Wednesday 21 October 2015

THE RETURN OF THE LATE NIGHT DOUBLE BILLS : HAMMER CUSHING FEST WITH THE HORROR CHANNEL


This November, The Horror Channel is reviving its Hammer Horror double-bills with a series of eight unmissable classic films that will be screened on Saturday nights throughout the month.FIVE of the titles are Peter Cushing Hammer Film Classics!!! Look down the thread below for times and dates of screenings and our reviews for each of the films coming up!


Sat 7 Nov @ 9pm – THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961) *Network Premiere In Oliver Reed’s first film role, he excels as Leon Corledo, a young man raised in the home of Don Alfredo Corledo (Clifford Evans), his kind and loving adopted father. When he leaves to find work, Leon discovers that he has increasingly violent urges each full moon. Although these tendencies are calmed by Leon’s love for the beautiful Christina (Catherine Feller), he ultimately cannot contain his curse, given to his raped mother, and transforms into a werewolf, terrorising the Spanish countryside. Directed by Hammer stalwart Terence Fisher. OUR REVIEW and GALLERY:HERE 


Sat 7 Nov @ 10.50pm – THE GORGON (1964) *Network Premiere A mysterious monster is turning people to stone in a German village in 1910. When his girlfriend is killed, Bruno (Jeremy Longhurst) becomes the prime suspect. His ensuing suicide seems to confirm his guilt, but professor Carl Maister (Christopher Lee) isn’t so sure. He thinks one of the villagers is possessed by the spirit of Megaera, sister to Medusa. Among the possible culprits are Dr. Namaroff (Peter Cushing), gorgeous nurse Carla (Barbara Shelley) and a mental patient. Our review and Gallery: HERE  


Sat 14 Nov @ 9pm – THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1958) *Network Premiere The second in the Hammer Frankenstein series and considered Terence Fisher’s best, General practitioner (Peter Cushing), now residing in the village of Carlsbruck is none other than our old friend, Victor Frankenstein. No one seems unduly concerned when the patients in a charity clinic begin losing their arms and legs during Dr. Stein’s emergency operations — no one except his young rival, Dr. Kleve (Kerwin Mathews). Full of clever (if gory) touches, Revenge of Frankenstein is among the best of Hammer Studio’s late-1950s films. Our review and Gallery : HERE 


Sat 14 Nov @ 10.50pm – THE TWO FACES OF DOCTOR JEKYLL (1960) *Network Premiere Originally released in the UK as ‘House of Fright’, this is the film version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in which Hyde is the handsome, clean-shaven one. Playboy Paul Massie plays Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. wants to exact revenge on Paul Allen (Christopher Lee), who has been siphoning off Jekyll’s savings to finance his own gambling and womanising. In contrast to Stevenson’s story, director Terence Fisher ensures that Jekyll/Hyde does not die–though the strain of being Hyde permanently scarred Jekyll’s psyche. Our Review and Gallery : HERE 


Sat 21 Nov @ 9pm – THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN (1964) *Network Premiere Directed by Freddy Francis, this is the third in the Hammer Frankenstein series, which sees Dr. Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) return destitute to his home village to recommence his experimental research into the reanimation of dead tissue. He stumbles upon his old monster suspended in ice and although he revives the creature, Frankenstein must seek the help of hypnotist Zoltan (Peter Woodthorpe) to repair its mind. Zoltan then assumes control of the monster, using him to wreak havoc. Our review and Gallery HERE 

 
Sat 21 Nov @ 10.45pm – THE BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960) *Network Premiere Director Terence Fisher followed the excellent Horror of Dracula with this richly-coloured sequel. Though imprisoned in the family estate by his mother, Baron Meinster (David Peel) is released from his silver chains by an unsuspecting French teacher (Yvonne Monlaur), through which he gains access to a number of young women at a girls’ school. Fortunately, master vampire killer Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) is on the case. This is one of the first Hammer films to delve into the more sexual aspects of vampirism, with implicit suggestions of sadomasochism and homosexuality. Our Review and Gallery : HERE 


Sat 28 Nov @ 9pm – NIGHT CREATURES / CAPATIN CLEGG (1962) *Network Premiere Set in the 18th-century, this engaging costume melodrama of skulduggery stars Captain Collier (Patrick Allen), who is sent, with his crew, to investigate some coastal smuggling. However, when mysterious swamp phantoms appear, Captain Collier suspects that the odd village vicar (Peter Cushing) might be hiding something, and what better way to do that than by creating fortuitous ghosts to scare them away… Our Review and Gallery HERE


