should be, too!

The phrase “this station is now the ultimate power in the universe” comes from a minor character named Admiral Motti in A New Hope, moments before he is Force-choked by Darth Vader. But, Admiral Motti was hanging out in a conference room with Tarkin, a place where Tarkin mentioned that “fear of this battle station” would keep “the local systems in line.”

Could all this pro-Empire stuff — and at least one direct shout-out to Tarkin — be an advance message that the Grand Moff is coming back? Of all the rumored character cameos in Rogue One, this one easily makes the most sense. Tarkin was in charge of the Death Star in A New Hope. When Revenge of the Sith depicted the Death Star’s initial construction, a younger Tarkin was seen lurking on the sidelines next to Vader and the Emperor. He shows up a lot in Rebels these days, which is also completely in-canon. Since this movie is supposed to lead right-up into the opening moments of A New Hope, Tarkin in Rogue One suddenly seems not only likely, but essential.

 

The only question now, is if Tarkin is in Rogue One, who would play him? Peter Cushing is obviously no longer with us, but there have been so called hints of'the most expensive CGI being used to being Peter Cushing BACK! Wayne Pygram played the younger version of Cushing’s iconic role in the Revenge of the Sith cameo. Would something similar happen here?  

It seems possible. Though the character of Mon Mothma was played by Caroline Blakiston in Return of the Jedi in 1983, her young self was played by Genevieve O’Reilly in deleted scenes for Revenge of the Sith. Now, O’Reilly is back as Mon Mothma for Rogue One. Could the same thing happen with Wayne Pygram playing Tarkin?

Rogue One’s December 18 release date can’t come fast enough.

THE ABOVE FEATURE WRITTEN BY RYAN BRITT CAN BE FOUND AT : INVERSE.COM 

 

THE PROFESSOR COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

CONGRATULATIONS to our THREE lucky WINNERS who have each won a copy of the outstanding new comic, THE PROFESSOR, which proving to be quite a hit in Italy at the moment. EVERYONE is trying to get a copy. Well done to ALAN, WENDY and MARCIA. PLEASE get on touch so we can quickly sort out the delivery of your prizes! Many thanks to ANDREA CORBETTA the man behind the comic, for sponsoring our competition. Find out MORE about the history of Peter Cushing in COMICS in our extensive feature at the website. link below!

OUR INTRO FEATURE ABOUT THE PROFESSOR 

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THE HISTORY OF PETER CUSHING IN COMICS WAS A

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY FEATURE : AND YOU CAN SEE IT

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A GENTLEMAN TO A TEA!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: MANY THANKS TO ROBIN MCDONALD who has provided two great items for our #TOOCOOLTUESDAY posts.... This artwork was produced as a in joke among the crew of Amicus films 'From Beyond The Grave' with Peter Cushing..the artwork was pinned to the clapper-board during some of the shooting! Robin McDonald, was a clapper operator on many of Peter's films.

AGAIN, MANY THANKS to Robin McDonald who sent us his much treasured cards from Peter Cushing, to share with you. Peter DID so very much love his cuppa tea!!!

IN ROBIN'S WORDS, 'When I worked with Peter towards the end of his life, he hardly ate anything existing mainly on cheese and biscuits, he told me that he talked to his dead wife every day, and told her that he would be with her soon. . . . .It made me very sad and brought tears to my eyes. He was such a lovely man and I miss him. Whilst working on a film with Peter, I think Tales from the Grave, I passed his dressing room and he called out to ask me if the tea trolley had been round, and I told him that he had missed it. I went and made him a cup of tea and took it to his dressing room and he was so grateful, he asked me to sit down with him, whilst he drank it. He opened his heart to me and told me how much he missed Helen.The next day, I received a hand written note from him which I treasure to this day...'

Peter Cushing as the Shop Proprietor in 

'FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE'

ALWAYS SOMETHING CUSHING AND COOL ON A #TOOCOOLTUESDAY

JOIN US TOMORROW FOR #GIMMETHEGIFWEDNESDAY! 

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: 'CULT OF THE RESTLESS DEAD' AND HAMMER NUDE VAMPIRES!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: I would have liked to have shown you what must be, one of the rarest posters featuring Hammer's DRACULA as played by Christopher Lee. However, our website provider is very strict on what is considered, naughty, far too naughty and what is down right, 'ooh er missus!. So, here is as much as we can reveal. Those of you who are familiar with the bit of detective work I did about three years ago on, the Daily Mirror Christopher Lee Photo-Session and the 'Linda Hayden' pic, will know the session that this colour pic came from! This photograph also turned up in a 'top shelf' magazine in a feature called, 'Cult of the Restless Dead'. You can read about the photo-session and see pics from the contact prints,by clicking HERE

MORE ON THE PHOTO-SESSION CLICK HERE

MORE HERE 

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OUR HALLOWEEN 60TH YEAR COMPETITION!

HALLOWEEN IS ALSO A TIME FOR GIVING! Help us celebrate the Peter Cushing Appreciation Society SIXTY years since it's founding! We have a prize for EVERY year! Just watch the 45 second video clip below, follow the instructions, it's simple . . . but maybe a TEST of your Amicus skills?? GOOD LUCK!

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