HOW PETER CUSHING DIDN'T BECOME THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK 1939

PETER CUSHING and The Man in the Iron Mask' 1939! During his time in Hollywood, #PeterCushing did double duty on this film. In additional to his own role, he would feed Louis Hayward the lines for the split screenshots. Director #JamesWhale initially cast him only to play opposite Hayward in the sequences where both twins appear together, but was impressed enough with the newcomer that he offered Cushing a small part on horseback. 

 

THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK was Peter Cushing's film debut, and he had the unique opportunity to view his own rushes and improve his own performance, especially since none of it would be used in the finished feature. As 'Second Officer,' he can be seen 17 minutes in, with two lines of dialogue ("I've been here before").

 

PETER CUSHING formed a great friendship with Hayward and his wife Ida Lupino. During his time, broke and seeking work, he was invited to dinner at the Hayward's beautiful beach home.. and ended up staying several months!

 

 

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STUNTMAN AND FIGHT CO ORDINATOR JOE DUNNE DIES

SAD NEWS INDEED, the passing of Joe Dunne, at his home in the US yesterday. Dunne was stuntman supremo for decades, he also worked as a stunt coordinator, stunt double, stunt driver, second unit director and an actor. 

 

PINK PANTHER STUNTS, with STUNTMEN! A great collection of 'gags' many here arranged and performed by Joe Dunne along with Dick Crockett, John Sullivan and Greg Powell for 8 Pink Panther movies from 1963 to 1993.  

 

DUNNE for many years was co ordinator and stuntman for #PeterSellers in the #PinkPanther films. Whether he was flying through the air in single combat against '#Kato' in the Pink Panthers or walking the gang plank in Ghost in the Noonday Sun, Joe was always by the side of his friend, Peter Sellers.

 

DUNNE worked as a stuntman on #Hammerfilms 'The Curse of the Werewolf' and was stuntman and coordinator on Hammer / #PeterCushing's '#TwinsofEvil' (1971) .. uncredited. I am kind of sure, it was Dunne that was flipped over the landing, to the stone stairs in 'Twins'.. but as was Peter's want, he LOVED stunts, it was Peter who bumped down the stairs! Joe's film credits are long and epic, from James Bond to many full action thrillers. Dunne also worked on many of UK tv series such as , '#TheAvengers' which included Peter Cushing's , 'The Return of the Cybernauts' in 1967 in which he was stunt double for Frederick Jaeger , who played ‘Benson’ in the episode. One of the stunt co-ordinators for the original series, #JoeDunne was, amongst many other things, tossed down 365 stairs in the episode "All Done with Mirrors"!! 

 

His work on 'The Usual Suspects' (1995), Ronin (1998) and 'The Jackal' (1997) #MarsAttacks (1996) cemented his legacy in the #StuntMenHallofFame. #Joe Dunne's last job as co-ordinator on Doom in 2005. A role and job for only the fearless! Joe Dunne is remembered here today - Marcus

 

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REMEMBERING KATHLEEN BYRON ON HER BIRTHDAY TODAY

TODAY WE MARK the birthday, of an actress that shone very brightly indeed, in just about every film she appeared in at the beginning of her film career. BUT what a waste of an amazing talent.. . . during a time, she should have been offered so much more. Sadly, Kathleen Byron, left us on January 18 aged 88, passing at Denville Hall, London, a retirement hospital for professional actors, actresses and other theatrical professions. Byron was an English actress of real distinction. 

 

ONE ONLY has to watch her performance as Sister Ruth in Michael Powell's 'Black Narcissus (1947) to see someone who knew very well, how to entertain audiences with her attractive features, in such a dark and sexually charged vehicle like 'Narcissus'... exactly the calibre of woman, Hammer would have been looking for, one would think? 

 

DURING THE LATE 1950'S when Hammer were riding a wave with their most successful dark fantasy genre films, Byron was one, they over looked.

 

HAMMER DID GIVE HER a role in their 1952 film noir feature, 'The Gambler and the Lady' but it was a truly weak second banana role, with a horrible ending. She did get to work in a #PeterCushing and #ChristopherLee feature, 'Nothing But The Night' in 1973, but blink and...'  It took until 1971 when they cast her as Katy Weil, Peter Cushing loyal but suffering wife in 'Twins of Evil'. Next was worse, as 'Katherine of Locksley' in Hammer's / London Weekend Television joint floppy Robin Hood feature, 'Wolfshead: The Legend of Robin Hood'. . and that was it, there after a career of tv drama's from BBC 'Howard's Way', 'Eastenders' and 'The Bill' she worked every year in several roles from 1959 until her bowing out with health issues until 2001. 

 

ONE LITTLE NUGGET was playing Mrs Marker in 'The Golden Pince-Nez' with Jeremy Brett, with a script adapted by my close buddy, Gary Hopkins. I can think of several roles she would have suited so well for Hammer from 1958 onwards. She was wildly attractive on screen, it's a cliche, but the camera really did love her. Her moments in several key scenes of 'Black Narcissus' are seen by many today as ' outstanding examples of cinematic drama, where the camera, lighting and the actress, become one!' 

 

THE FILMS STAR, Deborah Kerr is great, but Byron actually owns every scene in which she features. . and the film! . . ."When Sister Ruth abandons her wimple and habit for a low-cut dress and very slowly and deliberately applies blood-red lipstick.. . It was Kathleen Byron who provided that moment; as Sister Ruth she delivers an astounding study of repressed sexuality suddenly, fervently and fatally imploding." Nation Film Theatre Monthly Review: Nov 2000. Remembering Kathleen Byron. Born TODAY January 11th 1921. - Marcus

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE    

MARY COLLINSON 1952 - 2021

FOLLOWING THE VERY SAD NEWS, of the passing of actress, MARY COLLINSON announced at the Facebook PCASuk Fan Page Fan yesterday, here are a few more photographs of Mary, on set when she appeared with her late twin sister, Madeleine alongside #PeterCushing in #Hammerfilms '#TwinsOfEvil' in 1971, plus a few candid ones. 

 

BOTH MARY AND MADELEINE, made just a few appearances together at meetings and conventions in the UK, during the last 30 years, with Madeleine sadly passing in 2014.  Probably the most outstanding appearance was during a 'rare ticket' event, organised by Donald Fearney in London... where both Mary and Madeleine wore their costumes, along with actor Damien Thomas from 'Twins of Evil' and a banquet with Count Karnstein and the Weils sisters.. was quite an evening!! If you have any pics of when you met Mary or Madeleine or both, please feel free to share them over on the thread at the PCASuk facebook fan page. Thank you - Marcus

 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE