REMEMBERING VINCENT PRICE TODAY: GIFS CLIPS AND STILLS

WE REMEMBERING VINCENT PRICE who we lost on this day in 1993. Feel free to share your memories of Vincent in the comments thread at our FEATURED POSTS at the PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

For #SILENTBUTDEADLY! today, we will posting a selection of #gifs from Our Five Vincent Price Films. No order of preference, but everyone a GEM!

NUMBER 1#: ANY LIST OF PRICE'S work MUST consider the 1959 'HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL'...you agree? Price's Frederick Loren, is a delight. Full of that 1950's spooky drive in feeling. This zoom in intro in the film, on it's own REALLY spooked me as a kid... and WOW Elisha Cook jr.... also REALLY unnerved me. Is THIS film in YOUR top Five? I have never been to a US Drive-IN before, but I am going tomorrow, so wish me luck!

YOU CAN FIND A FULL FEATURE AND GALLERY AT THE BLACKBOXCLUB.COMOUR SISTER SITE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL  HERE!

NUMBER 2# : Comedy of Terrors (1963) . . .I was very late coming to this film. My first viewing was during a UK BBC2 double bill season, with my parents and grandparents, so for me, maybe like many here..I have an emotional attachment, to this film. My grandfather in particular LOVED it. I can not remember a time when he laughed that much! Karloff in this film, has more than a fleeting resemblance, to my grandfather's brother . . . and I might say, was just as batty! Personally I love EVERYTHING about this film. I could, but I won't ramble about it, the film speaks for itself. Price, Karloff, Lorre, Rathbone...wow! Does anyone know if, the obvious title connection to a play by the Bard... was this story ever performed as a theatrical production??? I think it would work extremely well on stage...! No? One of YOUR favs maybe too??

PERSONALLY, I love EVERYTHING about this film. I could, but I won't ramble about it, the film speaks for itself. Price, Karloff, Lorre, Rathbone...wow! Does anyone know if, apart from the obvious title connection to a play by the Bard... was this story ever performed as a theatrical production??? I think it would work extremely well on stage...! No? One of YOUR favs maybe too??

YOU CAN FIND A FULL FEATURE WITH SUPPORTING GALLERY ON COMEDY OF TERRORS  AT OUR SISTER WEBSITE  HERE!

NUMBER 4# 'Theatre Of Blood' So many good things about this film. A huge favorite! and THIS SCENE is one of many that stay with you a long time after the closing credits. So MANY deaths, and each one, so well done:) Do you have a favorite death scene maybe??? In marking the anniversary of Vincent Price's passing today, I hope our little top five has whetted your appetite to revisit some of your favorite Vincent Price movies this weekend and at Halloween too!

  Full feature and gallery at our sister website THEBLACKBOXCLUB.COM HERE!

ABOVE: From our PCAS YOUTUBE Channel RARE VINCENT PRICE TALKS ABOUT Theatre Of Blood (1973)

NUMBER  5#  Amicus films,  MADHOUSE (1974) stars both Vincent Price AND Peter Cushing, in a rare opportunity to see them working together. We have several clips scattered around the website site, and watching them  in the movie, gives us just a taste of what opportunities were probably missed. MADHOUSE with  it's twists and turns, moments of camp and black humor seems in recent times, to be receiving some late but well deserved, praise. Price plays Paul Toombes as very much the victim of circumstances for much of the film, but come to the time for revenge... the film was shot under the title of 'The Revenge of Doctor Death'... all stops are out for a thrilling confrontation . . . 

PART SIX of The Amicus Films of Peter Cushing, includes a MADHOUSE FEATURE and GALLERY, JUST CLICK  HERE!

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA . . 

HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR TV SERIES RELEASED AND URSULA MEETS BABY CHRISTINA!

#TOOCOOTUESDAY! Containing the COMPLETE series, remastered and on Blu Ray for the first time..... the 'Hammer House of Horror' tv series......OUT NOW!

