HANDS AND ARMS UP FOR DRACULA RITES PLUS ANTHONY HINDS REMEMBERED TODAY

WHEN THE JOB first came in, for artist Tom Chantrell for the Hammer film, 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' he was probably, as in the case with most of Hammer's... 'design a cinema poster to show the money men first' tried and tested plans.... given the most basic outline plot details of the film. He knew, as well as Dracula, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and girls... a black magic type of ritual was also on the cards;) So, he started designing, as he had done with so many of the Hammer Dracula's cinema posters before, using his camera, and snapped a few shots of himself, in dramatic poses. These would act as visual references, for the pose he had in mind for Dracula on the poster. As there was a rooster / cockerel sacrifice mentioned in the opening moments of the film plot notes, THIS gave him an idea! What better, than an amazing central illustration of Dracula, with a blood dripping dagger...and slain cockerel?! Bird in one hand and dagger in the other, both held up high in a nightmare offering?

ALL WENT WELL, until the quite impressive finished art work was presented to Hammer films! Sadly, even as amazing as it looked, it was deemed visually, a little too harsh, and it's hints of voodoo and demonic going on's, may caused problems with censorship, especially when the poster was pinned to the billboards and foyers of the local Odeon, next to a poster of 'The Artistocats' or 'Digby The Biggest Dog In The World'...! So, Tom was told to take the dagger and the cockerel off.

AND THAT is why, we have an empty hands, arms held high, vision of the Prince of Darkness, in the UK cinema quad poster! It's interesting to see that Warner have opted for the Japanese cut and paste style cinema poster, when the film was released and distributed on DVD. Chantrell was an amazing artist, and designed many of the posters and trade art for some Peter Cushing's best films . .. including one called, Star Wars. . . .

ABOVE: ACTRESS CHIN YANG AND MIA MARTIN during the BLACK MAGIC RITUAL of THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA (1973)

(Still photograph copyright : Tom Chantrell) You can purchase some of Tom's fabulous work and read about his life and career HERE and HERE! 

OUR NEWS ON THE DAY THE RELEASE OF DRACULA AD AND THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA WAS ANNOUNCED BY WARNER BROTHERS CLICK HERE!  

TODAY, the nineteenth of September we remember the late ANTHONY HINDS, today he would have been his 97th birthday. For many Hammer film fans, Hinds represents the 'GOLDEN YEARS' of the studios output and production. Producer and script writer, he was responsible for some of Peter Cushing's most revered work in the fantasy genre. When asked about Peter and his workinng relationship, with one of Hammer films leading actors, Hinds shared, even though Cushing could be quite exacting, 'A fuss pot'.. every detail that he paid such close attention too, always paid off. The process of film making and shooting in studio or on location, is an expensive business, but Peter would not be happy for the camera to start rolling, until everything was just right. Hinds, has a good point, it is that focus, no matter how frustrating, that helped both he and Cushing present such wonderful films and tv drama's that are still popular today . . 

 MORE ON ANTHONY HINDS CAREER IN OUR PCASUK FEATURE HERE!

IN HAMMER'S EARLY YEARS, it was Hinds idea to hire country houses and to based the production and shooting in the rooms and grounds of the locations, which saved the the studio huge production costs. His script writing skills, have been picked over by many, but few could doubt his skill in managing tight budgets, and building impressive productions, with very limited resources and finance...and for this, he was indeed, the 'Master Builder and Architect of Hammer films'...and for that, we are very grateful.....

THIS SUNDAY CALLUM MCKELVIE returns with the FIRST of a THREE PART series, on the roles that created the career of PETER CUSHING. PART ONE is HERE THIS SUNDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER!

JOIN US ON THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE HERE! 

NEWS: THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA AND DRACULA AD 1972 COME TO BLU RAY REMASTERS AT LAST! WARNER BROTHERS ARCHIVE

EXCLUSIVE NEWS: WARNER BROS ARCHIVE have announced that they will be releasing BOTH DRACULA AD 1972 AND THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA, as REMASTERED BLU RAY BOTH IN OCTOBER 2018! Both promise to be GREAT treats!

