STAR WARS RICHARD LEPARMENTIER DIES 1946 - 2013

We are very sad to hear of the passing of the great Richard LeParmentier today.... Admiral Motti to Peter Cushing's Moff Tarkin on the Death Star in Star Wars (1977).

DRACULA AD 1972 : PETER CUSHING STEPHANIE BEACHAM CHRISTOPHER LEE PUBLICITY SHOT

One of the rare ones, from a set of three poses of Peter as Van Helsing, Christopher Lee as Count Dracula and Stephanie Beacham as Jessica Van Helsing in a quickie on set publicity shot from Hammer Films 'Dracula AD 1972' (Hammer Films. Alan Gibson)

THE MARK OF A GENTLEMAN: AN ENCOUNTER WITH PETER CUSHING

Our thanks to our friend, Joth Gambold for this lovely story of his encounter with Peter and for sharing the rare image of his ticket! Thank you, Joth :)

"I was very fortunate in attending an interview with the wonderful Mr Cushing in Canterbury in 1987 as described below:

I was a resident in Faversham in 1986 (I taught in Sittingbourne) and my late parents came to stay. I suggested that I take them to Whitstable to be ‘by the sea’ as it were. My lovely Mum absolutely adored Peter (although she hadn’t seen many of his movies) and while driving along the high street she suddenly shouted out that Mr Cushing was riding his bike next to us and, blow me down’, so he was. It made hers and my day.

We popped into a fish restaurant for a meal and I noticed that a small poster on the door of the ‘café’ said that your wonderful resident was going to talk at St Edmunds School Hall in Canterbury to raise money for Canterbury Hospitals. I couldn’t resist and popped along on the Sunday evening to see one of my all time Hammer film favourites.

Peter came onstage with a walking stick saying that he had fallen off his bike in Whitstable. I wondered if it might have been caused by fright at a middle aged fanatical woman screaming his name some weeks before.

The evening was glorious and a contented audience left the hall to be greeted by an exhibition of Mr Cushing’s exquisite watercolour paintings and designs painted onto silk scarves. He was sitting signing copies of his first autobiography so I paid for it and stood in line to get the signature of my hero.
 

A young lady was standing just behind me and when it came to my turn, I turned to her and asked the girl if she would like to go first which she did. I then stepped forward and was shocked when Peter awkwardly stood up and took my hand saying to me, “ I would like to shake the hand of a gentleman”.
 
I almost passed out!

I enclose a scan of the ticket from that evening, still in my possession and kept in the signed book.

Over the years I have continued to tell this tale to friends as I believe that the passing of Peter ‘closed the door’ to his type of charm and gentleness. I know this to be true since anyone who talks of him says exactly the same. Look at Stephen Fry’s mention of him on an old episode of ‘QI’.

I just thought that it would be nice to pass on this tiny incident from the huge array of stories about the late, great man."

SYMPATHY FOR THE COUNT? HAMMER FILMS 'DRACULA' BLU RAY : MISSING SHOT

The restored Hammer Dracula blu ray looks very fine indeed. However, closer inspection of the extras and the Japanese unrestored footage, reveals an extra shot not included in the 'restored' death of Dracula. It's a shot of only a few seconds, but Dracula appears to sob! Such a shame this wasn't included. It puts another interesting level to the whole story....maybe Christopher Frayling is spot on after all.. This Dracula really is all about a demon LOVER and loss..

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CHRISTOPHER LEE, PETER CUSHING AND DIRECTOR STEPHEN WEEKS: 'I MONSTER' BEHIND THE SCENES

 

Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and director Stephen Weeks having a chat on the set of Amicus Films 'I Monster' (1971)

IT'S A MADHOUSE: PETER CUSHING AND VINCENT PRICE: AMICUS FILMS

Peter Cushing as Herbert Flay and Vincent Price as Paul Toombes in Amicus Films MADHOUSE (1974) A blu ray some time would be great!

PETER CUSHING CENTENARY: APPRECIATION SOCIETY FACEBOOK FAN PAGE HITS 9000 FOLLOWERS!

DAVID MILLER: PETER CUSHING: A LIFE IN FILM: REVIEW

Another group shot of Peter, Christopher Lee and Vincent Price from House of the Long Shadows, reviewed in David Millers book : Peter Cushing: A Life in Film available Tuesday 16th April from Titan Books. Here's a terrific review of the book, sent to us by Jeremy Scott. Thanks Jeremy ;) 

  http://www.scififx.com/2013/04/book-review-peter-cushing-a-life-in-film/

ANOTHER PETER CUSHING CENTENARY EVENT: THE COMPLETE MEMOIRS LAUNCH WITH BERNARD BROUGHTON AND JONATHAN RIGBY

NEWS: Another Peter Cushing Centenary Event: 

PETER CUSHING: A CENTENARY CELEBRATION! LONDON: The "gentleman of horror" is remembered at this launch event for new book Peter Cushing: The Complete Memoirs (Signum Books). Hosted by Jonathan Rigby, with special guest Cushing's former assistant Bernard Broughton, seen here posing with one of Peter's water colours.

The Cinema Museum SUN 12TH MAY, 2013 Doors open 6.30pm Event starts 7.30pm. Book Tickets Here: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/217424

NEWS: PETER CUSHING 'DR WHO AND THE DALEKS' AND 'DALEKS INVASION EARTH 2150 AD' COMES TO BLU RAY

At Last! We present the artwork for the release of Peter Cushing's TWO Dr Who movies, available on blu ray from May 27th, one day after what would have been Peter's 100th birthday!

