MONSTER FROM HELL: THE BARONS ENTRANCE: PORTRAIT PETER CUSHING : HAMMER FILMS 1973

FOR THE LAST TIME PETER CUSHING MAKES HIS ENTRANCE IN LAST FRANKENSTEIN FILM FOR HAMMER IN 'FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL' (1973)

PETER CUSHING: YVONNE ROMAIN: OLIVER REED: CAPTAIN CLEGG : NIGHT CREATURES

SYNOPSIS:

During 1776 there was a notorious pirate sailing the high seas named Captain Clegg. When one of his crew, a mulatto (Milton Reid), killed his wife shortly after she gave birth, he cut out the man's tongue and marooned him on an island on the coral reef - however, this man was picked up by a passing ship later on... Moving forward to 1792, and the Romney Marshes in southern England are host to smugglers who the King's men are desperately trying to catch and stop from illegally importing alcohol without paying duty on it. 

One of the villages on the marsh has Dr Blyss (Peter Cushing) as its mild-mannered pastor, and today he is giving a sermon to the townsfolk in the local church. A troupe of the King's men led by Captain Collier (Patrick Allen) arrive in the area at the same time - will they uncover any wrongdoing?

COMMENTARY:

Captain Clegg, or Night Creatures as it was known overseas by a less giveaway title, was a Hammer exploit in the historical adventure stakes, a remake of the nineteen-thirties George Arliss vehicle Dr. Syn. Although it has elements of a horror film, it's not really part of that genre; in spite of the spectres haunting the marshes and the touches of macabre and the occasional brutalities, it's more of a romp, played straight but with the odd item of wit to lighten the story. It was scripted by Anthony Hinds under his John Elder pen name, with additional dialogue from Barbara S. Harper, and wins you over with its spirit and atmosphere.

That said, it's not what you could call surprising, so it's a better watch if you're feeling indulgent towards its predictability - although the film attempts to play games with the viewer's expectations, there's no doubt about who is doing the smuggling and who is really who under an assumed name. Cushing is a lot of fun here, whether preaching from his pulpit and encouraging his congregation to sing with more gusto, or revealed as the mastermind behind the illegal activities, here painting him as something of a Robin Hood figure with the best of intentions toward the villagers, if not the badly-behaved soldiers.

Every Robin Hood needs his Sheriff of Nottingham just as every good hero (or anti-hero, I guess) needs a formidable villain to show him off to his best advantage, and here the stern, booming-voiced Allen is the equal of Cushing. The plot throws in who turns out to be the daughter of Clegg, Imogene (Yvonne Romain), who works as the serving wench at the inn and wishes to marry Harry (Oliver Reed as a romantic type), the son of the squire, but how will he react when he finds out her lineage? 

Then there's the mute mulatto from the prologue who is kept on a leash by the soldiers and sniffs out any illegal alcohol - why does he seem to recognise Dr Blyss? Well, it's not too difficult to work out, is it? It's nice to see Hammer regulars like Reid and Michael Ripper, especially good as the undertaker, get a bit more to do than usual, and overall Captain Clegg proves most diverting, if never inspiring. What it really needed was a good old-fashioned swordfight. Music by Don Banks. 

REVIEW SOURCE: HERE
IMAGES: Marcus Brooks 

TV CENTURY 21 COMIC COVER: DR WHO PETER CUSHING AND WIN THREE MOVIE DALEKS

 A VINTAGE TV CENTURY 21 COMIC COVER ANNOUNCING A WIN NOT ONE BUT THREE DALEKS IN A FILM TIE IN COMPETITION WITH DR WHO WHO AND THE DALEKS MOVIE.

LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES: JULIE EGE PETER CUSHING MILK MARKETING BOARD CINEMA PROMO

VIDEO HERE:

A HAPPY NEW YEAR BRINGS IN PETER CUSHING'S CENTENARY YEAR 2013

THE START OF 2013 PETER CUSHING'S CENTENARY YEAR 1923 -2013

THE BARON'S SWAN SONG: PETER CUSHING IN FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL : HAMMER FILMS 1973

PETER CUSHING for the last time as Baron Frankenstein in Hammer Films 'FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL' It's due for release on Blu Ray in 2013.

