SIR JAMES CARRERAS REMEMBERED TODAY

Remembering : Sir James Carreras, born today in 1909. Son of Enrique Carreras, the co-founder of Hammer Films and the Blue Hall theatre chain... and father of Hammer film producer and director, Michael Carreras. It was JC who hit on the formula of '..design a poster for a potential film, for the backers to actually see!' A simple but very effect method.

It is said that he, '..judged the success of his films not by critical plaudits, but strictly on the basis of box office returns.' Maybe so, but for a long time his approached worked, making very large profits for the backers, giving Hammer films the Queens Award to Industry Award back in 1968 and a loyal fan base that remains to this day. He is remembered each year by Variety: The Children's Charity, with The Sir James Carreras Award. '...This Award honors the name of Sir James Carreras MBE, who served Variety International with great distinction as one of its past International Presidents. It is presented annually to a physician who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill in the field of pediatrics'.

REMEMBERING MICHAEL RIPPER

I've seen the likes tonight that mortal eyes shouldn't look at!'... say that line of dialogue and any Hammer film fan worth his or her salt, quick as a flash will reply, 'Michael Ripper, as the poacher in 'The Mummy!'.. And it is Michael Ripper who we remember today on the day his birth, 27th January 1913. Ripper appeared in many productions for Hammer, seven with Peter Cushing, nine with Christopher Lee. Inn keepers, coachmen, police officers, Ripper an accomplished stage and film actor it could be argued is as much part of the Hammer family as Cushing, Lee, Fisher and Francis. Christopher Lee once announced to a packed convention in Baltimore, with Ripper standing at his side.. 'This man IS Hammer!' And for many of us, he always will be....

WIN 'AT THE EARTH'S CORE' BLU RAY COMPETITION!

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DR WHO ACTOR BARRIE INGHAM DIES

Very sad to hear of the passing of actor Barrie Ingham this morning. Ingham played Alydon in the Peter Cushing 'Dr Who and the Daleks' feature film back in 1965. As well as playing Robin Hood for Hammer films in 'A Challenge for Robin Hood' in 1967, he was quite a well known and regular face on tv during the 60's and 70's. Often turning up in not just UK tv dramas like The Avengers and The Sweeny, US productions too, like Hart to Hart, Air Wolf, the A-Team and providing voice over work for Disney.

TELLY SAVALAS REMEMBERED TODAY

Who Loves Ya Baby?...Today we remember the birthday of the late Telly Savalas. A much loved and larger than life man, on and off the screen. His Peter Cushing connection is his rip roaring performance as the Cossack, Captain Kazan in the 'run-away-train-with-a-monster-and-zombies-onboard' epic, 'Horror Express'. It's a film that never stops going up gears through out it's tense 90 mins. When Savalas appears, almost an hour in, it really is full steam ahead! Along with Cushing and Lee, he makes the film a whole lot of fun. Most of us remember him as the lolly sucking cop in the excellent tv show, 'Kojak' and his quick to catch on catch phrase, 'Who Loves Ya Baby?'

You'll find our REVIEW and Gallery of 'HORROR EXPRESS' right HERE 

WISHING CAROLINE MUNRO A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY : 16TH JANUARY!

Please join us in wishing actress CAROLINE MUNRO a VERY Happy Birthday today! A wonderful actress and an absolute sweety! Her Peter Cushing connection is of course her appearance in Hammer films Dracula AD 1972' in which Peter Cushing played Van Helsing and her co starring role in Amicus films At The Earth's Core with Peter Cushing and Doug McClure. I know of no one who works harder on the convention circuit to make meeting her a special event! Many Happy Returns and Have Smashing Day, Caroline!

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SHOCK WAVES ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE FOR PRE ORDER NOW!

SHOCK WAVES SOUNDTRACK: Due for release this month. Available now for pre order. Howlin' Wolf Records proudly presents the world premiere of Richard Einhorn's score to the Ken Wiederhorn Nazi zombie cult classic, SHOCK WAVES.

Richard Einhorn creates a groundbreaking score with haunting timbres and chilling electronics to accentuates the on-screen horror of begoggled, menacing Nazi zombies. Einhorn's evocative score undoubtedly has been one of the key elements in the success of SHOCK WAVES, with its sparse yet beguilling textures, capturing perfectly the menace and despair of the undead. One of the early electronic scores, Shock Waves represents innovative scoring at its leanest and meanest! Commercially available for the first time, the score has been remastered from the composer's personal 7.5 ips master tapes in mono.

 

SHOCK WAVES is packaged in a jewel case with full color inserts, featuring a 12-page booklet with art direction by Luis M. Rojas and informative liner notes by Benjamin Chee. More details AND ORDER HERE! 

 Full REVIEW and GALLERY of Blue Underground's REMASTERED BLU RAY RELEASE : HERE