DRACULA D 1972 SPECIFICATIONS:
NEW 2018 1080p HD remaster! Running Time 96:00 Subtitles English SDH
Sound DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English Aspect Ratio 1.78:1, 16 X 9 WIDESCREEN COLOR. Disc Configuration BD 50. RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 2018

THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA SPECIFICATIONS : NEW 2018 1080p HD remaster! Running Time 88:00 Subtitles English SDH Sound DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English Aspect Ratio 1.78:1, 16 X 9 WIDESCREEN COLOR Disc Configuration BD 25 Release date: October 2018

THE CLASSIC HAMMER FILMS starring both Christopher Lee as Count Dracula and Peter Cushing as Van Helsing, have long been on the  'want it' BLU RAYS shopping list of many Hammer film fans. Now in REMASTERED BLU RAYS, that time has finally arrived! If the standard of the print and packaging of the previous WARNER BROTHERS Hammer BOX SET release of Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, Dracula Has Risen From The Grave, The Mummy and Taste The Blood Of Dracula, is anything to go by, this shpould be a REAL treat. We await any news of EXTRA features. As soon as we get the, you will HEAR IT HERE FIRST!

LOOK OUT FOR UPDATES! MORE NEWS ON THESE RELEASES TO COME!
 

ABOVE ONE OF OUR PAST features on THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA  BEHIND THE SCENES :  CLICK HERE!

OUR PCASUK Satanic Rites Of Dracula REVIEW FEATURE and RARE STILLS Gallery : CLICK HERE!

FIND GALLERIES RARE IMAGES and much more besides in our TWO PART SERIES on THE HAMMER DRACULA FLICKS. Featuring some of the BEST moments from the Hammer / Christopher Lee Dracula archive! Now at this website . .

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VERONICA! THE AMAZING KRESKIN AND CARRY ON CUSHING : TUESDAY TOUGHY!

A SPECIAL DAY.. A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY: Join us in wishing VERONICA CARLSON a VERY Happy Birthday TODAY! Image: Veronica Carlson and Peter Cushing pose for a publicity photograph during the making of #hammerfilms 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' at Elstree film studios in 1969. You can read more about Veronica and her career, in our excellent series feature by BRUCE HALLENBECK HERE plus the work she did with Peter Cushing in Tyburn films, THE GHOUL and  FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED

VERONICA CARLSON : WOMEN IN GOTHIC PART FIVE WITH GALLERY : HERE!

MORE VERONICA CARLSON AND CUSHING in THE GHOUL! JUST CLICK HERE

 

ABOVE THIS WEEKS TUESDAY TOUGHY! Good luck with this one and feel free to pop along to the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE and post YOUR answer in the THREAD! MEANWHILE, below here is LAST WEEKS ANSWER!

ANSWER: DAVID KRESKIN an American Mentalist who was very popular on television in both the US and UK during the 1970's. In 1973 he broadcast a daytime TV series on ITV in the UK. Kreskin always claimed to be an 'entertainer', never a psychic, he operated using the power of suggestion, not paranormal or supernatural. In JULY 1973 Peter Cushing appeared as a guest on the daytime UK show and took part in a ten minute feature, where he was invited to write a NAME of his choice, on a piece of paper. Kreskin did not see the name, as it written and folded up. This paper was then set alight with a match, placed onto a china plate and the ashes from the paper were then rubbed lightly, onto the bare arm of Cushing, where the name HELEN then magically appeared! Helen was Cushing's late wife, who had died just two years previously. Kreskin at the beginning of the trick, did mention he had no prior knowledge of the name that Peter Cushing had chosen to write on the note paper. As with all magic tricks . . . the trick is in the preparation!

ABOVE: TELEVISION LISTING MAGAZINE TV TIMES with the listing of Cushing's appearance on the show. BELOW: Not AUSTIN POWERS but KRESKIN, during his tv show . . .

