RICHARD E GRANT THE INSPIRATION FOR GENERAL PRYDE AND A SELECTION OF CHOICE BLU RAY AND DVD CASES

A VERY POPULAR POST AT the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! right now. I wonder if any of you missed this message from actor Richard E Grant last year too? How wonderful for Peter Cushing to still be inspiring others, '..in his moment of triumph' 😉 The 'HEAD in the BOX' here is the amazing bust figure of Cushing's Tarkin, by Californian based sculptor Jordu Schell. It still stands as an amazing work of art!

AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE TODAY, I asked our friends and followers, how many of them have a collection of #PeterCushing DVD's or Blu Rays. The answers of YES or No, came flooding, which paved the way for our next post today, 'Can You Tell Us YOUR favourite TOP THREE covers to your Cushing Blu Rays, DVD's or even VHS or BETA  releases'. Everyone was asked to maybe send in selfies of the covers, so everyone could enjoy and identify their choices too! It's a post that is slowly growing, right now. The choices have been interesting, with everything from the Final Cut blu ray 'Captain Clegg and the dvd 'The Abominable Snowman' to the Second Sight twin release of 'The House That Dripped Blood' and  'Asylum' limited editions to covers featured on the front of lesser known European releases! This is how the feature was kick-started . . .

"I KNOW MOST OF YOU out there have told me today, you are the proud owners of several gems of #PeterCushing dvd's, #blurays and even #VHS films. Some of you have just started collecting, others have been adding 'case by case' to that series of sagging shelves or book cases for decades. . ." 

WELL, THIS ISN'T ABOUT the quality of the film INSIDE, this is all about and focusing on that little extra value you expect these days, when you purchase the release. The COVER DESIGN! It's no longer enough for distributors to just slap a 30 - 50 year old #cinema poster on the front of the case. We want something that looks amazing! So, from your private collection, be it blu ray, dvd or indeed VHS or Beta box, show us your THREE favourite Cushing film cases designs. It's your choices, for whatever reason, but I would love to know why you made those choices? 😊Take a #selfie or pic or even use ads or promo posts of the cases covers, it's your choice. #JUSTTHREE!"
 

ABOVE : A SECTION FROM THE FEATURE ON THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE 'I do not know the other cases of releases. I am guessing both are collections and compilations. Someone did send me scans of the sleeves though a while ago now. I do like the gamble of lesser known distributors releases though. They take more risks with their case sleeve designs, usually working with limited resource visuals. The one on the far left looks like they didn't have the resource to check what they had to work with, so flipped the lovely colour photograph of Peter. A habit some of the tabloid UK newspapers and magazines still have a annoying knack of doing, based on the weird rule of things looking into the spine of the pages!! So buttons on coats along with breast pockets, facial moles and hair partings are the wrong way around!' 

FINALLY ABOVE! I'll throw this one in, just because it's quite rare that a vintage #PeterCushing film gets the whole 'triple treat-treament' : blu ray extras, restoration and #STEELBOOK package with #GrahamHumphries artwork cover! This was the work of Screenbound Films in #2016, who very generously donated TWO of these beauties for me to offer up as prizes in a promotional PCASUK #competition. I cried and waved goodbye, when they were packed and dropped into the sack at the post office, for our two very lucky winners!

NEWS : KINO RELEASES ARTWORK FOR BLU RAY CASE OF 1960 'FLESH AND THE FIENDS' AKA 'MANIAC' BLU RAY!

NEWS: KINO has released artwork design for their much awaited first time blu ray release of a great Peter Cushing1960 film, 'Flesh and the Fiends'! What do you think? This film comes with some extras, but for me, just the chance to see this often forgotten little gem, on blu ray is a plus enough! Produced in what promises to be quite an experience in black and white, it carries a fabulous cast of actors, Cushing, Donald Pleasence, Billy Whitelaw and George Rose all at the top of their game and all giving their best supported by brilliant John Gilling's screenplay and direction. It's OUT on July 7th 2020 and like most KINO CLASSICS releases will be a 'Region A' blu ray. Taking pre-orders now, this one will sell like hot-cakes!

