KICKED! THRASHED! CHOKED! OR STABBED? JUST HOW DID LORD COURTNEY DIE? #TASTETHEBLOODOFDRACULA

A POST SHARED YESTERDAY  @ the Facebook PCASuk Fan Page!

 

#RalphBates as Lord Courtney, lies dead on the floor of the site of the unholy ceremony in #Hammerfilms 'Taste The Blood of Dracula' (1970) ... but there's is something in this rare colour publicity photography... that wasn't used in promotion in the US and Europe...that doesn't fit this scene in the released movie.... spot it? Answer / theory you'll find below -Marcus 

 

DURING THE 1980'S PCASuk were very fortunate to meet and interview actor RALPH BATES several times. It was Ralph back in 1979, that first broke my innocence and laughed bringing attention to what he called #Hammerfilms 'Continental Version' of 'Taste the Blood of Dracula'. An alternative edit of the film for Japan and other regions, contained more violence and nudity. Ralph told us about shooting a scene at the brothel, near the end of the day. A few shots and cut aways, reaction shots, he was told. Come the fifth set up, Ralph though he was done for the day, he left his postition in his chair, gathered his things, until the floor manager called out for 'Alternatives, now please!'. Ralph was sat back down, as girls repositioned themselves, while blouses flew off in haste, ready to reshoot several set ups's minus some costumes but plus ample breasts and thighs.  'Taste' was his first film for Hammer films, and he felt he was in the process of being groomed as the latest 'face' in their lead roll roster, which for many, had proved a potential springboard for future ggod things.  

 

THE FILM was originally not going to feature Dracula at all, much like The Brides of Dracula (1960), due to Christopher Lee becoming increasingly reluctant to reprise the role and the producers not expecting to be able to convince him to do so. Lee's increasing salary demands were also a factor. Ralph Bates would have played the lead. Sadly, the script was re-written to include Dracula after the producers were finally able to coax Lee back to the role after "Warner-Seven Arts" refused to back this movie without the actor's participation. 

 

SO, now within the re-written script, lay the solution of the despatching of his what was once key player, out of the plot! The framework of Lord Courtney's gory ceremony which transformed him in Count Dracula remained, but rather than Ralph changing costume, Lordship to Count ... and dentures, to what would no doubt would have been an interesting and no doubt regal 'Prince of Darkness', Bates was instead beaten into a broken and bloody mess! It was decieded three distinguished Victorian English gentlemen taking part in the ritual would take offence to his goading, rude manners and bad form .. and beat him to death with their walking canes! Even watching this strange twist in the plot seems a weird U-turn, leading also to being Count Dracula's main plot drive to seek revenge for his dead servant, as contrived and clumsy in an otherwise quite entertaining film. Lee though sadly looks to be on casters, as he stands on the side-lines, being wheeled out of the shadows, in gardens, balconies' and from around pillars. The body count in this film six, Lee vocally tots-up four of the death total, as the wrap to each of his murder appearances! It's just weird, but kinda works, but was a terribe waste of Christopher Lee's screentime and talent.

 

AND SO, come the end of the ceremony, an exit of drama and horror was needed. Understand, this is just my theory although there is photographic evidence to support it. Being presented their very own goblet of Dracula's very own blood, re-hydrated almsot like a 'Pot-Noodle' using Lord Courtney's own blood, the gents who after all were there to be entertained by 'something different, exciting and jaw-dropping' refuse to drink, sample and 'taste the blood of dracula'. They in the great tradition of thugs, sadists and kinky-old men, disguised as dignified pillars of society, chicken-out. Courtney then fearlessly, knocks back his goblet contents, soon falling to the ground wrought with pain and screaming in agony.  The gents angry and panicking jointly decide to do the right thing, and set about beating him to death, with their canes, to put him out of agony. 

 

NOW AS A SCENE of frenzied violence, in Hammer's full repertoire, pardon the pun, it takes some beating! As this if this wasn't enough, and maybe this final act was also included in the script,  Geoffrey Keen's character Harwood, the most frustrated, unpredictable and violent of the bunch, as seen in several on set photograps, taken at the time of shooting this scene, raises the blade of his sword stick, positions it above Courtney's heart and with force, plunges it in! Now, it could be that during the beating the other gents, Paxton played by Peter Salis and Secker played by John Carson, also contributed to the stabling and poking. There is no photographic stills or contact sheet right now, to prove that, but being just a little on the right side of meeker-man type, who through out this 'little planned titilation', has been pushed and coaxed by Harwood, to join in. All said, it woud have given a full, violent and unexpected climax, to the scene. But come May 7th 1970 on the release of 'Taste the Blood of Dracula', that scene and all, is not we see.....   

 

THE FATAL AND VIOLENT sword stick stabbing pieces are missing! 'Taste' was one of the few Hammer Dracula films that was R-rated, Hammer were not only able to push the envelope with its depiction of nudity, and violence, and also its dark themes. . . but only the inclusion of three elderly gents kicking, thrashing made it in the final edit of Lord Courtney's demise... stabbing with a sword, for our censors, was OUT! 

-Marcus Brooks

 

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     

ON PLAYING #SHERLOCKHOLMES : #CUSHING ON THE DETAIL AND #JEREMYBRETT

#PETERCUSHING had his own set of rules and needs, as far as playing #SherlockHolmes was concerned. According to producer of the Cushing and #JohnMills Sherlock film....Tyburn films 'The Masks of Death (1984) .... both Cushing and Jeremy Brett respected each others interpretation very highly. 'The greatest love affair I ever saw - I don't mean in a homosexual way- was Peter for Jeremy Brett and #JeremyBrett for Peter Cushing.' Cushing believed having Holmesian features, resembling Paget drawings, was very important and that it helped audiences believe! This post is also shared at the Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Facebook Fan Page UK today! I would love to read your opinions on this post and Peter's thoughts.. it might be news to some? - Marcus

 

Above Banner Photograph: Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Stock as Dr Watson in the BBC 'Sherlock Holmes' television drama series, episode 'Black Peter' Episode aired Nov 18th, 1968. Now believed to be either erased or lost . . .. 

 

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      

WHICH SERIES OF #HAMMERFILMS DO YOU WATCH MOST OFTEN?

 

A QUESTION BEING ASKED over at the Facebook PCASuk Fan Page right now! Which series of #Hammerfilms.... Frankenstein? OR Dracula? Do You WATCH Most Often... maybe why? A question that obviously applies to you having at least one or more from each series If you don't own any, then let's presume if having the opportunity to watch either a Hammer Dracula or Frankenstein film by streaming or watching a movie channel screen several of the titles over a month.... Frankenstein or Dracula, which character would you watch the most? - 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    

#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