#PETERCUSHING ON ACTING : OLIVIER AND CUSHINGS #BBC DRAMAS

#MelvynBragg #TV Interview Question: 'So, Sir Lawrence, how do you prepare, what if any, are your methods when performing?' #LawrenceOlivier TV Interview Answer: 'Well, if I told you THAT, dear boy... everyone would be doing it!' 

 

THE 1983 #SouthBank Show three part tribute, was seen as a long awaited for celebration of an even longer and distinguished career . . . and maybe a well timed opportunity to lift some veils'. It manages to be unusually intimate, thanks largely to the skillful and, when need be, persistent interviewing techniques of Melvyn Bragg.. but not even Bragg could crack this safe!
 

ABOVE: Peter and Helen Cushing, Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh arrive at Freemantle, Australia with the Old Vic Theatre Company....during their tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1948.... they performed Shakespeare's Richard III and Sheridan's 'School for Scandal'.... (A: Helen Cushing B: Peter Cushing C: Laurence Olivier.

 

ACTORS, of a certain era, were well known to rather sell you their granny, than share, the spoils of their hard graff and years of grind and tweaking, that perfected the range and mystery that gave them their on screen / on stage magic. #PeterCushing, for many years counted both Olivier and his wife Vivien, friends, to both he and his wife Helen, having toured and worked with Olivier and his cast on tours in 1948 of #Australia and #NewZealand, 1949 in the West End, and 51 for Olivier's Festival Season . . . I am sure, Larry shared some nods and suggestions during that time! So, how typical it is of the gentleman and sharing soul, of Peter Cushing, to go against tradition and type, to spill some thoughts and paths of knowledge. 

 

Peter Cushing as Osric in the 1948 film production of 'HAMLET' starring and directed by Lawrence Olivier.

 

THERE ARE MANY stories of young actors, working on a film with Cushing, during their first or only second flick, coming under Peter's wing and he, by their later admission, more than saving their bacon, after tripping over the cables and bumping into the furniture. #MichaelCaine, years ago recorded a television workshop, where he shared it ALL. And before, you think for a moment, Caine had little to share.... Caine's session really was a '#masterclass'... the whole content was transferred into a best selling book and paperback.
 

OVER THE YEARS, I have lost count of the students, who either had a DVD of a fourth generation VHS recording of the tv show or a well thumbed copy of the book, in their bag! Cushing was well known for his attention to details, costume, make up, props, cuff-links, buttons and ... timing. This text taken is from the #vintage radio / video recording, that you can find in the #PCASuk video gallery, is well worth a dip! 😏 - Marcus

 

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 co-ordinator since 1979. PCASuk is based in the UK and USA      

IN #REMEMBRANCE OF THE GOOD OLD #PAPERBACK TIE IN AND OTHERS

A paperback, also known as a softcover or softback, is a type of book characterized by a thick paper or paperboard cover, and often held together with glue ... — 'I want to get a paperback to read on the plane. 

Dictionary Cambridge.org

 

MEMORABILIA COLLECTING, back in those younger days, especially for fantasy film fans, it could be quite an expensive hobby and quite vicious and deadly attack on one's pocket money!  In 1973-4 the US Famous Monster import magazine and 25 pence for the monthy edition of huge fold-out poster of #MonsterMag, for me was a bit of a monster wipe out! There was also the regular boarding on what parents often refered to as 'Unhealthy' or worrying compulsive  behaviour, buying THREE copies, one for the bedroom wall, and another two to be popped into a sealed 'freezer bag' for safe keeping It sadly  left little for sweetie's  and tuck shop goodies some weeks! 

 

BEFORE the arrival of the VHS releases at the local rental stores, collectors of ANYTHING that connected us to the fabulous and exciting experience  of having watched the latest tv screening of a #PeterCushing film, a Christopher Lee double bill on late night tv, was a quest. Sometimes there was an unexpected viewing of a #UniversalFilms monster movie though . . but, finding things to feed that hunger, could be difficult. 

