TIME TO RETIRE : GET MY HAT COAT CANE AND CHILL : CUSHING 1986

REQUESTED REPOST, Question and an Answer! Following the success of our colour Peter Cushing photograph during his appearance at Bray studios, here is another that has been requested, taken on the announcement of his retirement in 1986! Smart, in natty hat and cane! 😊

.. AND TO THE MESSAGE AND QUESTION, I received this morning.. ' Marcus, Is it really necessary, for you to use the 'exclamation mark' so often in your comments? It's excessive, annoying, tatty and quite camp.'... Oh, Thank goodness for that, I thought I was letting things slip ........! 😃

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WHEN PETER CUSHING FLEW IN TO THE 'BATTLE FOR BRAY' 1990

WHEN PETER CUSHING Flew in to 'Save Bray Studios!' Back in 1980, what was once the impressive home of Hammer films, Bray Studios, was under serious threat of being 'sold off'... the site and studio, despite being used by other production companies for over 40 years since Hammer left, demolished, making it valuable real estate, for the building of luxury apartments. Several names from the entertainment world, joined forces to raise awareness to the cause of 'Save Bray Studios'.

ON AUGUST 9TH 1990, Peter joined a tv news and press day at the studios, flying in by helicopter, for a chat with the press and photo ops, bringing a high profile to the cause. Bray studios was of course where many of Cushing's and Christopher Lee's classic Dracula and Hammer film were produced. It was a well fought battle, but I think everyone knew, despite the efforts of the 'Save Bray' campaign . . it would be a battle lost.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, the Bray studio empty lots and production buildings have been demolished. The major 'mansion house' Down Place, used in many of the Cushing's Hammer films like, Dracula (1958) The Mummy (1959) The Curse and Revenge of Frankenstein.. and so many others, despite being in a quite a poor state, was privately purchase, and is being cleaned up and internally restored as I write. It will be used as a private residence.

Bray Down House in 2015 : Bray Studios is centred around Down Place, country estate built in 1750 by the Tonson family. It became residence of the Hartford family between 1835 and 1901. In 1951, Hammer Film Productions, in search of a base to make their budget horror films, settles on the derelict Down Place. Shooting in country houses avoided the need to build sets, and usually also meant large grounds were available for location work. As the one year lease on Down Place ran out and a union strike prevented a move to a studio, Hammer decide to build a studio in the grounds of Down Place, and name it Bray Studios, after the local town.

 

In 1965 Mr Ernest Oliver, owner of the adjacent Oakley Court, dies, leaving the Court uninhabited. 

 

The building became an ideal setting for many Bray productions, especially featuring in Hammer Films such as 'The Old Dark House', the 'St Trinian's' film series, 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', 'Half a Sixpence' and 'Murder By Death'. 

 

Hammer sold Bray Studios in 1970 and it then became a renowned centre for specials effects teams, e.g. 'Space 1999' and the model and miniature filming for notable films including 'Alien' (1979; 'Reign of Fire' (2002), 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' (2009) Over the years, the studio lots were also used for pre-production rehearsals by many groups such as Radiohead, Kings of Leon, Amy Winehouse and Live Aid back in 1985.  

 

 

It was announced back in 2013 by Neville Hendricks, the then owner of Bray Studios, that the studios are no longer viable and were sold to property developers. There was a high profile local campaign supported by many past stars such as Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Richard O'Brian to save the studios but if failed. In July 2015, it was announced that the listed Down Place building would be restored and converted into luxury apartments and the sound stages and workshops would be demolished to make way for new houses.

 

 

Recently however, like many of it's Hammer resident vampires of old, it proved it wasn't done just yet.. Elton John's bio-pic 'Rocketman' and the BBC 2020 retelling of a tale in a grand three part spectacular saw THE COUNT return to his old haunt in 'Dracula' produced and written by Mark Gatiss and Stephan Moffat! This was filmed, while the final plans, for the bull-dozer....have not won the day yet! 

 

 

 

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CHRISTOPHER LEE : ACTORS LEARN YOUR TRADE!

#ChristopherLee Saturday! Advice for young actors.....

