THE BEST OF THE BEST AND A WEBSITE SHUFFLE!

WHICH PETER CUSHING Blu Ray release has presented the BEST items in it's EXTRAS and BONUS features and what were those personal stand out items for you?

OVER AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE followers are weighing up the best and most disappointing of DVD and BLU RAY EXTRA features of the last ten years of Peter Cushing releases. For many, that added attraction of also having interviews, short documentaries or galleries can sometimes be the make or break factor in IF they would purchase the release, often when perhaps they already own a copy of a film. These days it's not always given that a blu ray will contain any extras features. Some of the best remastered blu rays, seem to have maybe blown their budgets in making the remaster possible, that little if any lolly is left for a short documentary or interview. The finding of material and making of documentaries can be a costly buisiness. As the 'vaults' seem to have been well and truly emptied of free material, the making and presenting of new resources is sometimes well out of the reach of some distributors, it's always a very welcomed plus, to find new unseen features and  faces on documentaries and bonuses. The ground is getting thin though. The kick off period of crammed extra menu's for Hammer, Amicus and Cushing films, maybe now over. However, we have been treated to some excellent goodies in the past . . .  

R.WARREN: 'UK Blu-ray release of Dr Who and the Daleks has some lovely, behind the scenes, black and white footage, showing a small clip of Cushing and Roy Castle joking around on set, sadly it has no sound but still lovely.'

F.SAINSBURY: 'Mine has to be The Curse of Frankenstein bonus extras are superb especially and documentary called Life with Sir which is about Peter Cushing's secretary she takes about the death of Peter's wife and how he coped with his wife's death and working with Peter she talks about Peter's death its truly emotional.'

I GULYAS: 'Well I don't have the Bluray of house that dripped blood, but the DVD has a nice discussion of amicus and making of.'

AND IN CHATTING  about EXTRAS on dvd and blu rays... here is a heads up to a re-shuffle and layout to come this week at our website! For those of you who enjoyed or missed the huge selection of Peter Cushing reviews and features by Callum McKelvie here and at the website, we are making the library and galleries easier to find, by providing a great menu of all of Callum's features, including the rare stills and extras! Meanwhile, Here are links to TWO features that Callum wrote on the contentious issue of Cushing and Dr Who. HERE and HERE!  The 'Who' films on both DVD and Blu Ray, contained one of the best examples of EXTRA features on a release and still for some, takes some beating!

NEWS: SCREAM FACTORY SET TO RELEASE HAMMER FILM CLASSIC FOR USA!

NEWS: Scream Factory have announced they are putting out Hammer's 'Frankenstein Created Woman' on blu-ray! SCREAM say in their press release that 'It’s the year of Hammer Films for us as you can already tell and we have yet another one planned for the Summer. FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN (starring legendary star Peter Cushing) is being prepped in Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release!'

HERE ARE THE EARLY DETAILS we have at present time, there are no details to IF this will be a REMASTERED release.

• National street date for U.S. only (Region A) is June 11th.
• Release will come with a slipcover (guaranteed for three months after its original release date).
• The newly-commissioned artwork pictured comes to us from Mark Maddox (Dracula: Prince of Darkness). This art will be front-facing and the reverse side of the wrap will the original theatrical poster design.
• Extras and specs are still in progress and will be announced later in May.

#petercushing #hammehorror #frankenstein #screamfactory #susandenberg #terencefisher

NEWS: THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD : SOUNDTRACK VINYL LP LIMITED RELEASE

NEWS: JUST LAST WEEK, 'Kritzerland' exclusively released something that would look and SOUND very nice in anyone's Amicus Films collection, the soundtrack vinyl LP to the 1971 portmanteau thriller / horror, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD . . and very nice it sounds too! I have never been a fan of most of the Amicus scores, but composer Michael Dress certainly offers more than what was often quite abstract and contemporary and personally the 'tunes' of Elisabeth Lutyens or the swings of Douglas Gamley in Amicus' The Beast Must Die', didn't do much for me.