THIS UNDER-VALUED corker, has been struggling around in a very depressing state of ratty, scratched and dusty prints for far too long, so the news of this well timed blu ray release is quite wonderful. . . and here gem of a clip to show you why! Cushing was a master at such scenes as this one. If you like his turn in the 'Tongue slapping of the crusty and opinionated aged residents' in Hammer films, 1969 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'... you'll LIKE this clip which can be found at the =FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE TODAY! . . ! 😊Stay Well AND Dandy Everyone 😉 - Marcus

ABOVE : THE PCASUK FULL FEATURE AND STILLS GALLERY RIGHT HERE!

ALERT! SUPERB NEW BOOK PUBLISHED AND WAITING FOR ITS PLACE IN YOUR COLLECTION PLUS VINCENT AND THE MONSTER MASH PLUS 'BASKERVILLES' PART TWO!

FOLLOWING OUR POST of #VincentPrice singing of 'When Day Is Done' last week, this prompted quite a few messages at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE requesting this little ditty! Vincent sings, ladies dance and with some neat editing it works! Released back in 1977, this almost laid the path for a certain hit to come maybe? Vincent was far from the only one to record his own version of this 1962, Bobby 'Boris' Pickett hit. #TheBeachBoys, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Zacherle the Cool Ghoul and #TheMisfits also had a go. Even with the amazing Leon Russell providing the piano breaks on Pickett's recording, the BBC failed to see the funny side and banned the song for being ‘too morbid.’ in 62! You can catch VP and his 'Monster Mash'  at the PCASUk Fan Page : HERE!

HERE'S WHAT I WILL be spending my pocket money on tomorrow 😲 . . and if you love the work of #VincentPrice and are also interested in finding out about what made him tick and his time in the UK . . . . . you will too! I NEED a GOOD read and this one I know will be that and more! LOVE the cover art, Mark 😉

#VincentLeonardPrice JUNIOR DIED ON on 25 October 1993 from lung cancer, and complications of emphysema and Parkinson’s disease. His death left family, friends and fans with a great sense of loss, especially in Britain where The Times' obituary described him as ‘the king of modern horror movies.’ Price was significantly influential in Britain. When American International Pictures, who Price was under contract with, established a base in London in the sixties, most of his subsequent movies were made in the UK. His British output consolidated his popularity among fans, and provided him with many career defining performances.

THIS BOOK EXPLORES the British films of Vincent Price. From 'Masque of the Red Death' and 'The Tomb of Ligeia', through 'The Abominable Doctor Phibes' and 'Theatre of Blood', to 'The Monster Club' and 'Edward Scissorhands', author Mark Iveson leaves no stone unturned in his love and appreciation of Price’s work. A fascinating tribute to a man who can never be equalled or replaced.

YOU CAN ONLY ORDER YOUR COPY OF VINCENT PRICE : THE BRITISH CONNECTION: HERE! 

PRAISE FOR MARK IVESON'S PREVIOUS BOOK

 'CURSED HORROR STARS'

‘Fascinating and authoritative.’ 

The Consulting Detective

'A literate and pacey read. Informative and well researched.’

Amazon Reviewer

'Film stars and icons we all thought we knew! Who knew

they were so much more besides? Mark Iveson did!'

Marcus Brooks UK Peter Cushing Appreciation Society

OUR #WATCHWITHCUSHING! TODAY is PART TWO of 'The Hound of the Baskerville's' starring #PeterCushing and Nigel Stock as #SherlockHolmes and #DrWatson . .RIGHT NOW in our WATCH PARTY at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE.   IF you have any requests of things you would like to see posted here during our 'lock-down' #WatchingWithCushing, please let me know!, and I will try my best to share it at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page. . . . Please keep safe and look after one another 😉Marcus

JOIN US FOR POSTS EVERY DAY AT THE FACEBOOK OFFICIAL

 PCASUK FAN PAGE!

PART ONE OF 'BASKERVILLES' AND VINCENT PRICE INTERVIEW 1973

#WATCHWITHCUSHING! . . 'Can you hear GROWLING' ? For your weekend, and continuing our Peter Cushing Sherlock Holmes posts, over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE is Part One of a classic. Said by many to be the best of the BBC Cushing series. You think? We all know the ending, but it's a LOT of fun getting there 😃I'll be posting and sharing Part Two tomorrow!

