Wednesday, 11 September 2019

HEY! YOU WANNA BUY A MAHAR???!


HEY! WANNA BUY A MAHAR?? Hmm the PERFECT PET! No? 😊Those of you who remember Peter Cushing's film 'At the earth's Core' with Caroline Munro and Doug McClure back in 1975, will remember these terrifying telepathic flying reptiles who lived deep in a Welsh mountain . . I know them well 😉


THIS PUPPET IS ACTUALLY made made from latex over a heavy steel armature, with metal wires protruding from the back and hooks on the wings for use during flying shots. It is hand-painted for additional detailing, including faux blood over the claws and beak, as well as the outline of a ribcage on the chest. There appears to be some considerable wear from production use and age. The rubber latex has cracked and broken away in some areas, revealing the metal skeleton. The left foot is no longer present. Dimensions: 110 cm x 56 cm x 96 cm (43 1/4" x 22" x 37 3/4") and has a £1,000 - £1,500 tag! This and many OTHER props and goodies are all part of the amazing Treasures from film and Television LIVE auction from Sept 30th until 1st Oct 2019! With all It's all bids online.... wouldn't this look great in a kennel in your back garden?? 😉 Good luck 🙂 - Marcus


HERE IS A LINK to the PCASUK REVIEW and GALLERY on Amicus Films 'AT THE EARTH'S CORE'! JUST CLICK HERE! 


 

Monday, 9 September 2019

RARE BEHIND THE SCENES 'ON SET' FOOTAGE FROM HAMMER FILMS 'THE GORGON'


A REAL AND RARE TREAT! Here are some short GIFS taken from some very rare behind the scenes footage taken during the making of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee's 1964 Hammer film Classic, THE GORGON. Director Terence Fisher had a real job on his hands. The script was fine and had the making of an original horror / romantic / thriller. The key to the drama was a creature that lived holed up in Castle Borski, who on certain evenings took to meeting visitors, not with a warm welcome, but a STARE that turned them into stone! The creature was Megaera, long thought to be a fantasy of Greek mythology. Not only was she real, but she also had a dual appearance and personality. This no doubt suited actress Barbara Shelley, who played the meek and sensitive Karl Hoffman, Megaera's 'other side', as whoever was to appear as Megaera, would have to endure a few weeks of experiments and painful head-dresses, while make up men and props department Roy Ashton and Phil Leakey tired to solve the problem of producing a convincing Gorgon, who floated on air, while snakes wriggled and writhed on her head! No easy, with such a small budget!

ABOVE we see actress and classical dancer, Prundence Hyman, who stepped up for the role. Fisher believed that someone who could move with grace, like a dancer, would be best suited for the role. Prudence had worked in film, theatre and ballet for many years and had almost retired from her long and quite distinguished career.But she rose to the challenge. Here we see make up artist fit Prudence with Haptic contact lenses, a make up device that Roy was probably if not certainly responsible for bringing into horror films at this time, his first use was in Hammer's 'The Curse of Frankenstein', it was another first in bringing together Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee on screen.




AFTER MANY EXPERIMENTS the solution of using a series of strings and pulleys, all controlled through a cable to a crank box, was used to make the snakes twitch! The head device weighed seven pounds, and was worn under the wild and thick black wig, much like a crash helmet! It took some rigging, was not reliable and took several takes to 'do its thing' on command, after the Gorgon floated on casters into shot, over a floor of thick dry ice. ABOVE here is Hammer's Phil Leakey carrying the crank box, Prudence marches from the make up room at Bray studios, and down the stairs to the castle set, carrying the cabling over her shoulder, ready for her '...Close Up, Mr Fisher!'


ABOVE ON THE SET Prudence Hymen hits her mark,the crew turn the cranks on the box, the snakes twitch, the wind blows and she makes her exit, not walking forward, but keeps her balance, even with the weight on her head as she is  pulled backwards over the floor of the Castle Borski set at Bray studios . .. and CUT!


PETER CUSHING IN COSTUME and Christopher Lee out, both on set at Bray studios, during the making of Hammer films, 'THE GORGON'
 

FINALLY, HERES IS Hammer films make up artist Roy Ashton in some VERY rare footage in his make up room at Bray studios, demonstrating some 'fangs' he made for a particular Baron, who was the only vamp to have actually got his fangs into Peter Cushing's Vampire Hunter, Van Helsing . .!

Saturday, 7 September 2019

ONE TOO MANY AND ONE MORE LOOK AT GLENDA!


TAKEN FROM CHRISTOPHER LEE'S autobiography, 'Lord of Misrule' this is Lee's thoughts on his time taken making the Dracula saga . . did he make too many? On posting this today at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE, we've asked our friends and followers, What do THEY think of this statement?


ON POSTING that banner and Christopher Lee quote, along with various interesting comments today, a few have also messaged me to ask where did that unusual 'HORROR OF DRACULA' poster come from? Well, it's a very rare day-bill for the 1970’s (1st Australian release) of the 1958 classic ‘Hammer’ production. I don't own it sadly! In Oz they had quite a playful way of producing their play-bill designs . . here is one below of a montage of images, pasted together for quickly hand-written up publicity hand outs .  