HOWEVER, the score of THTDB has some gems. Not a lot is known about composer Michael Dress, but his very short filmography does include some very interesting films and scores, including Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx, which starred a very young Gene Wilder, and an interesting sci-fi film, The Mind of Mr. Soames, as well as A Touch of Love, starring Sandy Dennis.

FEATURE AND GALLERY ON CUSHING AND 'THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' HERE!

DRESS CREATED a wonderfully atmospheric score – some of it lives in the world of Humphrey Searle’s The Haunting, but Dress’s music is his own and it really gives the stories in the film an interesting texture and feel. There’s a lot of percussion and weird effects, organ, a solo female voice floating in the air, harpsichord, vibes, strings – it’s all very hallucinogenic and off-kilter and really wonderful. This is the premiere release of The House that Dripped Blood. The transfers were made from the 35mm magnetic music-only mixing elements and the mono sound is crisp and clear and really excellent. You can find more details about this release later today at the PCAS website and a source were you can sample a few tracks. It's wonderful news that even though this is a very limited release, for those who appreciate and collect such rare items, this is now available to add to your collection Is there a AMICUS score you would love on CD???

MORE ON PETER CUSHING and AMICUS FILMS, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD HERE! 

 

TO PLACE YOUR ORDER for THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD soundtrack CD and to sample some TRACKS just CLICK HERE! 

WITHOUT GETTING PLASTERED TARKIN MAY NEVER HAVE RETURNED PLUS A HAMMER GLAMOUR BIRTHDAY!

THINK ABOUT IT! This #THROWBACK THURSDAY post at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE today, has prompted some memories. Make up artist, the late STUART FREEBORN was responsible among many other excellent creations, like the appearnce  #STARWARS YODA, made the prosthetic giant EYE for Cushing Book Store character in the 1984 film, 'Top Secret'. The practice of getting an actor to come into the workshop, and have his ENTIRE face in latex rubber or plaster, was common practice back in the day. Hammer make up artist, Roy Ashton had a whole collection of actors and actresses faces and heads, that he used to produce the latex attachments of some of the studios, best monsters and creatures! 

I GUESS, Freeborn would never have guessed that HIS plaster face of Peter Cushing would go on to be quite central and MAJOR and contentious step in the creation of the CGI Grand Moff Tarkin in the film, 'ROGUE ONE'. FX creators Industrial Light and Magic, found there was little on file, of actual helpful and accurate reference material on Cushing's features and face. A mass of artwork, but only Freeborn's plaster head, could provide the measurements and dimensions that were needed, along with footage of Peter Cushing's performance on the big screen as Tarkin in 'Star Wars: A New Hope, from 1977, to make the CGI possible. The role of the Book Store Owner, was a small guest role and one that Cushing could have easily have passed on. A fact no doubt, that could have effected the potential of making Tarkin's return, along with Guy Henry's assistance . .  a non starter! 

TODAY WE ALSO MARK the birthday of Stephanie Beacham. Beacham has had a very full career on stage, screen and television. Star of tv's 'Tenko', 'The Colbys' 'Dynasty' 'Bad Girls' and 'SeaQuest'... she has also slipped in an episode of 'Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense'. Her Peter Cushing connection links to two films, 'Dracula AD 1972' playing Jessica Van Helsing, granddaughter to Peter Cushing. and 'And Now, The Screaming Starts'... Please join us in wishing her a Happy Birthday!

STEPHANIE BEACHAM: 'My mother Joan had chicken pox when she was pregnant so I was born with no nerve endings in my right ear. I’m totally deaf in that ear and I have just 80% hearing in my left ear. I’ve never heard in stereo and where most people’s hearing is three dimensional, mine is all on the same plane. Background and foreground sounds flatten, out so a car coming down the road is as loud as a person’s voice right next to me. I was taken to a specialist when I was four. They said, ‘She’s perfectly intelligent,’ and my mother said very snappily, ‘I realise that. I know she’s intelligent, she just can’t hear’.
 