HERE'S AN INTERVIEW shot back in 1973, when both #PeterCushing and #VincentPrice were busy making the AIP Amicus films, 'Madhouse'. This section of the interview, was shot by the #BBC tv show 'Film Night 74' also contained a longer section with both #PeterCushing and Price. This is a separate piece with just Vincent. Always good value for the lolly, VP starts with self-depreciation, slips in about six jokes and even ends with gallows humour! 😆 I have never seen a dull interview with Vincent Price..and you can catch this one today, at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE take care and stay safe, 😉- Marcus

CLICK HERE  TO FIND TWO GREAT RARE PHOTO GALLERIES of behind the sceneson the VINCENT PRICE and PETER CUSHING AIP Amicus films 'MADHOUSE'. Below TWO PCASUK promo banners during the launch of the galleries on our socila media platforms . .

ROY ASHTON MAKE UP ARTIST REMEMBERED

REMEMBERING Master Make Up Artist, Roy Ashton, who was born today 17th April 1909! There is so much you could say about Roy, but his work kind of says it all! So many amazing creations in what was the golden era of Hammer films, Amicus and Tyburn too! I was very humbled to spend time with him at his home and while he was working, and during these times saw at first hand what a true gentleman he was and quite the perfectionist, with a lovely dry wit and friendly character. Roy sadly left us in 1995, but left behind for us, a wonderful and original body of work, that still entertains and frightens us today! Personally, his letters I still treasure, his work I still very much am in awe of, for sure

OVER AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE I have asked everyone to tell us and share their favourite 'Ashton Creation' in the comments below. BELOW is an impressive filmography of Roy's work. A #HappyBirthday, Roy Ashton a true magician and creator of things of nightmares and dreams too 

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
The Horror Dracula (1958)
The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)
The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959)
The Mummy (1959)
The Stranglers of Bombay (1959)
The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960)
The Curse of the Werewolf (1960)
The Terror of the Tongs (1961)
These Are the Damned (1962)
The Phantom of the Opera (1962)
Night Creatures (1962) Captain Clegg
The Pirates of Blood River (1962)
 

ABOVE: A WHILE AGO in one of our weekly PCASUK TUESDAY TOUGHY questions, we celebrated ROY ASHTON'S work with PETER CUSHING in 'Tales from the Crypt' (1972)

Paranoiac (1963)
The Old Dark House (1963)
The Crimson Blade (1963)
Nightmare (1964)
The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)
The Kiss of the Vampire (1964)
The Gorgon (1964)
 

Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1964)
The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb (1964)
The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964)
The Skull (1965)
She (1965)
The Plague of the Zombies (1966)
The Reptile (1966)
The Devil Rides Out (1968)
The House That Dripped Blood (1970)
Hands of the Ripper (1971)
The Devils (1971)
Tales from the Crypt (1972)
The Creeping Flesh (1972)
Asylum (1972)
The Vault of Horror (1973)
The Ghoul (1975)

SEE OUR POSTS every day at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE HERE! and the EXPANDED version here!! EXTRA IMAGES and FEATURES every day here at our WEBSITE!

'#WATCHWITHCUSHING!' POISON DARTS PEARLS AND MURDER! LOCK-DOWN ENTERTAINMENT

#WATCHWITHCUSHING! IT'S GREAT TO SEE the sharing of #PeterCushing's #SherlockHolmes episodes have been so popular in our PCASUK 'Watch With Cushing Parties' 😊Those you messaging and requesting other episodes from the series, just need to dip into our post from the last three weeks. You will find them there😉 Meanwhile, here we have 'The Sign Of Four' my personal favourite from this Cushing BBC television series, though many see this episode as the weakest!?

OF THE SIX #surviving episodes, from the BBC's 'trashing and wiping tapes fiasco' The Sign of Four' I certainly find it more entertaining and interesting... Peter complained there was too little time for preparation, and some consider the direction of William Sterling, to be without map or steering device! I find these pressures to have enhanced the experience in my viewing. Cushing has to think, react and perform much more quickly. Recorded live, I am sure everyone was flying by the seat of their pants.. . 

NIGEL STOCK AGAIN proves to be a solid and dependable Watson and Cushing's Sherlock at times, leaves his tired and tested performance... all interesting stuff. Supporting actor honours go to John Stratton, another familiar face in the Cushing universe (he would go on to play the comically blustering asylum director in #Hammerfilms / Cushing's 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell', 1972), who gives a good account of himself as the clueless and supercilious Inspector Jones. Howard Goorney, a busy character actor whose credits include 'The Evil of Frankenstein' (1964), '#BloodonSatan’sClaw' (1970) and 'The Offence' (1972), also shows up in a small role. I hope this entertains, that you and yours are safe. Take care of yourself and each other, my friends

JOIN US AT OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE HERE!! 