 

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NEWS! MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT HAMMER FILM : ULTIMATE COLLECTION : 20 TITLES BLU RAY BOX SET

NEWS! WELL WE'VE NOT SEEN a package like this in a while!! Mill Creek Entertainment has announced the release of their 'Hammer Film - Ultimate Collection' a gathering of 20 Hammer films titles, ranging from the 1950's, 60's and 70's. Just two Cushing titles in there, 'The Revenge of Frankenstein' starring Cushing, Francis Matthews and Eunice Gayson, 'Cash on Demand' (1960) and 'The Gorgon' with Cushing, Christopher Lee and Barbara Shelley. Those of familiar with the Mill Creek stock, will recognise these titles from the triple and double bill releases of the last five years. But, if you missed your opportunity to bag them then and have gaps in your collection, here is an opportunity to bag them all together!

AT THE TIME POSTING, I am not aware if these titles are part of and the same 'remasters' we've seen over the past two years in Europe... but if that info is released, I'll let you know. The box set is available for PRE-ORDER NOW at $109.99 MSRP and has a street release of NOVEMBER 17th 2020. Below is the spec from Mill Creek 😉

'For more than four decades, Hammer Films’ unique blend of horror, science fiction, thrills and comedy dominated countless drive-ins and movie theaters. Enjoy this massive collection from the darkest corners of the Hammer Imagination!'

Featuring 20 Cult-Classics from the infamous Hammer Studios produced in the 50s, 60s and 70s available together for the first time in high-definition!

The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)
The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960)
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1963)
These Are The Damned (1962)
The Old Dark House (1963)
The Gorgon (1964)
The Snorkel (1958)
Maniac (1963)
Die! Die! My Darling (1965)
Scream of Fear (1961)
Stop Me Before I Kill! (1961)
Never Take Candy From A Stranger (1960)
Cash On Demand (1961)
The Stranglers of Bombay (1960)
The Terror of the Tongs (1961)
The Pirates of Blood River (1962)
The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964)
The Camp on Blood Island (1958)
Yesterday's Enemy (1959)
Creatures the World Forgot (1971)

Tech Specs:
Language: English
Discs: 10
Format: Blu-ray
Subtitles: English Subtitles
Run Time: 2065 min.
Rating: Not Rated
Region Code: Region A
Street Date: 2020-11-17
Color: Color/B&W

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IMPRINT TELEVISION RELEASES FULLY RESTORED 'HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR BOX SET WITH LOAD OF NEW EXTRAS TO BOOT!

NEWS! Well, some of Australian Peter Cushing fans are waking up to some great news this morning. It's 9.30pm here in the UK as I post this! This NEW release, from Imprint of the Hammer House of Horror tv series is REGION B and can be played in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.. . and as well as all 13 episodes, including Peter Cushing's 'The Silent Scream' being restored from the original negatives, High Definition & in its original full screen aspect ratio... there are a some very interesting NEW extras to be had too! The THREE disc box set is released on October 28th 2020. Here's a press release of everything you need to know . . .

THE FULL PCASUK REVIEW and gallery of the Hammer House of Horror Peter Cushing episode 'SILENT SCREAM' HERE!

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NEWS: 'SWORD OF THE VALIANT' TO GET BLU RAY RELEASE : SEAN CONNERY AND MILES O'KEEFE

NEWS: SCORPION have announced they are releasing 'Sword Of The Valiant' (1984) on blu-ray staring #MilesO'Keeffe, Cyrielle Clair with #SeanConnery and a cameo by #PeterCushing who plays Seneschal.Directed by Steven Weeks who also directed Cushing in I Monster (1971) for #Amicusfilms

 

ABOVE : THE PCASUK feature and interview with STEPHEN WEEKS director of 'Sword of the Valiant' (1984) and the Amicus film, 'I,Monster' (1971) starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing CLICK HERE! 

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WHICH AWARDS? WHAT YEAR? WHO WON AND WHAT IS THE CUSHING CONNECTION?