'ONE OF THE BIGGEST problems was that deafness and stupidity were often linked together because a speech defect often accompanies the deafness. I’ve never had a speech defect but I still got called ‘Deaf Steph’ at school and because I often didn’t know people were talking to me I’d walk right past them and they assumed I was snooty. In my adult life I’ve always struggled with people sitting to my right at dinner parties as I can’t hear a word and I’ve had to avoid pop concerts or noisy clubs because of my lack of nerve endings. As for my future health, I fully intend to age naturally without cosmetic surgery and there’s nothing that can be done about my saggy neck, apart from a bulldog clip. I’m convinced mental and physical flexibility is the secret to staying young and yoga provides that for me. I’m also aware that you become what you eat so I’ll continue to steer clear of fizzy drinks and too much sugar or salt." - Daily Mirror Newspaper 2107

 

SCREAM FACTORY'S 2K REMASTERED GOLDEN VAMPIRES EXTRAS DETAILS ON DEBUT RELEASE!

NEWS: SCREAM FACTORY has just announced the additional details about their upcoming blu-ray of Hammer's 1974 'The Legend Of The Seven Golden Vampires'. This BLU RAY is a locked Region A release. And has a street date planned for April 9th 2019.

THE FINAL LIST list of extras for their upcoming release of the the entertaining kung-fu/horror hybrid from Hammer Films is as follows:

• NEW 2K scan of the original film elements

• NEW Audio Commentary with author/film historian Bruce G. Hallenbeck

• NEW When Hammer Met Shaw – an interview with actor David Chiang

• NEW Kung Fear – an interview with Hong Kong Film Expert Rick Baker

• Alternate U.S. Theatrical version – The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula (in HD with some standard definition inserts)

• Theatrical Trailers

• TV Spot

• Stills Gallery

UPON POSTING THESE DETAILS over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE we soon received lots of comments and messages of excitement about the release from people who have long wanted a super clean blu ray version of this Peter Cushing last appearance as Van Helsing . . . but it seems whenever this film is mentioned, like DRACULA himself, there arrives a resurrection of negative comments and critiques of actor, John Forbes-Robertson's performance and appearance as Count Dracula. Where do you stand on this? Please feel free to join in on the comments and give us your thoughts too 😉

 

THE LUCKY THIRTEEN! CAN YOU PICK YOUR FIVE ON THIS BIRTHDAY?

TODAY WE ARE MARKING THE BIRTHDAY of director TERENCE FISHER. He was a director who still, certainly needs no introduction to anyone who regularly visits this page. But when looking down the list of some of Cushing best Hammer films, it's Fisher's name that is usually attached to the finest. Fiher also believed that you should give audiences, opportunities to see beyond, what could be happening on the screen. His trade mark blend of fairy-tale, myth and sexuality, gave us some of Cushing's and Hammer films greatest hits. 'The Curse of Frankenstein', 'Dracula', 'The Mummy', 'The Gorgon', 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'..... and many, many others. All absolute gems. 

HERE IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY, to try and pull from the list of THIRTEEN TITLES that Fisher made with Cushing, a 'must watch' FIVE. The idea of this task cmae from a personal experience during the holidays last Christmas, to treat myself to an indulgent  weekend, of movie watching. It wasn't easy, but it was very enjoyable! Over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE visitors and friends have started compiling and posting their TOP FIVE. Please feel free to join them, and help us mark the Birthday, of probably Hammer films, most popular director . . . 

Terence Fisher at home, with his wife, Morag!

Old Friends... Terence Fisher and Peter Cushing at the

Festival du Film Fantastique de Paris in 1974

PETER CUSHING and Martita Hunt in Terence Fisher's THE BRIDES OF DRACULA

TERENCE FISHER'S first film, for Hammer with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN

CUSHING AND THORLEY WALTERS in Fisher's THIRD Frankenstein for Hammer, FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN 

PRUDENCE HYMAN AND PETER CUSHING in Hammer films THE GORGON

THE HEAT IS ON with Peter Cushing in Terence Fisher's  NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT

SURPRISES ON FIRST WATCH PLUS REMEMBERING ACTOR JOHN MILLS

RIGHT NOW, over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE, we've asked you to tell us about when, 'ON FIRST VIEW WHICH PETER CUSHING FILM REALLY SURPRISED YOU AND WHY?' and we are getting some great comments and answers. 

HERE ARE A FEW: 

D POWLEY says, 'Corruption. Both Peter Cushing and Sue Lloyd managed to convince me that they were mad in that film. It was a great shocker!' 

N. SANTIAGO says, 'Horror Express. I had no expectations for it. Turned out to be a very well made film with Mr. Cushing in fine form mixing it up with Mr. Lee and Telly Savalas. The movie itself was an entertaining mix of horror, science fiction, adventure and mystery. Really enjoyed it and of course the GREAT Peter Cushing!'. 

While V. Kirk says,' I was surprised by the nimble jump he did at the end of 'Brides of Dracula'. I remember rewinding to see if it was actually a stunt double but it wasn't.'. 

G. RENEHAN : 'The Blood Beast Terror! I saw it as a B movie in the cinema aged (too young)! It scared me to heck and back!'

S.COLMAN: 'Both TV appearances but I love his brilliantly nuanced performance in 1984 and the cold malevolence he channels in The Silent Scream.

A. GUNN : 'Top Secret. Peter caricatures himself - revealing his own sense of humour and strength of character. Taught me how to laugh at myself and consequently become a stronger person. Thanks, PC!' 

 M. LOISEL : ' Not a film, but the "Down the Avenue" skit on Morecombe & Wise. I wish he had done more light comedy or song and dance like that.' 

M DAWSON: 'In 1961 my father took me to see my first horror film or X film . In those days if you were under 16 you could only see those films with an adult and you got 2 films. The first film to be shown was Jack the Ripper 1959 then there was the interval when the ice cream lady would sell choc ices and ice creams, then the main feature was shown. It was 'The Curse of Frankenstein'. That film and that night I can remember it as if it was yesterday. I have had the film on video, DVD and now Blu-ray and watch it on the tele. I never tire of watching it. I dont think I ever saw a bad film he was in. But for me the favourite or favourites has to be his performances as the ruthless Baron Frankenstein'.

The post is still live and if you would like to comment and share your opinion, you would be most welcome! JUST CLICK HERE!

TODAY WE MARK THE BIRTH of one, Lewis Ernest Watts Mills... or as we knew and loved him... Sir John Mills. He was without doubt, one of our most popular and beloved English actors and born today February 22nd 1908. In a career that stretched over eight decades, Mills appeared in over 120 films, debuting in 1932 in 'Midshipmaid Gob' right up until 2009 in 'The Snow Prince'. Many of his roles like Pip in 'Great Expectations' in 1946, Shorty Blake 'In Which We Serve' in 42, Captain Scott in 'Scott of the Antarctic' in 48 and the alcohol troubled Captain Anson in 'Ice Cold in Alex' in 58 would make him an internationally renowned star.

MILLS APPEARED in three films with Peter Cushing, 'The End Of The Affair' the second in 1976 entitled 'Trial by Combat' aka 'A Dirty Knight's Work' as Sir Edward Gifford. It was no more than a guest appearance, slotted in when another project on Cushing's slate fell through. The third though, was a much grander enterprise with Tyburn films and marked Cushing's return to the character of Sherlock Holmes...and Mills as Watson! In 'The Masks of Death' they made such a terrific team as a much older duo, that another Cushing /Mills / Sherlock film from Tyburn was planned entitled 'The Abbot's Cry', but was scuppered owing to Cushing's fragile health.

JOHN MILLS AND CUSHING also appeared together in an episode of the TV series The Zoo Gang, 'The Counterfeit Trap' which was released last year as part of the series on remstered blu ray by Network.  
 

LIKE CUSHING, Mills was in his private life a sensitive romantic, in January 2001 at the age of 92, he and wife Mary, age 89, renewed their marriage vows at St. Mary's Church, next to their home, Hills House, in Denham, England. When they had wed 60 years earlier, he was denied a church service because he was serving in the Army during World War II. Happy Birthday, Sir John!