Peter Cushing out on location at Black Park during the shooting of 'FRANKENSTEN CREATED WOMAN' for Hammer films in (1967)
Francis Matthews asses the damage to Peter Cushing's Baron Frankenstein in Hammer films, 'THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN' (1958)
Three great photographs taken from up in the lighting, Bray studio's ceilings were too low to hold a gantry, as the sets were built in the rooms of the mansion house of Down Place.
Today we remember the great character Thorley Walters on what would have
been his 103rd birthday. Known for often playing eccentric characters
in a variety of different films.
He has made a number of appearances in
Hammer films, The Phantom of the Opera (1962), Dracula, Prince of
Darkness (1966), with Christopher Lee, Frankenstein Created Woman
(1967), Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) with Peter Cushing and
Vampire Circus (1972).
Thorley as Burgermeister in 'Vampire Circus' (1972)
He also played Dr Watson to Christopher Lee's
Holmes in Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962) and co starred
with Peter Cushing in a non hammer film Suspect (1960)
TODAY
marks the birthday of the beautiful Yvonne Furneaux, a French actress who started her career in England 1952. Later, she participated in a
number international productions such as Le Amiche (1955) and Federico
Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960).
She best known here for co-starring with
Peter Cushing in Hammer's The Mummy in which she played Peter Cushing's, wife Isobel and Princess Ananka, the object of
Kharis's affections. Furneax is now retired from acting and lives in Lausanne, Switzerland.
FULL FEATURE AND CLASSIC STILLS GALLERY OF THE MUMMY : HERE
LIKE US AND JOIN OVER 21,000 OTHER CUSHING FANS ON
MANY CONGRATULATIONS to our SIX WINNERS of our BLOOD BEAST TERROR BLU
RAY AND DVD COMPETITION! Kelly Wilson, Kev Sprack, and Ann Keil have all
bagged themselves copies of the SCREENBOUND DVD release of the film!
The answer to the DVD question was: 'The Vampire Beast Craves Blood'...
YOU CAN ORDER THE SCREENBOUND DVD OF THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR : HERE
MORE WINNERS: Paul W. J. Martin and Christopher O'Neill who both entered
via our website, and Shelia Tomkins have each won a copy of the
SCREENBOUND BLU RAY of the film! The answer to the BLU RAY question was: Basil Rathbone. .
YOU CAN ORDER THE SCREENBOUND BLU RAY OF THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR : HERE
Many, Many thanks to all who entered the competition and shared the
post. My special thanks to the team at SCREENBOUND for again coming up
with the goodies and supporting us, in another competition.
If YOUR name is included HERE as a winner, please claim your prize by emailing us at THEBLACKBOXCLUB@GMAIL.COM. I will return email you, for a postal address to
despatch your prize. Again, thank you to all who took part and
congratulations! - Marcus
#MONSTERMONDAY:Not probably someone who instantly comes to mind, when you think of 'monsters'... but he deserves the title alright... SPOILERS: Meet the brilliant, yet quite batty and lethal, Professor Julian Keeley (a delightfully dotty Freddie Jones) who appears briefly, yet ever so effectively. in the Lee and Cushing last Hammer Dracula film, The Satanic Rites of Dracula' (1973)
Keeley, friend of Cushing's Van Helsing, has been commissioned by Lee's Dracula (Mr D.D. Denham anyone?) and his dastardly Satanic cult made up of wealthy businessmen and powerful politicians, to create a virulent new strain of bubonic plague which could wipe out all mankind....and the carrier chosen for the taks being, Van Helsing's very own Grandaughter, Jessica Van Helsing (Joanna Lumley). He's quite dedicated! Mad as a bucket of frogs. He does evoke some sympathy at first, until to realise, death, decay, disease and doom, are his idea of a very good night out! Evil to the core... corrupted and terrified, sure but still A Monster...and that's why we have chosen him as this Monday's Monster! How does the Plague Propagating Professor rate in your Monster stakes? A Nice Guy Just Wacko OR MONSTER?