DR WHO AND THE DALEKS

CAST:

Peter Cushing (Doctor Who), Roy Castle (Ian Chesterton), Jennie Linden (Barbara), Roberta Tovey (Susan), Barrie Ingham (Alydon), Michael Coles (Ganatus), John Brown (Antodus), Geoffrey Toone (Temmosus), Mark Peterson (Elyon)

 

PRODUCTION:
Director – Gordon Flemyng, Screenplay – Milton Subotsky, Based on the Episode The Daleks Written by Terry Nation from the tv series Doctor Who, Producers – Max J. Rosenberg & Milton Subotsky, Photography – John Wilcox, Music – Barry Gray, Special Effects – Ted Samuels, Art Direction – Bill Carpenter. Production Company – Amicus.

SYNOPSIS:

The eccentric inventor Doctor Who shows his grand-daughter Barbara’s boyfriend Ian his time machine but Ian’s bumbling accidentally sets it in action. The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and The Doctor’s other granddaughter Susan are whisked away to the planet Skaro. There they discover Skaro has been devastated by nuclear war. They come upon a metal city where they are captured by the Daleks, evil mutants that live inside machine casings. The Daleks seek to eliminate their enemies the Thals. However, The Thals have sworn a vow of pacifism following the nuclear war. It is up to Ian and The Doctor to inspire The Thals to stand up to save themselves and lead an attack to stop the Daleks.

DALEKS INVASION EARTH: 2150 AD:

CAST:

Peter Cushing (Dr Who), Bernard Cribbins (Tom Campbell), Roberta Tovey (Susan), Jill Curzon (Louise), Andrew Keir (Wyler), Ray Brooks (David), Godfrey Quigley (Dortmun), Philip Madoc (Brockley), Roger Avon (Wells) 

PRODUCTION:
Director – Gordon Flemyng, Screenplay – Milton Subotsky, Additional Writing – David Whitaker, Based on the Episode The Dalek Invasion of Earth Written by Terry Nation from the TV Series Doctor Who, Producers – Max J. Rosenberg & Milton Subotsky, Photography – John Wilcox, Music – Bill McGuffie, Electronic Music – Barry Gray, Special Effects/Production Design – Ted Samuels, Makeup – Bunty Phillips. Production Company – Amicus.

SYNOPSIS:

Police Constable Tom Campbell witnesses a jewel theft and runs into a police callbox to call for backup in apprehending the thieves. But the phonebox happens to be Doctor Who’s Tardis and he is instead whisked away to the year 2150 with the Doctor and his two granddaughters Louise and Susan. There they find a London that has been reduced to ruins after an invasion by the Daleks and their zombified human Robo-Men. The Doctor and companions are captured and taken to be used as part of the Dalek slave labour force, mining the core of the Earth in order to turn the whole planet into a giant Dalek spaceship. There they join a human resistance movement to stop the Dalek plan.

 

NEWS: HAMMER FILMS 'THE VAMPIRE LOVERS' GETS U.S. BLU RAY RELEASE: PETER CUSHING INGRID PITT.

THE VAMPIRE LOVERS COMES TO BLU RAY: Scream Factory
1970 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 91 min. / Street Date April 30, 2013 / $19.97. Starring Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, Douglas Wilmer, Madeline Smith, Dawn Addams, Jon Finch, Pippa Steele, George Cole, Kate O'Mara, Ferdy Mayne, Kirsten Betts, John Forbes-Robertson.

ORDER HERE! 

FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE: PETER CUSHING CLASSIC MOMENTS: OFFERS YOU CANNOT RESIST.

CAST:

Peter Cushing (Antique Store Proprietor). 1: David Warner (Edward Jeffries). 2: Ian Bannen (Christopher Lowe), Donald Pleasence (Jim), Angela Pleasence (Emily), Diana Dors (Mabel Lowe). 3: Ian Carmichael (Richard), Margaret Leighton (Madame Orlov), Nyree Dawn Porter (Suzanne). 4: Ian Ogilvy (Williams), Lesley Anne Down (Rosemary Williams) 

PRODUCTION:

Director – Kevin Connor, Screenplay – Raymond Christodolou & Robin Clarke, Based on Short Stories by Ronald Chetwynd-Hayes, Producers – Max J. Rosenberg & Milton Subotsky, Photography – Alan Hume, Music – Douglas Gamley, Special Effects – Alan Bryce, Production Design – Maurice Carter. Production Company – Amicus. 

STILL GROWING IN PETER CUSHING'S CENTENARY YEAR!

COME JOIN US AT OUR FACEBOOK PETER CUSHING FAN PAGE: 1913 - 2013 PETER CUSHING CENTENARY YEAR!

 

Now celebrating Peter Cushing Centenary Year: The UK Peter Cushing Appreciation Society founded in 1956, now on Facebook Fan Pages. Updated every day with features, interviews and rare images. Our aim is to celebrate the life and career of Peter Cushing. OBE. Over 4,500 images and 200 albums we invite you to browse! Please join us!HERE

PETER CUSHING HOUSE OF HAMMER MAGAZINE: ORIGINAL ALBERTO CUYAS ARTWORK

Original artwork page and panels from House of Hammer magazine: Comic strip of The Curse of Frankenstein. A 20-page comic strip published in two parts in the December 1976 and January 1977 issues of the magazine The House of Hammer (volume 1, issue #'s 2 and 3, published by General Book Distribution). It was drawn by Alberto Cuyas from a script by Donne Avenell (based on the John Burke novelization). The cover of issue 2 featured a painting by Brian Lewis of the Baron being attacked by his creation. How many of us remember this?