HENRY OSCAR REMEMBERED : BRIDES AND SHERLOCK

HERE IS AN ACTOR with a name, that probably most of us would have forgotten, but certainly we know his face 😉 Today marks the birthday of HENRY OSCAR or Henry Wale as some would have known him, back in the day. Oscar changed his name and began acting in 1911, having studied under Elsie Fogerty at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

ON FILM OSCAR played professional characters, dentist for Hitchcock, school teachers, doctors, bank mangers, all usually stiff, authoritative and at times pompous, this was probably why Terence Fisher cast him as Herr Lang, head of the charming 'School for Young Ladies' in Hammer films 'The Brides of Dracula' in 1960. Again, pompous, his ego is deflated when Peter Cushing flashes his 'Dr Van Helsing' 'calling card'! It's a lovely scene. Oscar was to work with Cushing again on November 4th 1968, in episode 9 'Thor Bridge' of Cushing's BBC 'Sherlock Holmes' television series, as Bates. Sadly this episode was wiped in the great BBC 'spring clean', so we have no idea or images just how that looked. But my guess is, just like in 'Brides' both Cushing and Oscar, would have squeezed and presented quite a show!

OSCAR ALSO APPEARED in a wide range of films, Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), The Four Feathers (1939), Hatter's Castle (1942), Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948), Beau Brummell (1954), The Little Hut (1957), Oscar Wilde (1960), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Long Ships (1963) and Murder Ahoy! (1964). Today, he isn't forgotten 😊Please join us in remembering and celebrating a Very Happy Birthday to Henry Oscar today! 😉

REMEMBERING ERIC PORTMAN : THE MAN WHO FINALLY DIED

REMEMBERING Actor Eric Portman, who was born today 13th July 1901 in West #Halifax, Yorkshire, UK. He was so convincing and extremely good at playing 'in the cinema audiences perception' mean and calculating German spies and /or #Naziofficers, that many believed he actually was German, or at least #Austrian. Eric had a very distinguished career on stage and in many much admired and respected British films. Among his many film credits are “49th Parallel”, “Went the Day Well”, “Daybreak” and “Millions Like Us”. Eric only appeared in one film from #Hollywood, “The Prince and the Pauper” in 1937.

PORTMAN APPEARED in an absolute gem of a 1963 Peter Cushing film, entitled 'The Man Who Finally Died'. For what sounds something like, associated with one of PC's many fantasy genre films, this one is nothing of the sort. A tight, dramatic and often very suspenseful thriller, starring Stanley Baker, Georgina Ward, Nigel Green, Niall MacGinnis and Mai Zetterling, and directed by Quentin (#Cash On Demand) . . .it's a film that in recent years emerged on dvd and if it's £5 or £25, you'll find much worth every penny. It keeps you guessing and all cast are on their toes, with Porter, Baker and Cushing working together so well. Eric Porter sadly died in Cornwall in 1969. 

I FIND IT CURIOUS that these days, so little is known about Eric Portman’s work as he appeared in many major British films of the Gaumont era, and many with some of our best directors. Happy Birthday Eric Portman, never dull, always entertaining 😉 Trivia : I am today sat in the home of a friend, whose house is less than four houses away from the home where Stanley Baker was born and lived until he was a teenager! 

REMEMBERING BARRY WARREN : BORN TODAY : KISS OF THE VAMPIRE : FRANKENSTEIN

FOR Petra Zemanova 😊 TODAY we remembering the BIRTHDAY of UK actor BARRY WARREN, born today in 1933. Trained at RADA, graduating in 1955, Warren was a handsome very competent supporting actor in several theatre productions, and spent the majority of his career on UK tv screens. 'The Wednesday Play' 'Play of the Month', two characters in the Brit TV classic 'The Avengers in 1966 and and 68. 

AROUND  1975, he vanished completely and continued his life... in a completely different role and gender. WE know him best probably for his work with Hammer Films and the excellent role he played with Peter Cushing in 'Frankenstein Created Woman as Karl in 67.

WARREN ALSO worked with Christopher Lee as Manuel in 'The Devil Ship Pirate's' in 64 and probably his best role for #HammerFILMS as creepy Carl Ravna in 'The Kiss of the Vampire' in 1963. Today we remember Warren and the edge he brought to those 'bad cads' in 'Created Woman' the haunted Ravna in '#KissoftheVampire' and lets not forget his softer side even against the ranks of Lee's Captain Robeles authority! all very sound roles and performances in three classic Hammer films! Happy Birthday and thank you, Barry

ACTOR FREDDIE JONES DIES AGED 91

THE VERY SAD NEWS of the passing of actor FREDDIE JONES reached us last night, has been marked with many comments and shared messages of condolences at the PCASUK Facebook Fan Page, yesterday and today. Freddie was 91 and had an impressive film, television and theatre career that stretched over a very busy sixty years.  Most #Hammerfilm and #PeterCushing fans will know him for  two Hammer classics, first Hammers Frankenstein Must be Destroyed and 'The Satanic Rites Of Dracula'. 

MORE ON FREDDIE JONES and 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' HERE!

IN 'DESTROYED' Freddie gave us a Baron's creation that was full of pathos and sadness. Who can forget his duel with Cushing in the final moments, where Professor Richer cranks up the tension by trapping Cushing's Baron in a blazing house!? Jones's portrayal of Frankenstein's indulgence, is probably is most complex of all Hammer films 'Frankenstein Monsters', who manages to spin the title of 'Monster' neatly into the lap of Cushing's Baron. There are few actors who could so convincingly share the interplay between Cushing Hammer characters and themselves. The tension and  dread was pushed even a little further in the scenes which Freddie Jones and Cushing shared in #hammerfilms 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula'. Freddie's Professor Julian Keeley wobbles and sways from fear, to dread, lust and disgust in a shared A two-hander scene with Cushing, that is probably the highlight of the film. 