Sat 28 Nov @ 10.55pm – BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY’S TOMB (1971) This was the swan song for director Seth Holt who died shortly before filming was completed. An expedition led by Professor Fuchs (Andrew Keir) finds the cursed tomb of an evil Egyptian princess and discovers her perfectly preserved, severed hand, which sports a dazzling ruby ring. Several years later, Fuchs gives the ring to his young daughter (Valerie Leon), whereupon she slowly begins to take on the malevolent traits of its original wearer. Our Review and Gallery : HERE


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Monday 19 October 2015

WIN TWILIGHT TIME BLU RAY : SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN : QUICKY COMPETITIONS NEXT WEEK!

EVERYDAY NEXT WEEK : DON'T MISS OUT

Kind of a horror movie, kind of an espionage film, and in some sense a piece of science fiction, Scream and Scream Again (1970) features turns by three icons of the horror genre: Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing.  All are involved in a wild “plot” connecting Great Britain to some unnamed totalitarian state where torture, murder, and out-of-control “experiments” are the order of the day. Directed by Gordon Hessler from a screenplay by Christopher Wicking, with cinematography by the worthy John Coquillon.


Starring: Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Judy Huxtable, Alfred Marks, Michael Gothard. Directed By: Gordon Hessler.Written By: Christopher Wicking. Score By: David Whitaker.


Video: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1 / Color
Audio: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
Subtitles: English SDH
Theatrical Release: 1970
Runtime: 94 Minutes


Rating: R (USA) X (UK) (Some Violence and Brief Nudity)
Region Code: Region Free (A/B/C)
Special Features: Isolated Score Track / Audio Commentary with Film Historians David Del Valle and Tim Sullivan / Gentleman Gothic: Gordon Hessler at AIP / An Interview with Uta Levka / Still Gallery / Radio Spot / Original Theatrical Trailer.


Don't Miss It And Miss Out!



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EUREKA THE SKULL BLU RAY AND DVD COMPETITION PLUS FULL REVIEW


THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. HERE ARE THE WINNERS!



EUREKA AND THE PETERAPPRECIATIONSOCIETY.COM BRINGS YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN A PETER CUSHING AMICUS HORROR CLASSIC 
ON DUAL BLU RAY AND DVD RELEASE

EVENT
OCTOBER 26th sees the BLU RAY and DVD release from EUREKA of Amicus films classic THE SKULL starring the two grand masters of terror, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. This is the first time that THE SKULL has been available on BLU RAY in the UK and to celebrate this, EUREKA have sponsored our competition by providing THREE copies of the DUAL FORMAT release for you to WIN! This edition contains both the BLU RAY and DVD.


ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
To enter the competition and be in with a chance of winning EUREKA's EXCLUSIVELY RESTORED release of THE SKULL is correctly ANSWER the question below. Once you have your answer, just simply send it in an email to us at: theblackboxclub@gmail.com

QUESTION:
Amicus script writer and producer, Milton Subotsky had a favorite SURNAME he used for his characters in over half a dozen of his films. WHAT WAS THAT SURNAME?

This competition CLOSES on FRIDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2015 at MIDNIGHT GMT. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

You can place a PREORDER for EUREKA's 'THE SKULL' Dual Blu Ray and DVD release at Amazon.co.uk : QUICK LINK: HERE 


OVER VIEW:
This is for many the quintessential Amicus film. Adapted for the screen by ‘Mr. Amicus’ himself, Milton Subotsky, it adheres pretty closely to Robert 'Psycho' Bloch's short story 'The Skull of the Marquis De Sade' and it is one of Bloch's best. It’s pity that for many he is still remembered for 'that' novel alone.


SYNOPSIS:
CONTAINS SPOILERS! After the 6-min pre-credit set in the early 19th century, phrenologist Pierre (Maurice Good) robs the grave of the notorious Marquis de Sade and steals his skull. Soon after, he pays the dire consequences…Forward to the present 1965 and we’re at an auction (Michael Gough appears briefly as the auctioneer). In attendance are two collectors of objects d’art. It won't be too difficult for you to work out who they are: Peter Cushing as ‘Dr. Christopher Maitland’ and Christopher Lee as ‘Sir Matthew Phillips’. Both are keen to acquire a collection of satanic statuettes. Phillips has more money and outbids Maitland by offering an absurdly high price for the figures in question. Maitland’s seedy and snuff taking oppo Marco (Patrick Wymark) also advises him to hold back, “he's got more money than you have". Perhaps it should be pointed out that Wymark's ploy with the snuff is tantamount to what McQueen did with his hat in The Magnificent Seven.