STRIPPING, POETRY AND POE : WITCHFINDER VINCENT PRICE ENTERTAINS!

#WATCHWITHCUSHING! FOLLOWING SOME REQUESTS I have received for suggestions of posts that you would like to see shared here.. This one is for Shelia P, Dale J, Michelle J and Matt K 😃They have requested this interview with Peter Cushing's good friend and twice screen buddy, #VincentPrice, having seen it on the PCASUK YouTube Channel 😉My pleasure. It's a fine and VERY amusing interview, where Vincent certainly entertains 😄

#WATCHWITHCUSHING! AND SO... our last clip of the day at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page and a suggestion from Stuart H, Audrey K, Rob Sadler, Barbara C, Emma Teile, M Aldrich and Tori F . . if you are ready to sleep, what better way than a sweet lullaby from Vincent Price from the end credit sequence of the 1974 'Madhouse' starring Vincent, Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry, Adrienne Corri and Linda Hayden. Despite the gnashing of teeth it got from the critics and even some fans who today, see it as a waste of the talents of Price and Cushing,  it still stands as one of my personal favs. YOU can hear this clip at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! HERE! This one is for you too, #JimMorrow 😉 Sweet dreams, sleep tight, sleep well, stay safe 😉 - Marcus 😴😴 💤💤

RAW FOOTAGE TV INTERVIEW AND SURPRISE PARTY!

#WATCHWITHCUSHING! There are some clips of #PeterCushing, which I really enjoy and make me smile. Here are two of them. The first is a raw UK TV studio interview. Here PC is very much 'Johnny On The Spot' Charming and relaxed. Quite the gent, wit style and having fun. The second, is a clip of more raw footage, that some of you may have seen here before. It's Peter Cushing's Surprise 80th Birthday Party! Here of course he is older, but still able to have a lot of fun and is quite genuinely surprised and happy to see everyone. This always make me smile. I hope you smile and enjoy this too! Stay safe everyone and look after yourselves 😊 You'll find the clip at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE HERE!!

NOT THAT LONG AGO IN A GALAXY NOT THAT FAR AWAY : NOTHING IS ORIGINAL

IF YOU WRITE, BE IT FOR a blog, facebook page or even for your own amusement, do you ever feel like all the great ideas have already been taken by the ‘real’ writers out there?  Do you ever think that maybe you’re not capable of an original idea? Me? I fight with it daily! Pablo Picasso once said, 'Nothing is truly original; we all build on the work, knowledge, wisdom and accomplishments of others'. In the inspiring book, 'Steal Like an Artist, 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative - by Austin Kleon, he states, 'Nobody is born with a style or a voice. We don’t come out of the womb knowing who we are. In the beginning, we learn by pretending to be our heroes.  We learn by copying' and 'We’re talking about practice here, not plagiarism – plagiarism is trying to pass someone else’s work off as your own.  Copying is about reverse engineering.  It’s like a mechanic taking apart a car to see how it works!' With these gems of wisdom already in mind, I recently came across a quite startling feature, that has appeared at the tvandmovienews.com site. 

ABOVE : Even without the photograph of Peter Cushing provided on the right. I think most film buffs would identify the illustration on the left to have more than a shadow of a resemblance to Cushing's appearance as Grand Moff Tarkin in 'Star Wars' (1977)? When you find that the character is also of ranking and an Ambassador in the 1975 Valérian volume 'Ambassador of the Shadows', it clicks?

ABOVE : In the 1971's Empire of a Thousand Planets, the figure on the left appears as a member of a strange group known as the 'Enlightened'. When he is unmasked, he reveals a  face that is damaged, scarred and burned, similarly to Darth Vader's on the right in the 1983 'The Return of the Jedi'

THE FEATURE and writing appears uncredited and explores a story that seems to have been quite common knowledge in the 'Star Wars' community for quite sometime, but for me, not being a reader of comic sci fi fiction, it's all news! It's such a startling theory and reveal, that I had to go look it up further. As it's base is grounded on the idea of plagiarism and theft, I was somewhat taken aback to see WHOLE slabs of this feature, reproduced typo errors and all, on other websites and blogs! Ironic or what? So, in presenting and writing my own take on this story.. I have to tread carefully. 😉😀 All the comic frames, are indeed not mine, I have 'borrowed them' from www.core77.com and http://www.tvandmovienews.com. Here goes . . 