AT THE TIME when Cushing was still still in deep moaning for his late wife, I personally think, this was such an odd event and choice from Cushing. He never truly recovered for the twenty years odd years, he outlived Helen. Granted, he did a few years later also include a photograph of Helen in the Tyburn film, THE GHOUL'. But this, just seems weird and more than a little mawkish? Maybe it's just me, but I remember seeing this show as a teenager when it was broadcast, and even then, thought it odd. I would really appreciate your thoughts on this. It's a tv appearance which many would not now remember and is hardly ever mentioned. I am sure there will be several comments on this at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE TODAY. PLEASE feel free to join in with your comments and thoughts too!

PLAQUE RETURNS TO THE WHITSTABLE CUSHING'S VIEW BENCH!

AS PROMISED, at our FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE here is a nice little video clip, shot yesterday of CUSHING'S VIEW in Whitstable Kent, of the REPLACED brass dedication plaque on the Peter and Helen Cushing bench, and sneak peep of the view 🙂 Many thanks again to PCASUK Follower, Spencer Aldren for this exclusive clip today!

ABOVE IS A FEATURE we posted back in 2016, of your trips to #WHITSTABLE and your fun following the #CUSHINGTRAIL! Just CLICK HERE!

FAREWELL FENELLA AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FUN!

SAD NEWS TODAY, that an actress who actually never worked with Peter Cushing has left us. Ninety years seems to prompt usually lots of 'well, she had a long life . .' and sentiments of she lived well..' But, I have to be honest, whatever time Fenella was going to leave, for me, was always going to be . . . too soon. Fenella Fielding, was unique, always entertaining, eccentric and surprising. It seems we were the only people who were aware of her age, because she most certainly wasn't. 

FENELLA was fortunate to have landed a film role back in 1966, when the Cushing Frankenstein films, were at their height and gave a line, that would follow her, for the rest of her days... 'Do you mind, if I smoke?' as Valeria Watt in 'Carry On Screaming' was gold. As was she. Three years previous to this role, she appeared in a film joint venture with both Hammer films and William Castle in THE OLD DARK HOUSE. Which kind of started a path, in which she played attractive but spooky strange femme's! No matter the role, Fenella made it her own, in the way only she could do. That voice. At 90, she was still working and will be working her magic on us all for a long long time to come. Bless you, Fenella!

THERE IS A FULL THE OLD DARK HOUSE REVIEW complete with some rare stills GALLERY from at our supplement website, THE BLACK BOX CLUB. RIGHT HERE!

DOOMWATCH INSEMINOID FEAR IN THE NIGHT AND DIAGNOSIS MURDER! A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JUDY GEESON!

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to actress JUDY GEESON today! We interviewed JUDY GEESON back in the early 1980's, in her dressing room, at a London theatre, where she was appearing in a play at the time. She was sharp, bright as a button, and chomped her way through a pawn salad, as she regaled us with stories for our Marantz audio recorder and microphone!

JUDY GEESON had only worked with Peter once in FEAR IN THE NIGHT (1972), and Christopher Lee in 1975 in a film called, DIAGNOSIS MURDER. Thankfully, she had much to share on both. She also commented on his Cushing's laugh...and his pleasure on finding out that Judy kept a parakeet, and had a pet dog. She even brought the bird to the set of Fear In The Night, so Peter could sketch and paint it! It's interesting that most reports and reviews of Cushing's films that you read about, from this period of time, are usual tinged sadness, and concerned with Peter Cushing's grief and loss, of his wife, Helen. It's good to know, he did have sunny days, some light and shade.

JUDY GEESON was born in Arundel, Sussex, in 1948, Her father moved the family to London when she was 10 years old and enrolled her and sister Sally Geeson into the Corona Academy, Chiswick. Judy initially wanted to be a ballet dancer, but had to change course when she suffered from terrible headaches as a result of some of the moves. Acting had always been a great interest, however, and she chose to pursue this, making her first TV appearance in Dixon of Dock Green (1955) aged 12. 

HER FIRST MAJOR FILM ROLE was as wayward teenager Pamela Dare opposite Sidney Poitier in To Sir, with Love (1967) at the age of 18. I am sure you can all name your personal favourite Judy film... I will vote for Fear in the Night and To Sire with Love... but there are many others, 10 Rillington Place, Doomwatch, Brannigian with John Wayne and a HEAP of tv dramas too! Please join us wishing Judy the BEST of birthday's today!