Shortly afterwards Marco arrives at Maitland's period London home and sells him a book (the life of that debauched libertine, the said Marquis) bound in human skin! Marco is a supplier of such curiosa and Maitland is a fevered collector and is “none too fussy” as regards the provenance of said items. The next day, Marco arrives with a skull claiming it to be that of de Sade. For this he asks a very high price but then agrees to accept a much lower offer, hence Maitland suspects it is a fake. Marco claims he wants to get rid of it as it gives him the jitters. Pretty soon after, our seedy supplier makes his appointment with the grim reaper. Maitland visits his old acquaintance Sir Phillips who, over a game of snooker, informs his colleague that the skull is genuine enough: “My dear fellow, that skull was stolen from me! And I advise you to keep well away from it!” Does Maitland heed the warning? Don't be daft! We all know that no good will come of it. He then steals the skull from Marco's Soho flat, accidentally killing dodgy landlord Bert Travers (Peter Woodthorpe) in the process. And now Maitland’s nightmare is just about to begin, including a beautifully done dream sequence.


THE CASTING:
Cushing (who after this was never again billed above Lee) is at his best as the fevered and tortured occult collector Maitland. A similar role for him came later in The Creeping Flesh. Second billed Patrick Wymark has all the best lines including a tasty monologue giving a brief yet somewhat exaggerated account of the man “whose name has become a byword for sadism”. And a succulent performance it is too from the revered stage actor. The late Christopher Lee adds his usual cold and austere pomposity to the proceedings, who else could get away with it. Peter Woodthorpe is hilarious as landlord Bert. Stalwarts Nigel Green and Amicus fave Patrick Magee are on hand as the law, though stage actress Jill Bennett is somewhat wasted as Maitland's wife.


SUMMING UP:
Director Freddie Francis has done a sterling job here, and the action seen through the eyes of the skull adds a particularly effective and chilling touch. For these scenes a huge, presumably polystyrene skull was used. John Wilcox's photography did the job amply. You really can feel Cushing's panic through those close-ups! As is usual with the dialogue-hating Subotsky, it is kept to a minimum. Indeed, there is hardly any for the last third of the film. Which must have been a welcome opportunity for the then in-house classical composer Elizabeth Lutyens who very much has to be praised for her score… an integral part of the film's success. The Skull is drenched in atmosphere and its claustrophobic feel (practically no location work or day shots here) only enhances the splendidly spooky vibe throughout. A classic of the genre!


You can place a PREORDER for EUREKA's 'THE SKULL' Dual Blu Ray and DVD release at Amazon.co.uk : QUICK LINK: HERE 

This Dual Format Edition offers the following EXTRAS:
• Exclusively restored 1080p presentation of the film on Blu-ray
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• New video interview with film scholar Jonathan Rigby
• New video interview with critic and author Kim Newman
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and new artwork
• Limited Edition Collector's Booklet, featuring an essay by Vic Pratt


Review Source: HERE
Images and Design: Marcus Brooks

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EUREKA AND THE PETERAPPRECIATIONSOCIETY.COM BRINGS YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN A PETER CUSHING AMICUS HORROR CLASSIC 
ON DUAL BLU RAY AND DVD RELEASE!
- See more at: http://petercushingblog.blogspot.co.uk/#sthash.sYCf2IE0.dpuf

Sunday 18 October 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GORGON : 51 YEARS OLD TODAY!


A GREAT reason to celebrate today.... Hammer Films THE GORGON IS 51 YEARS OLD TODAY! And he is our friend, JOSHUA KENNEDY, -The Gorgon Super Fan,- having just watched his favorite film, aged NINE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Megaera, Professor Heitz, Dr. Namaroff, Prof. Karl Meister ...and ALL!


It's true... Barbara Shelley, DIDN'T actually play her character's alter-ego, Megaera, THE Gorgon. That role was filled by actress and dancer, Prudence Hyman. A very interesting actress and person. If you'd like to find out more, just click this link, which will fast track you to the feature elsewhere on our website: HERE

 
Plus there are more images and press stills AND you can sample the artwork of Brian Lewis, Goring and Cuyas in the HOUSE OF HAMMER magazine issue 11 and their telling in comic strip of THE GORGON Hammer horror! You'll find that HERE 


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