SPECIAL FEATURES IN THIS BOX SET! Guardian of the Abyss Episode – Widescreen Version : Commercial Break Stings: Rude Awakening Opening Montage Raw Takes : Image Gallery and PDF Material

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY! HAMMER FILMS 'SHE'! Ursula Andress greets baby Christina Lee, daughter of Christopher and Gitta. Peter can be seen in costume of Major Holly bottom right . . .

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA . . 

MOMENTS OF TERROR MONDAY 1# : VALENTINE TORMENT AND REVENGE . . .

AND SO TO OUR FIRST #MOMENTSOFTERRORMONDAY! Every MONDAY we'll be exploring 'MOMENTS' from the films and television work of Peter Cushing's career, moments that over the decades have had us perched on the edge of our seats. This MONDAY we have the whole unedited story from Peter Cushing's contribution to the Amicus film, 'TALES FROM THE CRYPT' (1972) entitled 'Poet Justice'. For those who know Cushing's work, it's one of his best. It certainly has moments that fit our remit, but also great pathos and sadness . . . Without revealing any plot details, spoilers or giving anything away, all I will say is . .. if you have never had the chance to see Peter Cushing's AWARD WINNING performance of Arthur Grimsdyke, you are in for  treat... I will say no more, except . . ..ENJOY!

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA  . . 
 

WHO IS WHO AND WHY : CALLUM MCKELVIE ON PETER CUSHING WHO MOVIES PART TWO

LAST WEEKEND I examined in-depth the first of Peter Cushing’s two ‘Dr Who’ movies, 1965’s Dr Who and the Daleks.  I made the decision to examine links between the film and TV version in an attempt to understand the hate piled towards it, a great deal of which I feel is explicitly aimed at the first film. Indeed, a lot of people’s issues with the Who movies (continuity issues, Cushing’s performance, the child-like atmosphere) are certainly toned down in Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. For one, Terry Nation’s original television script on which this story was based, 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth', is a LOT darker than 1963’s 'The Daleks', meaning this film is a little bit more serious than its predecessor.

SET DURING A DALEK OCCUPATION there is heavy use of WW2 imagery, including camps, the black market, a Dalek commandant, Daleks giving Nazi-esque salutes and a rubble strewn blitz inspired London. Of course Subotsky has done his best to make it all ‘kiddie’ friendly but the essence of the piece remains. Perhaps responding to this, Cushing tailors his portrayal of the Doctor, becoming a firmer, stronger figure, the leader type that is visible in the television series but lacking in the first film.

ALSO GONE ARE any explicit references to the building of the Tardis and the nature of the Doctor, all that is actually stated is that his name is still ‘Dr. Who’ and not ‘The Doctor’. Of course these elements from the first film never particularly troubled myself, it was simply the nature of the adaptation. Perhaps though it’s one of the reasons that this sequel receives a slightly warmer reception than its predecessor.

ONCE AGAIN THE NATION SCRIPT receives something of an overhaul, streamlining the narrative of the six-part television serial but (like the first film) keeping the rough story structure. Notable emissions this time round include a sequence in which the Daleks attempt to fire bomb London, a journey through an Alligator infested sewer and most notably the ‘Slyther’. The Slyther appeared in episodes four and five (individually titled The End of Tomorrow and The Walking Alley) and was identified as a ‘pet’ of the Black Dalek leader and a sort of guard dog.

ONE HAS TO WONDER WHY on earth this sequence was exorcised, particularly when we have an overly long and (admittedly painful) scene in which Bernard Cribbins participates in a slap-stick comedy routine with a bunch of Robomen. However several of the changes are welcome. Whilst the TV version is designed for an entirely different medium and not to be watched in one go, it does drag. Several characters (such as Ann Davies’s ‘Jenny’) are exorcised completely and for the better, whilst other characters such as Craddock are given far more dramatic deaths.

BERNARD CRIBBINS policeman, Tom is an entirely new character and the wrap-around element of him failing to prevent a robbery and then being taken back in time by the Doctor in time is a nice opening and closing segment as well as providing an easy way in for viewers unfamiliar with the premise of the television programme. Also noticeably different is the way the Daleks are destroyed by the ‘magnetic core of the earth’ rather than being blown up. One suspects this is to account for the fact that Daleks ALL OVER the earth need to be destroyed and not just those in Bedfordshire.

