Wednesday, 10 January 2018

STABBINGS CORPSES AND BAD BEDS : THIS WEEKS GIF GIF GIF WEDNESDAY!


#CUSHINGGIFWEDNESDAY: MICHAEL RIPPER as we all know, was one of the Hammer repertory players of Hammer films. He played lots of small supporting roles, but occasionally he got a larger slice and a larger role in a film. Amicus films, 'TORTURE GARDEN' features Ripper in a supporting role, that is quite a surprising 🙂 Do you have a favorite MICHAEL RIPPER role??


#THEGORGON is a Peter Cushing Hammer film, that has suffered from a quite horrible symptom since the first day of its release back in August 1964. I am not referring to the death gaze of Prudence Hyman's Magaera's baleful spell. The 'SNAKES". And as Hammer film fans, we all know it. The film IS a 'Hammer film Classic' made during that ten year golden era, of those Bray studio Magical Gothic Nightmares, that made Hammer more than just a step above, most that had gone before. THE GORGON has the perfect ROMANCE TRIANGLE, it has TRAGEDY,  CONFLICT, superb direction, art direction and cast, but ever Hammer Horror HAS to have a figure that truly frightens. That with the help of Cushing, Lee, Shelley and Co however fantastical, is believable. Pru looked and performed amazingly. Those serpents however and that 'head' on the deck, did not then and doesn't now. The story of the struggle that the props and effects department had with the 'twitching head set', is well documented, so we'll pass here. 


 OUR FEATURE AND GALLERY on Hammer films
 'THE GORGON' (1964) CLICK HERE!

IN OVER FORTY YEARS, cries have remained largely the same, 'Shot with too much light!' 'You see her, too early' 'Why didn't they surround her in mist, dry ice, fog . . .anything!?' It's true. In 90% of Magaera's shots, she IS seen. Clearly. I still do love the film, I love the sets, the costumes, it looks beautiful. There were enough of the sets and props left around from the 1958 'Horror of DRACULA' 'Curse of FRANKENSTEIN' and 'Revenge of FRANKENSTEIN' that the film can clearly been seen to be more than a cousin, of those other Hammer classics.  Such a pity. Maybe the tweaks and 're-imagining' of the SPIDER and the horse-bound ANGEL OF DEATH, should be tried on MAGAERA too? Not that Studio Canal or anyone else will ever be in a hurry to try that out again. Like some great Greek Shakespearean tragedy, 'Some quarters, they doth protested too much, methinks' . . . .


JOSHUA KENNEDY HAS PLANS to produce an amazing NEW FILM called, 'THE HOUSE OF THE GORGON' which will star Hammer film actors, Veronica Carlson, Caroline Munro, Martine Beswicke and Christopher Neame! FIND OUT MORE and how YOU can help to make this film a reality in our PCAS FEATURE CLICK HERE!



#CUSHINGGIFWEDNESDAY! The film, 'ISLAND OF TERROR' (1966) has always been very popular here. The love for those Silocates is always evident whenever, we post an image of them. Considering the budget for this film, it looks as though someone had the foresight to understand, a monster film, has to have convincing monster and pose a threat that looks real. Someone, maybe director Fisher thought to make sure a sizeable slice went to making the special effects.



THAT SHRIVELED CORPSE that Cushing's Dr Stanley finds, was quite a moment for me when I first saw this film when I was around ten. In ANY Cushing film, can you think of any effect 'special or otherwise' that made an impression on you when you first saw it???


AMICUS FILMS 'MADHOUSE' (1974) is a film that revels in the many cliques and well trod dramas and dilemmas of the celebrated  thrillers and horror films of the 30's, 40's and 50's. Vincent Price plays Horror film star PAUL TOOMBES, driven crazy when off screen life unravels and starts to imitate the scripts of his DOCTOR DEATH movies. Like his 'PHIBES' films and 'THEATRE OF BLOOD' (1973) lots of ingenious scenarios of 'horrible deaths' follow and Peter Cushing's HERBERT FLAY tries his best to help his desperate friend, but despite his best efforts, DOCTOR DEATH came after TOOMBES time after time. Just like in the above GIF ;)


PART SIX of 'The Amicus Films of Peter Cushing' covers MADHOUSE and includes a gallery of RARE images. You can find it HERE!