ABOVE: BACK A FEW DAYS AGO, I set this little teaser, as one of our daily posts at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE to see of anyone would solve the questions on the photograph above . . . 😏😊

"A RARE press photograph of Peter Cushing looking dapper and smart for one of his rare appearances, at a televised Awards Evening... BUT ... without me giving anything away, WHO do you think WON this award? Which Awards Ceremony was this? What year was this... and WHO won??? I have a photograph of the successful too and will give you the answer later... have fun!"- Our Facebook Post August 12th 2020

IT WAS GREETED with quite a few suggestions and answers. Some were close, good guesses but the majority incorrect. I thought for a hour or so, I MAY have foxed our good friends. And then, a BIG hint for many, when hinted suggestion was posted . . 'I'm pretty certain, the winners weren't there to pay Cushing! The answer will 'bring sunshine' to many, even if one of them had 'short fat hairy legs!' THEN, I knew the game was up! 😆 Well done, Anthony Stuctbury!

ABOVE: ONE OF THE MANY appearances Peter Cushing made on the MORECAMBE and WISE show.This one is from 1969with . .  Peter Cushing as King Arthur, Ernie Wise as Merlin, Eric Morecambe as Sherlock Holmes and Ann Hamilton as Guinevere in the play what Ernie wrote - Knights Of The Round Table. This appearance was Cushing's first show, and set the 'framework' for all his other appearances with Eric and Ernie, where he was chasing the PAY for this first show! 😁😅

 

 

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SEVERIN RELEASES UPGRADED AND UNCUT BLU RAY : AMICUS FILMS 'THE BEAST MUST DIE'

THE BEAST SKIPS ACROSS BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC! Back in June, Indicator / Powerhouse films released a much awaited blu ray remastered limited edition of one of the last horror films that Peter Cushing made for Amicus films, 'The Beast Must Die'.... also originally planned for June, was Severin films own REGION 0 release of a remastered blu ray of 'THE BEAST MUST DIE'. This release was scuppered by on going issues internationally with a real horror of a different kind... but now, I am very pleased to announce, Severin has everything in hand and their release hits the streets on AUGUST 25th 2020... orders have been panting in, since July! 

ABOVE: CALLUM MCKELVIE'S great review of Amicus films, 'The Beast Must Die' along with a growlingly PCASUK rare still gallery of images and pic fro  the film: RIGHT HERE! 

IT'S GREAT THAT PETER CUSHING FANS and admirers of the film on both sides, can now enjoy a remaster of a Amicus Cushing Classic! I'll be posting a review of both releases and their remasters later. I would guess there would little if any quality differences BUT.... the extras, do differ on the two blu rays extras.. I would love to hear from anyone who has the Powerhouse release... and if you have ordered Severin's? 

BELOW is rundown of the SPEC of the Severin films release..... 

Audio Commentary with Director Paul Annett and Filmmaker Jonathan Sothcott.

'And Then There Were Werewolves' – Audio Essay By Horror Historian Troy Howarth.

Directing the Beast – Archival Interview with Director Paul Annett.

Audio Interview Excerpt of Milton Subotsky on BEAST MUST DIE – Interviewed by Philip Nutman.

Audio Interview with Producer Max J Rosenberg – Interviewed by Sothcott.

Original Theatrical Trailer with Optional Commentary by Genre Scholars Kim Newman and David Flint.

'The Beast Must Die'
1 DVD disc
Label: Severin Films
Pre-order Started: 7/28/20 Street: 8/25/20
MSRP: $19.98
UPC: 663390004067

Catalog #: SEV94067

'THE BEAST MUST DIE', when released, was actually asking a LOT from your average 'Peter Cushing' fan. Not only was the script.. interesting, the score, but Cushing's appearance as Dr Lundgren . .  the crop cut wig AND THAT sweater?? Too much?? ....maybe..... 

MPAA Rating: NR
Genre: Horror
Color, 92 minutes in English and Spanish with English subtitles
Anamorphic Widescreen 1.66:1
Dolby Digital Mono
Region: 0

Production year: 1974
Director: Paul Annett
Cast: Calvin Lockhart, Peter Cushing, Marlene Clark

OVER AT THE UK PCASUK FACEBOOK FAN PAGE I am asking our friends and followers to identify THIS dog! I think MOST of us will. How about YOU? 😏😁 

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