SPEECHLESS: MADDIE SMITH ON SET FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL 1973

SPEECHLESS: The lovely Maddie Smith on the set of FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL (1973). Maddie played 'THE ANGEL' the mute assistant to Peter's Frankenstein, a handy plot and character device used in THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN another Hammer/Frankenstein film, with Katy Wild playing the speechless help on hand.

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2013 : THE CETENARY OF PETER CUSHING'S BIRTH.

We'd like to wish all our Peter Cushing followers around the world a Very Happy New Year. We've had a lot of fun with all you in 2012. Here's to the Centenary of Peter Cushing's Birth 2013! (1923 -2013) Hope you'll stay with us and join us in the celebration! Thank You!

SYMPATHY FOR FRANKENSTEN: PETER CUSHING 'THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN' (1964)

One of the few entries in the Hammer Films saga where you feel more than a little sympathy for Peter Cushing's Baron. 'When will they ever leave me alone' a reference to the ever present rampaging villagers and authorities who always seem to be his undoing in the end. The Evil of Frankenstein was Peter Cushing's third appearance as Baron Frankenstein for Hammer Films in 1964.

KATHY WILD AND KIWI KINGSTON: THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN 1964

LARGE COLOUR: Kiwi Kingston and Kathy Wild in a scene from Hammer Films 'THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN' (1964) A great performance form Peter as The Baron, but a muddled story featuring a make up for the Creation created by committee.

PETER CUSHING AS HERBERT FLAY AND VINCENT PRICE IN THE DR DEATH MAKE UP CHAIR : MADHOUSE

PETER CUSHING as Herbert Flay and VINCENT PRICE in the make up chair as Dr Death / Paul Toombes, with make up artist George Blackler during the making of MADHOUSE. (1974) Amicus.

EVEN DRACULA WAS SHOCKED! PETER CUSHING AND CHRISTOPHER LEE: HAMMER FILMS JAPANESE PRINT IN 1958

WITH THE RELEASE OF THE BLU RAY IN MAY NEXT YEAR WE'LL FINALLY GET TO SEE WHAT ALL THE FUSS WAS ABOUT.

GRAND MOFF TARKIN: PETER CUSHING: STAR WARS AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL: 2011

STAR WARS AND PETER CUSHING AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL:
On June 3rd and 4th 2011 Anthony Daniels, the actor who has portrayed C-3PO in all six Star Wars films, provided live narration for Star Wars: In Concert, at the Hollywood Bowl.

Conducted by Dirk Brossé, the John Williams' score, was performed by a full symphony orchestra and choir, and accompanied by specially edited footage from the films displayed on a three-story-tall, high-definition LED super-screen. See Peter as Grand Moff Tarkin on the image here.

The concert had its world premiere in London in 2009 and this year toured globally. Impressive!

MORECAMBE AND WISE: PETER CUSHING 'WHAT ABOUT MY MONEY?'

 

WHAT ABOUT MY MONEY?: This is lovely and we'd thought you'd like it too. Eric Morecambe was one half of a much loved comedy duo called Morecambe and Wise. Eric, whose real name was Eric Bartholomew took his stage name from the town in which he was born.. Morecambe in Lancaster, UK. There are several pieces of public art around the town commemorating Morecambe's most famous son. This is one can be found near a statue of Eric on the sea front, it names all the famous actors and celebrities who appeared on their shows and some 'one liners' of dialogue, this one of course refers to Peter's never ending saga of trying to get his cheque for his appearance in 1970. The gag ran for several guest appearances over a ten year run!

PETER CUSHING: CHRISTOPHER LEE: HAMMER FILMS DRACULA BLU RAY RESTORED