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     

Tuesday, 9 January 2018

CUSHING'S DAILY WALKS : FANCY MEETING YOU HERE! : CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS MAN?


#TOOCOOLTUESDAY How cool is this? Here's a photograph that was passed onto me over Christmas. As you know, Peter Cushing's walks through his home town were often opportunities for visiting fans to bump into Peter and have a chat, but also Peter had many friends in the town, he would meet on the street or beach, during his daily jaunt. One of these were the Hewlett family. Many UK followers here will I am sure recognise Donald from the extremely popular 1970's BBC tv comedy series, 'It Ain't Half Hot, Mum', in which he played Colonel Charles Reynolds 🙂 Peter was very good friends with the family. This photograph was taken on the beach just outside Peter's own front door 🙂 Did any of you ever 'bump' into Peter on the beach at WHITSTABLE? Do tell . . .


#TOOCOOLTUESDAY! OVER THE YEARS I have seen lots of strange and wonderful illustrations on VHS and DVD covers, that grace the covers of Cushing films. But this one would be sure to make any Hammer fan, raise their eyebrows! Both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee star in the film, contained in the box . . . but Lee certainly doesn't appear as Dracula, neither does Cushing play Baron Frankenstein. The image of Dracula has been lifted from the 'Satanic Rites of Dracula' (1973) press kit. Cushing's up to his elbows in Kensington Gore pic, comes from Hammer films, 1969 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' . .  along with Simon Ward who plays, the Baron's assistant Karl. . . and no, Ward doesn't make an appearance in 'Cuerpos Vivientes' either! It's certainly not the worst of bungled Cushing film covers and there are more to come . . .    


#WHOISTHAT? MICHAEL ANDREWS popped onto the PCASUK FACEBOOK FAN PAGE  today, and set you all this puzzler. Andrew asks: 'Does anybody recognise the gentlemen below? He has a certain Cushing look about him. He does actually have a connection with Hammer films!' If you can put a name to that face, we'd be pleased if you too can pop over to the PCAS Facebook Page and provide the answer!


 
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     

Sunday, 7 January 2018

NOW IS THE TIME! SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN!


THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED OVER THE NEXT NINE DAYS! COME BACK FOR UPDATES AND PROGRESS!

THE CONVERSATION? IT WENT LIKE THIS. 'To pull something like that off, you'd have to have lots of added value' 'How do mean?' 'Well, working in that genre the audience expects to see names.' 'Names?' 'Yes, that's why something like this would never happen!. You have to have a cast that features prominent names that are associated with THE studio.' 'Oh, I see. Well, he's got them!' There was a three second pause. One 'What?' One for 'Did you just say just say, what I think you said?' and the last for, 'You DID!' 'And the concept?' "Yes?' 'Well, that's going to be amazing. What an amazing opportunity!'
 

THIS CONVERSATION happened over the phone, as I write, was four days ago.  I am talking to a close friend. Someone who I have known since we were teens. I went on to work in television and lecturing, he became an award winning script-writer, working in an international multi award winning show, with a cast made up of directors and actors with very respected names, the majority some of the most experienced and trusted actors in the business. He's a little jaded now. There isn't much that makes his eyes sparkle, make him sit up and listen. This conversation went on for another hour.  I was enjoying hearing him get just as excited as I am about this . . . .