ABOVE : The Millennium Falcon maybe one of the most loved and respected space craft in sci fi cinema history. Can we say after all the work, the multiple design stages and planning that the Millennium Falcon went through, that this was also a lift from the 1971's The Empire of a Thousand Planets comic? I am not sure . .

IF YOU WERE one of the fortunates, who is old enough to remember when the FIRST 'Star Wars' movie was released back in May 25th 1977... just one day before Peter Cushing's 64th birthday, two days before Christopher Lee's and Vincent Price's birthdays... then undoubtedly you'll also remember leaving the cinema with total glee and wonder at the whole amazing package, you had just witnessed! For many, myself included I was stunned by the scale of the special effects, the sounds, the music, the 'other universe' creatures, the whole emotional ride and the fact my favourite actor, Peter Cushing who up until this film, had been taking a bit of a back-seat as far as 'amazing movies' were concerned was now also on that big screen and part of this mind blowing, fresh, new and exciting film! As far as movie experiences were concerned, as a teenager I seriously asked myself how could I ever be THIS excited over a new movie ever again!

ABOVE : The two outfits here do bear a striking similarity to each other, although Industrial Light & Magic costume designer Aggie Rodgers, cited the work of fantasy artist Frank Frazetta as her main inspiration. The Empire Strikes Back, Leia Organa is enslaved by a morbidly obese ruler (Jabba the Hutt), and forced to wear a revealing slave-girl outfit. Believe it or not, almost the exact same thing happens to Laureline in the 1972 Valérian volume World Without Stars; although, in this case, the overweight monarch is Emperor Alzafar, who rules the city of Valsennar and has pioneered a system where women are basically responsible for everything, including fighting in wars.

ABOVE : In the 1971 'Valérian and Laureline' compilation 'Empire of a Thousand Planets', Valérian is frozen is a substance that bears an uncanny resemblance to Carbonite, the substance Han Solo was frozen in nearly a decade later in 1980's 'The Empire Strikes Back'. As pointed out, by The Film Theorists, Valérian's memory loss while frozen matches up a known symptom of Carbonite sickness.

MY NEXT QUESTION WAS, who was responsible for all this? What super gifted writer, put together such a thrilling concept, impressive script and very likeable and fascinating characters? The answer was quickly discovered, by me on the TV news that evening, a quite shy, quietly spoken bearded guy, from the US called George Lucas, who had been nursing the whole concept for years. It was his baby, his creation that he had been touting around the studios for quite some time. Wow! What I would have given to have just a few grains of his imaginative brain cells back then!

ABOVE : The 'Moss Eisley Cantina' is one of the Star Wars universe's key locations, as well as one of its most popular. While its overall layout was most likely based on real-life cantinas, there's no denying the fact that an 'alien bar' with a certain semblance of sameness appears on the pages of Valérian.

NOW? I AM NOT SOOOO SURE 😲😗😃 This weekend, reaching my fifth week of self isolation, during this very weird and frightening time, as well as weighing up the pros and cons of IF I should start decorating the hall and  living room, I have been chewing over, the starling evidence of WHERE did George source those Star Wars characters, concepts and ideas? Taking into account of ol Pablo's point, I am not sure what I think or where Lucas lies in the whole scheme of things. Certainly, illustrator and artist, Jean-Claude Mezieres knows EXACTLY where his thoughts lie. It seems that George, for all three original Star Wars films had 'borrowed' quite liberally from the 'ideas and concepts' pantry of a French comic series called 'Valerian and Laureline' and had done so, without making reference or credit to its creators. This very popular sci fi comic was amazingly illustrated by one Jean- Claude Mezieres and written by Pierre Christin.

AT THE TIME, of the release of 'Star Wars' and the following two other movies, Mezieres was said to be, quite understandably, incensed. Now with both gentlemen in late seventies, they have simmered a little helped by their work finally getting some well deserved credit and influencing the 2017 film, 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets', directed by a major fan, Luc Beeson! 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE to share your thoughts on this feature, it is also being posted and shared on the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE TODAY! Your comments and input would be most welcome!