AND FOLLOWING ON the Christopher Lee Dracula post . . here is a neat rarely seen and addition to a series of photographs taken in a photo session with Christopher Lee and several models / actress who appeared in Hammer films 'Dracula AD 1972' by the UK 'newspaper' The Daily Mirror'. I love the sellotape tacked onto the flat in the background 😀 It is a very interesting and quite weird series of photographs, that also at one point had photo fans and collectors, convinced that actress Linda Hayden, was featured in some of the photos and poses . . even Hayden herself! You can learn more about that in a photo feature, I wrote sometime ago, RIGHT HERE!





MORE FEATURING AN ANOTHER ACTRESS who appeared in Hammer's 'DRACULA AD 1972' HERE is a LINK to a past PCASUK FEMME FATALE FRIDAY GALLERY with CAROLINE MUNRO! JUST CLICK HERE! 


Friday, 6 September 2019

INDICATOR ANNOUNCE HAMMER FILMS VOLUME FOUR : FACES OF EVIL BLU RAY BOX SET


NEWS: INDICATOR have announced Hammer Volume Four Face Of Fear Box set featuring THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL, TASTE OF FEAR, THE DAMNED. Release date: 18 November 2019
Limited Blu-ray Edition (UK premieres on Blu-ray)
 


FOUR CLASSIC HAMMER FILM CHILLERS presented on Blu-ray for the very first time in the UK. Accompanied by a wealth of new and archival extras – including exclusive new documentaries, audio commentaries, alternative versions, new and archival cast and crew interviews, a series of appreciations of their female stars, analyses of their composers’ scores, and extensive booklets – this stunning limited edition box set is strictly 26,000 numbered units
All extras subject to change

REGION FREE

INDICATOR LIMITED BLU-RAY EDITION BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES:

THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN


New 4K restoration : Original mono audio
New and exclusive documentary about the film, produced by Hammer expert Marcus Hearn (2019)
Audio commentary by celebrated horror and fantasy authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman (2019)
A Frankenstein for the 20th Century (2019): video essay by film historian Kat Ellinger and Dima Ballin
Hammer's Women – Eunice Gayson (2019): profile of the Hammer star by critic and film historian Pamela Hutchinson
David Huckvale on Leonard Salzedo (2019): new appreciation of the renowned composer by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde
Super 8 version: original cut-down home cinema presentation
Original theatrical trailer
Trailer commentary (2013): short critical appreciation by filmmaker Joe Dante
Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition box set exclusive booklet with new essays by Marcus Hearn and Kieran Foster, archival interview materials, historical articles, contemporary reviews, and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray

THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL


High Definition remaster
Original mono audio
New and exclusive documentary about the film, produced by Hammer expert Marcus Hearn (2019)
Audio commentary by film historians Josephine Botting and Jonathan Rigby (2019)
Interview with Paul Massie (1967): rare archival audio interview with the film’s star
Hammer's Women – Dawn Addams (2019): British cinema expert Laura Mayne explores the life and career of the UK-born star
David Huckvale on Monty Norman (2019): new appreciation of the renowned composer
Original theatrical trailer
Trailer commentary (2013): short critical appreciation by Josh Olson
Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition box set exclusive booklet with a new essay by Kat Ellinger, archival interview materials, historical articles, contemporary reviews and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray

TASTE OF FEAR


High Definition remaster
Original mono audio
Alternative presentation with US Scream of Fear title sequence
New and exclusive documentary about the film, produced by Hammer expert Marcus Hearn (2019)
Audio commentary with Kevin Lyons, editor of The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film and Television (2019)
The BFI Interview with Jimmy Sangster (2008): archival audio recording of the celebrated filmmaker and screenwriter in conversation with Marcus Hearn at London’s National Film Theatre
The BEHP Video interview with Jimmy Sangster (2008): archival video recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring Sangster in conversation with Jonathan Rigby
The BEHP Interview with Douglas Slocombe – Part Two (1988): archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the renowned cinematographer in conversation with Sidney Cole
Fear Makers (2019): interviews with camera operator Desmond Davis, assistant editor John Crome and clapper loader Ray Andrew
Hammer's Women – Ann Todd (2019): Melanie Williams, author of Female Stars of British Cinema profiles the English star and producer
David Huckvale on Clifton Parker (2019): new appreciation of the renowned composer
Super 8 version of Scream of Fear: original cut-down home cinema presentation
Original theatrical trailer
Trailer commentary (2013): short critical appreciation by Sam Hamm
Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition box set exclusive booklet with an essay by Marcus Hearn, archival interview materials, historical articles, contemporary reviews and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray

THE DAMNED


New 2K restoration
Original mono audio
Two presentations of the film: The Damned, the original UK theatrical release version; and These Are the Damned, the complete and uncut restoration which first premiered in 2007
New and exclusive documentary about the film, produced by Hammer expert Marcus Hearn (2019)
Audio commentary by film historians Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger (2019)
Beneath the Surface (2019): new interview with filmmaker Gavrik Losey, son of director Joseph Losey
Interview with actor Shirley Anne Field (2019)
Interview with screenwriter Evan Jones (2010)
Children of 'The Damned' (2019): new interviews with actors Kit Williams, David Palmer and Christopher Witty
Hammer's Women – Viveca Lindfors (2019): profile of the renowned actor by critic and film historian Lindsay Hallam
David Huckvale on James Bernard (2019): new appreciation of the celebrated composer
Beyond Black Leather (2019): appreciation by film expert I Q Hunter
No Future (2019): analysis by author and film historian Neil Sinyard
Original theatrical trailer
Trailer commentary (2013): short critical appreciation by filmmaker Joe Dante
Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition box set exclusive booklet with a new essay by Richard Combs, archival interview materials, historical articles, contemporary reviews and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray

Limited edition box set of 6,000 numbered units
All extras subject to change

REGION FREE

PREORDER CLICK HERE! 

Tuesday, 6 August 2019

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WANDA AND TAKE YOUR PIC OF A FLICK AT WHITSTABLE!


YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF or know Wanda for a whole lot of reasons... the ace 1960's Brit TV series 'UFO', Peter Cushing's 'love it hate it' Tigon horror film about a killer moth 'The Blood Beast Terror', the fact she played a role in a terrific Hammer horror film, mumbling under a paper mache mask for a fair while . . or the fact that she is THE Mum to a quite internationally famous actor...? Personally I LIKE 'The Blood Beast Terror', I like UFO and I love Ventham too 😊 Join in if YOU too want to wish the super Wanda Ventham, A Happy Birthday too, TODAY at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE!


JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, I was put on the spot! A message come though on the FACEBOOK PCASUK Fan Page, with a question, that really got me thinking. 'We are planning a FILM NIGHT at the Whitstable Castle, we would like to dedicate the film we are screening, to Peter Cushing, and are foxed as to which Cushing Hammer film we should screen. Any ideas? I don't know about you, but on the rare occasion I have a spare evening to sit and enjoy one of Peter Cushing's many titles, I usually end up cruising the spines of all 80 odd dvd's and blu rays, then studying the covers, a little dusting and rearranging, before I know, three hours or more has passed, with distractions and procrastination, resulting in not a one disc sliding into the player! I really am the last person to ask, but I did manage after at least an hour or chewing on it, one title. However, knowing often my suggestion may not fit their plans or thinking, I instead suggested the making of a token PCASUK banner very qucikly and throwing the question out to the entire following of the PCASUK FAN PAGE. The many, many, come back suggestions and results were very interesting indeed. If YOU want to add your suggestion to the list in the comments thread, PLEASE do! Here is a link to THAT post, join it with a click HERE! ANY news on the planned evening, I will share as NEWS here at the website, FACEBOOK and other PCASUK social platforms. Stay TUNED 😉   

Friday, 2 August 2019

'TWINS OF EVIL' RARE BEHIND THE SCENES GALLERY TWO


AS PROMISED HERE is ALBUM TWO of our PCASUK rare behind the scenes gallery from #HAMMERFILMS 1971 classic, 'TWINS OF EVIL'! Some interesting images here, many seen for the first time. NEXT WEEK it's our last album, but we are rolling out an entire gallery of colour transparencies. Cushing and the Collinson Twins along with lighting from Dick Bush and John Hough's direction, look amazing! JOIN US NEXT WEEK!


















Wednesday, 31 July 2019

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST AND EARLIEST PURCHASES OR FINDS??


OVER AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE THIS POST is gaining a fair bit of attention! REMEMBER WHEN??? 😉 Here's a great question from follower Dan Barrett which he posted to us a few days ago! Here Dan's QUESTION: What are your earliest Peter Cushing discoveries? One childhood memory I have is of heading into my local Woolworths and finding this absolute gem in a bargain bin of vhs tapes: The Uncanny. Despite the 18 rating and being substantially under age, I managed to buy it unchallenged. I think I watched it, practically, until I wore the tape out. Cushing is brilliant as the terrified and fidgety eccentric author Wilbur Gray and there's a cracking performance from the wonderful Joan Greenwood. Wilfred Josephs' score is brilliant too (he composed music for The Prisoner and, although his theme tune was rejected in favour of Ron Grainer's, lots of his quirky score is used throughout the series). The Uncanny kicked off my love of Peter Cushing and portmanteau horror movies. IF YOU would like to join in the chat, just click that BLUE LINK at the top of this text!
 

ABOVE A FACEBOOK UPDATE ON OUR LAST PCASUK COMPETITION! We will be posting a FULL REVIEW along with SCREEN CAPS on the TWO SECIOND SIGHT FILMS AMICUS BLU RAYS featured here as prizes, ASYLUM and THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' VERY SOON!



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