 

BUT FOR SOME OF US, especially with the 1970's releases of the latest #Cushing or #Lee's latest #Hammer or #Amicus film, there was the Paperback tie-in adaption of the film's story. Most of these paperback copies were then reisssued, if the script had been adapted from an already released story. But more often, an adaption was quickly pulled from the screenplay, by a ghost writer, especially for the tie-in. Sometimes, these adaptions were a little  clumsy, compressed into a thin 50 page tale, but nearly all compensated with carrying some wonderful cover art, either using the cinema poster, a publicity photograph trimmed for the front cover or new artwork! These much appreciated offerings for many, justified the purchase, more than the story inside! 

 

 

HERE IS A SAMPLE of Peter Cushing connected film tie-in's and paperback novels. Not all were purchased back in the day, all you will see are very well worn, and have been read often. I am sure many of you out there, have pristine, creaseless and lovely dust jackets copies. Mine were stuffed into school bags, carry on bags on planes for holiday beach reading, still smelling of sun barrier cream! But, a few were picked up as recently as a just few months ago, sitting in a pre-charity store era, junk shop!  A copy, worn out, tatty and sitting there for decades, waiting for me to whip them up for a few pence, dust them off and liberate them in their rightful place of residence... Peter Cushing's very own bookcase and bureau! I am SURE you have many of these tie-in's too. Would love to see ANY that aren't included here, if you have them? - Marcus   

 

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 co-ordinator since 1979. PCASuk is based in the UK and USA     

#HEADSUP! THE PCASUK COMPETITIONS RETURN WITH MEGA #DRWHO #DALEK BUNDLE!

#NEXTWEEK the PCASUK Competitions RETURN! Open to EVERYONE, and courtesy of Studio Canal and the Peter Cushing Appreciation Society UK, someone out there is going to bag BOTH Studio Canal's 4K blu ray LIMITED SPECIAL EDITION's of #PeterCushing's #DrWho movies! Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. 4K Collector's Edition [Blu-ray] [Region A & B & C] AND Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. 4K Ultra HD Collector's Edition are THE #PRIZE! More details to follow. Interested??? - Marcus

 

 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 co-ordinator since 1979. PCASuk is based in the UK and USA    

#CHRISTOPHERLEE: THIS IS YOUR SURPRISE! THE MOMENT EAMONN POUNCED RARE AND CANDID STILLS

#ChristopherLee Saturday! For those old enough to remember, a tv show, originally devised in the US back 1952 by RalphEdwards, which eventually floated to the UK shores, in 1955 presented by Irish charmer, #EamonnAndrews, 'This Is Your Life' was a weekly treat. The fun was guessing what poor soul was about to get the shock of having his or her life, draped out for all and sundry to gorp at! In 1954, poor Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel was in such shock when they were kidnapped and sat stunned for 50 mins, while ex wives were dodged, and them having to smile, embrace and let bygones be bygones, was ever present. 

 

THE ONLY TIME I have ever witnessed #BorisKarloff in a state of REAL fear, was when he too was jumped on, then dragged to set of the live broadcast. Here was an institution, a much loved actor, with a wonderful career and...personal life.. and wives... that, at that time, no one really knew about! Poor Boris, had been sat in a rehearsal, reading a newspaper, not aware of a camera crew hidden... Next moment, he was sweating conkers, waiting to see if anyone of five previous wives, might turn up!

 

THANKFULLY, when Christopher Lee made his appearance, it was a pleasant surprise.. and here is THAT moment captured in a few candid stills from April 3rd 1974.  

 

THE FRIENDS who turned up were impressive, wife Gitte and daughter Christina looked beautiful and proud as.... #VeronicaCarlson, #PeterCushing, #TrevorHoward, #VincentPrice, #CharltonHeston. #JoannaLumley, #OliverReed #SammyDavisJr... all did their bit, showed the love and made a good show, a GREAT show! The highlight for me though, was indeed his look of shock, when, Eamonn appeared, waved that big red book and announced, 'Christopher Lee. 'This IS your Life'. Through the show, you couldn't help but notice just how humbled Lee was, seeing so many friends and so honestly praise him

 

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 co-ordinator since 1979. PCASuk is based in the UK and USA