#mothersday Happy Mother's Day to all our Mum's and Mom's in the US! Here is Peter Cushing talking about his Mum!
The
Boy With The Curly Locks! Peter making a personal appearance at a book
signing of his first autobiography: Peter Cushing : An Autobiography.
Here he poses with a page from the book, a photograph of himself aged
three, with long hair and wearing a dress.... 'Mother so wanted a girl!'
#MOTHERSDAYWhat a horrible fate to befall a caring and protective Mother...
Baroness Meinster in THE BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960) : The wonderful actress
Martita Hunt here with Peter Cushing as Van Helsing. Martita told
director Terence Fisher that she didn't want to wear the fangs that had
been made for her, that she ... didn't need them. She does a superb job
of portraying the love and loss of her son, the Baron Meinster ...and
the falling victim to his final act of betrayal, to a protective
Mother... All sorts of great stories about Martita Hunt's short time
with Hammer films, she was one very special lady and the last of a dying
breed of classically trained actresses. Having her in the cast of
'Brides' was a very good move on Hammer's part. How do you rate Martita
Hunt in Brides??
Dances, Banquets and BALLS!:
Martita
Hunt as Baroness Meinster. There is a story that when Maritia was
rehearsing the scene where the Baroness laments the loss of the time
when the château was once the social hub of parties, banquets and balls,
she inadvertently paused and placed prominence on the word....'balls'.
Everyone in attendance, broke out laughing, Fisher included...she
repeated this in the take that was shot and printed in the final cut of
'Brides'.... #mothersday
#MOTHERSDAYUSA: So,
WHO introduced you to Peter Cushing and his work..his films, his name? Through out our time here on FACEBOOK and this website, many of
you tell us about the first Cushing film you saw. Sometimes as a child of maybe 9 or
11. Some of you caught the films on the US Horror Movie Hosts shows, some of
you here in the UK caught your first Cushing movie during the double
bill seasons that ran on BBC tv during the 70's and 80's....But there is
one factor that comes up many times.... Many of you watched your first #HAMMERHORROR or a film featuring Peter Cushing with your MUM /
MOM/ MOTHER even grandmother... How about you?
There are MORE posts, MORE rare vintage images and over 21,000 followers. Lots of comments, debates and friendly conversation. You'll find a warm welcome and MUCH more besides!
SIX COPIES of THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR up for grabs! 3x BLU RAYS and 3
x DVDS. Pick which format you would like to win by answering the
relevant question!
Please enter the competiton by sending your answers to our EMAIL ADDRESS theblackboxclub@gmail.com ONLY.
The Competition CLOSES MONDAY MAY 8th MIDNIGHT GMT, when all of the correct
answers will be placed in a wardrobe full of moth balls, shaken and six
winning names chosen at random! We will announce winners here on TUESDAY
9th at 6pm gmt.
As with ALL Peter Cushing Appreciation Society competitions, this competition is open to EVERYONE, no matter where in the world you may be. Should you be lucky to win, we will get YOUR prize to your door!
#onthesetsaturday
: A rare and unpublished on set photograph of Peter Cushing during the
making of 'NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT' (1973). To the left is director, Peter
Sasdy, who directed Peter again in the 'LA GRANDE BRETECHE' (1973)
episode of Orson Welles Great Mysteries for Anglia television…… One of
the less talked about Cushing and Lee films... are you fan?
Peter Cushing as Baron Frankenstein in Hammer films, 'The Curse of Frankenstein' (1957) This and the other colour tinted portrait, were originally black and white vintage publicity photographs.
In the make up chair, Christopher Lee lends a hand to make up man, Phil Leakey in drying his make up for his Creature from Hammer films, 'The Curse of Frankenstein' starrin Ptere Cushing, Hazel Court and Robert Urqhart, directed by Terence Fisher.
Henry Montsash , hairdresser on 'The Curse of Frankenstein', didn't just do the pretty stuff!
Phil Leakey working on Christopher Lee in preparation for The Creature in Hammer films, The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) at Bray studios.
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