'LET ME WRITE THIS DOWN. And, this is the guy we spoke about previously. 'The Dracula AD 2015?' guy?" 'Yeah!'   ''Remind me. His name?' 'Joshua Kennedy' 'And, the title?' 'House of The Gorgon!'. I could hear his smile down the phone. 'Of course. It had to be! Ha'





 
SO WE HAVE FOLLOWED JOSH KENNEDY'S journey over the past few weeks, as he launched his INDIEGO CAMPAIGN PAGE  the updates on THE HOUSE OF THE GORGON YOUTUBE CHANNEL and the HOUSE OF THE GORGON FACEBOOK FAN PAGE. It's a gamble. It seems there have been a few HAMMER film projects launched over the past few years. One in particular asked for a sizeable budget, for a concept that was nothing new, but seemed to get fans of the Hammer flicks excited. Sadly, fingers got burned. ...Cue 'I told you so'.... If it looks too good to be true, based on past experiences of some the people who were involved with that project, then you can bet it certainly is!

THE RISKS
'We are all professionals. Aside from the decades of experience our actors have in show business, writer-director Joshua Kennedy has written, produced, and directed fourteen feature films entirely on his own... in less than seven years... with little to no budget for any of them! The possibilities to make movie magic with this cast are endless with your help.' The HOUSE OF THE GORGON Indiegogo Campaign Site 

OTHER WAYS TO HELP!
Times are hard, it's that time of year, and if you are not able to contribute to this project... no problem!You CAN help by sharing this campaign with your family, friends, neighbors, pets, Hammer fans, Classic Universal fans, vampires living in your basement....The more we can spread the word, the better. How many chances will we ever have to see these FOUR TITANS TOGETHER in a Gothic Horror film? Let's make this happen! THE HOUSE OF THE GORGON Indiegogo Campaign Site 






AS JOSH SAYS in his promo trailer, 'This might be the last opportunity to see FOUR Hammer film actors appear together in a film!'. That fact alone, has to be worth some serious consideration, of an Hammer film fan?  I remember my youngest daughter asking me one time, many moons ago, 'Dad. how do you eat an elephant?' To which I replied, 'I have no idea, Lucy' 'ONE MOUTHFUL AT A TIME! She screamed laughing! She has a point. It's a sizeable budget, but even a dollar, ten dollars, twenty five dollars, as a contribution, all goes ion the pot. And eventually, he would get that budget. Problem is of course is, TIME. As I wrote there are just NINE DAYS until the closing of the INDIEGO CAMPAIGN PAGE. So, if you feel THIS IS something you would like to get behind, NOW is the time to send that lolly! No matter how small, it ALL adds to the total. THE HOUSE OF THE GORGON has a FLEXIBLE GOAL on Indigo. Basically, that means, the campaign will receive ALL the money it has raised even of it doesn't reach it's goal! So, you are backing a production, where the contributions really do count! I would LOVE to see this happen. Wouldn't you?




THE STORY 

The year is 1896 and the lovely Isobel Banning travels with her mother Anna to the village of Carlstadt to marry her university sweetheart Dr. Julian Pritchard.

Along their journey they meet the mysterious Father Llewellyn, the local priest, who refuses to explain why the villagers appear to be in a state of mortal fear... as if the town is hiding a terrible secret.

Frightened and confused, Isobel and Anna readily accept an invitation from Dr. Pritchard to stay with him and his aunt, the Baroness Bartov, in their large chateau overlooking the town... unaware of the ancient horror that lies within.

THE CAST



CAROLINE MUNRO AS BARONESS BARTOV
Embedded in the minds of fans worldwide for her work in AT THE EARTH’S CORE and THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD, Caroline Munro's stunning looks also made her an easy victim for Christopher Lee's Dracula in DRACULA AD 1972, and a vicious thwart to Roger Moore's James Bond in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. Her numerous fans throughout the globe have unanimously dubbed her "The First Lady of Fantasy."


MARTINE BESWICKE AS EURYALE
Martine currently holds the rare distinction of being one of the few "Bond Women" to participate in two James Bond films: FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and THUNDERBALL; both opposite Sean Connery. She is also famous for her work in Hammer films fighting Raquel Welch in ONE MILLION YEARS B.C., lording over a kingdom of cavewomen in PREHISTORIC WOMEN and, of course, as the vicious villainess in DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE.


VERONICA CARLSON AS ANNA BANNING
Veronica is probably best known throughout the world for her career-defining performances in two of the greatest Gothic Hammer Films of all time acting opposite Christopher Lee's Dracula in DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE and Peter Cushing's Baron Frankenstein in FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED. Her other film roles include THE HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN and THE GHOUL.


CHRISTOPHER NEAME AS FATHER LLEWELLYN
Known primarily for his role as Johnny Alucard in Hammer's DRACULA AD 1972, Christopher Neame has had an incredibly lengthy film and stage career, including the titular role in Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET, guest roles on DOCTOR WHO, STAR TREK, THE A-TEAM, and Timothy Dalton's James Bond film LICENSE TO KILL. Christopher also played Chuck Norris’ antagonist, the Devil himself, in the film HELLBOUND.


GEORGINA DUGDALE AS ISOBEL BANNING
Having completed her Bachelors in “Costume for Performance” at the London College of Fashion, Georgina has also chosen to pursue acting through her membership in the National Youth theatre, the RADA Youth Group, and the Tricycle Youth Theatre. In addition, Georgina has also performed in a number of films including BECOMING, FOX TRAP, DRESS REHEARSAL, directed by Sam and George Clemens, and THE MILKY WAY, winner of “The Best No-Budget Feature” at the London Independent Film Festival.


JOSHUA KENNEDY AS DR. PRITCHARD
Joshua Kennedy is the 23 year-old writer, producer, and director of fourteen feature films. A graduate of Pace University in New York City, he has been nominated for four Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards for, among other things, his tributes to Gothic horror: DRACULA A.D. 2015 and THE NIGHT OF MEDUSA. His latest film, THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR, premiered at the Monster Bash Convention this past summer and is now available on DVD from oldies.com.

PAST JOSHUA KENNEDY AND GOOEY FILM PRODUCTIONS:




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    

WHEN MELVYN HAYES MET CHRISTOPHER LEE . . AGAIN!


#CHRISTOPHERLEESATURDAY! WHEN ACTOR MELVYN HAYES met Christopher Lee many years after he played a young Baron Frankenstein to Peter Cushing adult Baron in Hammer films first Frankenstein film, 'The Curse of Frankenstein' (1957) Christopher Lee was a virtual unknown actor at the time he appeared in the film as the 'creation' / 'monster' . .. which both Hayes and Peter 'MADE' in the movie. . . . .cringe....


THE VERY FIRST TIME I ever saw MELVYN HAYES, was on the big screen in a SATURDAY MORNING FILM CLUB for children when I was about nine years old. He played a character called ALBERT, that I loved very much, in a weekly film serial that was screened as part of the morning's entertainment called, Here Comes The Double Deckers!'. It was produced by the UK Children Film Foundation, which I believe provide funded by RANK CINEMAS, who provided all the films we watched. Maybe some of you from the UK may remember this?


IN THE COURSE of my duties managing PCASUK in the 80's I finally got to meet Melvyn. He was extremely friendly, loved to talk and share stories. Melvyn also appeared in other films that starred Peter Cushing, 'VIOLENT PLAYGROUND' (1958) which as he said, is a REAL time piece and as Daft Jamie in 'FLESH AND THE FIENDS' (1960) and finally in,  'A TOUCH OF SUN' (1980) which was one of the lost film features in our 'LESSER SEEN PETER CUSHING FILMS' season. It can be seen at our PCAS YOUTUBE CHANNEL 



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  

Friday, 5 January 2018

WATCH BATTLEFLAG AKA THE STANDARD LESSER SEEN CUSHING FILMS SEASON

BATTLEFLAG AKA THE STANDARD (1977) was the first of four Peter Cushing films that were produced after "Star Wars", that sadly sank without a trace at that time, of their release. Unlike "Son of Hitler," "Touch of the Sun," and "Black Jack," this co-production between West Germany, Austria, and Spain never found a distributor outside Europe, so never received a theatrical release in the UK or the US. My thanks to Jean Layette, who sourced this film for us to share at our PCAS YOUTUBE Channel and facebook fan page.





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 
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