MORE ON FREDDIE JONES and 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' in our PCASUK GALLERY and REVIEW : HERE!

FREDDIE JONES also frequently worked with David Lynch with roles in 'The Elephant Man' (1980), 'Dune' (1984) and 'Wild at Heart' (1990 ) His role as Inspector Baynes in Granada television's 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes' in 1988, with Jeremy Brett as Holmes is a gem. Freddie Jones always brought much to every role. You never knew quite what was going to be on the table, but it was always entertaining, convincing and very real.

WIN SCREAM FACTORY COLLECTORS EDITION OF 'FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN' TODAY!

THE LATEST PCASUK COMPETITION has just been launched at the You may want to nip along there and maybe try your luck at bagging one of a PAIR of PRIZES : A copy of the SCREAM FACTORY Collectors Edition of Peter Cushing's 'FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN'! As ever, our competition is OPEN to everyone, whoever, wherever you are! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE and be sure to enter and send your entry BEFORE FRIDAY AUGUST 2ND 2019!

ABOVE: ABOVE OUR PCASUK  full FEATURE REVIEW of the SCREAM FACTORY release, including GALLERY SPEC, EXTRAS and CAPTURES! CLICK HERE!
 

SCREAM FACTORY 'FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN' BLU RAY COLLECTORS EDITION: EXTRAS AND BONUS MATERIAL:

NEW 2K Scan From The Original Film Elements
NEW Audio Commentary With Author/Film Historian Steve Haberman And Filmmaker/Film Historian Constantine Nasr
NEW Interview With Actor Robert Morris
NEW Interview With Camera Assistant/Clapper Loader Eddie Collins And 2nd Assistant Director Joe Marks
 

Audio Commentary By Actors Derek Fowlds, Robert Morris, And Film Historian Jonathan Rigby
World Of Hammer Episode The Curse Of Frankenstein
World Of Hammer Episode Hammer Stars: Peter Cushing
Hammer Glamour Featurette
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spots
Radio Spots
Still Galleries – Movie Stills, Posters, And Lobby Cards

ORDER YOUR OWN COPY HERE: CLICK HERE!

ABOVE: The Girl From Pomerania : The PCASUK feature and gallery on the life and career of SUSAN DENBERG : CLICK HERE!

ABOVE AND BELOW: Frankenstein Created Woman is one of the few Peter Cushing films, to have been included in the weekly #MONSTERMONDAY role call! . .  SHOCKING! 😲😉😃 

WIN SCREAM FACTORY CUSHING DENBERG HAMMER FILM CLASSIC : THORLEY WALTERS REMEMBERED

WE HAVE 'CREATED' a further treat for you tomorrow 😉 WHAT Makes this movie so great? Peter Cushing? Susan Denberg? Thorley Walters? Robert Morris? Duncan Lamont? It's SCREAM FACTORY'S Collector's Edition, UP FOR GRABS! Directed by Terence Fisher. It's a Hammer film classic. Be HERE or Miss OUT 😀 -Marcus

REMEMBERING THORLEY WALTERS.... There can't be many fans of Hammer films or of #PeterCushing or #ChristopherLee, who have never seen actor #ThorleyWalters! Once one of the Hammer films 'repertory company' of actors, who like Michael Ripper and many others, was a face who connected with some of the best of the studios films over a twenty year period. 'Dracula Prince of Darkness in 1968 with Christopher Lee, Hammer's Phantom of the Opera with Herbert Lom, was Lee's Watson in ' Terence Fisher's Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace both in 1962. 'The Man who Haunted Himself and Vampire Circus in 1970 and The Adventure of #SherlockHolmes' Smarter Brother' in 1975 and The People That time Forgot in 1977. Walters also appeared some great big screen British comedies and mass of tv drama's including 'Tinker Tailor, Solider, Spy in 1979.

PERSONALLY, my favorite Walter's performance, was as Dr Herzt with Peter Cushing in #Hammerfilms ' #Frankenstein Created Woman' in 1967. It's one thing to play the strange guy possessed by #CounDracula in Dracula Prince of Darkness, it's wacky it's weird and amusing playing an extension on the classic Stoker / Renfield character, but his playing with great emotional clout, a character who shows a quite #touching friendship to Cushing's Baron Frankenstein and displays such care and compassion to #SusanDenberg's Christina, in very little screen time, is quite a skill . . . Everyone here will have their favorite Thorley Walter's role, they were all gems really, be it with the scamps from #StTrinians or Colonel Bloodstock in #JonPertwee's excellent children's programme #WorzelGummidge, Thorley Walters was ALWAYS able to connect with audiences and left us with a rich and very entertaining cast of performances and roles. Bless you, Thorley 😊

A LONG TIME AGO NAME AND CLAIM YOUR ROY ASHTON FAVORITE!

OVER AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE #TOOCOOLTUESDAY! we are sharing some of the work and GENIUS of make up artist, Roy Ashton 😮 . . . and two pics from A LONG time ago and asking how many Ashton films can you name which are pictured on the above banner and WHICH are your THREE favs? 😉 Marcus

ABOVE: A letter from Peter Cushing to Roy Ashton, makes reference to the days that Peter remembers days spent in the make chair, listening to both Ashton and Christopher Lee and their impromptu singing!