VISUALLY, like its predecessor, the film is a big step-up from its smaller scale television counter-part but this time, even more so. The Robomen and the Dalek Saucer are wonderful designs, that far surpass the television versions of both which were noticeably cheap looking, even for a sixties BBC budget. Indeed, the movies redesigns even managed to find their way onto the cover of the 1977 television novelisation.

ONCE AGAIN ACTION sequences are increased and expanded, the sequence in which the truck drives through the hordes of Daleks is particularly memorable as is the wonderful final shot of the saucer getting caught by the magnetism and sucked into the ground where it crashes. The visual style of the film is also a little darker than the first, even the Daleks base is an odd faded lime colour when compared to the bright oranges and blue of the first film. 

CUSHING'S DOCTOR TOO is given a more restrained make up job, the hair slicked back instead of wild, and the moustache trimmed and refined…Which brings me of course to Cushing’s performance. I hinted in my last piece that I found his performance in this film to be superior to the one given in the first film, watching them back to back however I noticed not only that but how different the two are. He’s still a warm, grandfatherly figure but here he is slightly more resilient, far more active and seems to have adopted some of the ‘master planner’ aspects of his television counter-part. 

WHEREAS IN THE FIRST FILM Cushing appeared constantly stooped over with a voice that was slightly mumbly and strained, here he speaks in a clipped-upper class accent and walks with his back straight. Sequences such as when he expects Brockley to betray him in order to find his way into the Dalek base, give Cushing an opportunity to demonstrate this by smirking slightly at his own cleverness, before slipping his gloves on, staring at the Daleks gravely and giving Brockley one last look, before being led away.

WHEN BROCKLEY BECAME A CANDIDATE FOR OUR #MONSTERMONDAY THEMED MONDAY AT THE PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

HOWEVER IT ALL PALES  in comparison to those final sequences within the Dalek base, from entering and going immediately to the microphone (giving the audience some hint of what he’s planning) to his final speech towards the Daleks. His confrontation with them in the final moments of the first film, where he and Susan are caught in a force field as the Daleks prepare to activate their bomb, shows him as somewhat weak- indeed that’s what the story requires, as Ian bursts in with the Thals and saves the day. Here however, it is the Doctor who is in charge and Cushing knows this, strutting determinedly around the set as he explains the Daleks fear of Magnetism. It is without doubt one of his greatest on-screen moments.

THE SUPPORTING CAST here is even better, with Bernard Cribbins giving a slightly more restrained performance than Roy Castle, but still expected to participate in a number of ludicrous slap stick moments. Roberta Tovey returns as Susan and works surprisingly well with the films best supporting actor, Andrew Keir. Keir is ridiculously entertaining as the gruff rebel Wyler and his scenes with Susan as they escape through the forest provide a few nice moments in a mostly action packed film.

 

IN AN INTERESTING side note it appears there was plans for a spin-off radio series to be produced and a pilot entitled ‘Journey into Time’ was recorded, with Cushing in the lead. However very little material remains documenting the show and the pilot itself has never been found.

ALL IN ALL: 'Invasion Earth 2150 A.D' is clearly the superior film. Now that’s not to criticise or lambast Dr. Who and the Daleks, but I feel that due to the continuity issues that are more strongly expressed in the first film, the sequel is often over-shadowed. Now honestly I enjoy both films. There the perfect example of Sunday afternoon entertainment, now issues they may have but very few films don’t. The entertainment factor for the Dalek movies is so high and they look SO good, that to miss out on them is to do yourself a huge disservice. Not only that, but Cushing’s portrayal in the first film is often so criticised that the subtle changes made by him between the two films often go unnoticed. A shame, as Cushing’s Doctor in this film rivals some of the best television incarnations.

PART ONE OF CALLUM MCKELVIE'S TWO PART FEATURE : HERE!

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA  . .