#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: HAMMER FILMS GARDEN PARTY

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#‎toocooltuesday‬ : On May 29th 2000.... just a few days after Peter Cushing's B'day... Bray Studios, the home of Hammer films was once again buzzing with the actors, directors and technicians who had once worked there and helped produced some of the finest films in the Hammer heydays. Only on this day, there was no film or work. Hammer had long moved on...

All the guests had gathered under the watchful eye and co-ordination of documentary maker, DONALD FEARNEY. This was the second of his BRAY Studios Garden Parties..Don went on to do one more even bigger event there...held on the lawn of Down Place, the very scene of the tussle with Peter and Christopher Lee in 'The Mummy' of 1959. The event was a hot ticket...only 200 places... if you were lucky to get one. It was also the 50th anniversary of Hammer films with all proceeds going to ‘The Ralph Bates’ Pancreatic Cancer Fund’. Over a staggering 80 Hammer guests attended, and the fans were kept busy collecting getting mostly free autographs and having snaps taken with the cream of the industry. Here is the roll call of just some of the guest who attended on the day: Veronica Carlson, Ingrid Pitt ,Freddie Francis, Julie Ege, Yvonne Monlaur, Andrée Melly, Michael Ripper, Suzanna Leigh, Caroline Munro, Oscar Quitak, Martine Beswick, James Bernard, Ray Harryhausen, Ian Scoones, John Forbes-Robertson, Francis Matthews, Aida Young (Hammer producer), Eddie Powell (Christopher Lee’s stunt double), Freddie Francis, Renee Glynne (Continuity Manager), Ralph Bates’ widow Virginia Wetherell (DEMONS OF THE MIND), Edward De Souza (KISS OF THE VAMPIRE), Dame Thora Hird (THE QUARTERMASS XPERIMENT) and many many others.

It was a day of glorious sunshine, though ironically, thunder and lightning finally struck at the end of the day. Very spooky, but how very appropriate and very cool! ! The perfect end for a perfect day at Hammer Studios. Sample the atmosphere of the day in this tv news report broadcast of the event. Were you there?





Footnote: This was sixteen years ago, and at that time the shaky future of Bray still being used as a production facility was as ever in doubt, but it had been just thrown a life line, which kept the studio open for a further fourteen years. Sadly, the studio lots have now been torn down, the studio is no more and in recent times the mansion house and grounds have been purchased by a private developer. The development of several apartments is on going, Down Place is also now in private ownership.

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BEHIND THE SCENES ON FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED : PCAS VIDEO ALBUM #1

A GREAT SELECTION OF OVER 30 behind the scenes pictures from the making of Hammer films  'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' (1968) starring Peter Cushing, Veronica Carlson and Simon Ward. Directed by Terence Fisher.

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ONE MORE TIME : LEE AND CUSHING GUEST SPOT MONSTERMONDAY

#‎monstermonday‬ IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN, and boy don't those weeks fly by fast? This week our monster offering is a twosome, but with a twist! Both Lee and Cushing took up the offer of appearing in Hammer-film-fan Sammy Davis Jr's wacky way -out sequel to the film 'Salt and Pepper', entitled 'One More Time' in 1970...and thank goodness, it WAS just only ONE time 😊 I have never, as yet met one person who likes the film! Anyway, both Lee and Cushing get a very quick cameo as the Baron and the Count. We've posted that clip below. But for those of you who HAVE seen their cameos. What do you think it? Hit or Miss??

Stars of 'ONE MORE TIME Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis jr and director Jerry lewis...we'll be posting Cushing and Lee's clip next. I think judging by this high octane pic from behind the scenes, it was a film made with help from...the 'BBC'..( Big Bag of Chemicals!)

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#SHERLOCKSUNDAY: MASKS OF DEATH CLIP AND WRITING FOR CUSHING

#‎sherlocksunday‬ Producer of The Masks of Death, Kevin Francis... gives some interesting insights on writing for Sherlock, Teeth and Cushing's influence on scripts...

PAID AT LAST! PETER CUSHING AND MORECAMBE AND WISE

In a final BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE to Eric Morecambe, here is the episode where Peter finally did get his MONEY!

REMEMBERING: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC MORECAMBE

Today marks the birthday of Eric Morecambe, one half of the most successful comedy team in the UK. Still missed, loved by all, with Eric's passing back in 1984, it left a hole not only in the entertainment world but also in people's hearts. With his partner, Ernie...they provided one of tv's longest running gags, 'Peter Cushing and his Money!'... he did eventually get it , but not until the boys, had a lot of fun with it, stretching over many years and several programmes. God bless, Eric, Happy Birthday and thanks for all those precious memories and laughs.

 

You'll find all of the Peter Cushing Morecambe and Wise clips that are available on our MORECAMBE AND WISE AND CUSHING ALBUM AT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

FOUR GREAT SHOTS FROM HAMMER CUSHING FRANKENSTEINS

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.

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REMEMBERING THORLEY WALTERS ON HIS BIRTHDAY

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)

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY : YVONNE FURNEAUX

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

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BLOOD BEAST TERROR BLU RAY AND DVD PCAS COMPETITION SIX WINNERS ANNOUNCED

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: FREDDIE JONES SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA AND MONTAGE CLIP

#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 MOTHERS DAY USA CUSHING MUM AND BRIDES OF DRACULA

#‎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?

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