SILENT BUT DEADLY : ANOTHER CRYPT LOAD OF GIFS FOR WEDNESDAY!

ANOTHER CRYPT LOAD of animated silent, but deadly, GIFS! As requested by you our dear and faithful readers and followers!

ABOVE AND BELOW for ERIC FRANKLYN two great GIFS from THE AVENGERS tv series. Peter Cushing appeared as the fiendish Paul Beresford in 'RETURN OF THE CYBERNAUT' in 1967. The very cool Patrick Macnee starred as very reliable STEED, and Diana Rigg as his female equal and partner, Mrs Peel. Stuntman Terry Richards, filled the Cybernaut's boots and hat! And below, Mrs Peel swishes in a red leather chair from the iconic title sequence!

NEXT UP a spot of shooting, not for the grouse season... but for the sake of science! PLEASE don't try this at home. Peter Cushing with a slightly 60's tailored looking Baron Frankenstein and Thorley Walters as his assistant, Dr Hertz in Frankenstein Created Woman, the latest of the Baron's adventures back in 1967. Walters REALLY does jump at the bang! Hope this makes you happy, Bradley Moore?

THE QUESTION WAS, 'Do You Have Any Footage of Christopher Lee, Behind The Scenes... Putting His Teeth In?' One of the weirdest questions we have been asked, and knowing that Lee didn't wear dentures...though PC DID have a plate with of ONE FRONT TOOTH (You heard it HERE first, Folks!) I am taking a stab that, NORA THOMAS is referring to, Lee's false FANGS used in his Hammer Dracula features? Fingers crossed, but not a cross in sight, as Christopher Lee add those two things, that make all the difference, on the set of Dracula AD 1972. I hope this makes you smile too, Nora?

HERE IS ANOTHER ONE from Dracula AD 1972, that since it's first appearance a few years ago, gets asked for quite often. It's the press launch for the film, and both Cushing and Lee were in attendance... and having a good time, by the looks on their faces! MARION NOLAN, you asked, we provided! Hope this makes your day, as you said it would! 

HERE FOR OUR MATE, NICK DIGILIO AT WGN CHICAGO, what I am sure is HIS favorite GIF. Peter Cushing as Major Holly, strutting his funky moves on the dance floor of the local casba in Hammer films, SHE in 1965. They just don't make moves, like that anymore..... 

THIS WONDERFULLY SUBTLE prologue is one of  of two great openers, that set the scene and signal to the audience, where they will be going over the next 90 minutes in Cushing's 1969 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'. Here is one fellow, following a night at his gentleman's club or on the tiles, won't be waking up with a headache!  For FRED LEWIS, I hope this is the scene you were hinting at? Cushing did have a bit of a time of it with HEADS. One on a bed post in Frankenstein Created Woman, One in a  refrigerator in Corruption, Drilling one in THIS film later, as well as this head ended up being kicked around the lab! So, when you said, 'The Cushing film With That Head Scene, and the BLOOD' I would put a bet on it...this has to be it!

FINALLY, for FRANK NEAL something a little calmer, Christopher Lee as Sir Henry Baskerville, being caught doing a little eves dropping, by Andre Morell's Dr Watson, in Hammer films, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' (1959) starring Peter Cushing as Holmes. The look on Lee's face here, is priceless!

MORE NEXT WEDNESDAY: SEND US YOUR REQUEST FOR YOUR GIFS TO

PETERCUSHINGPCAS@GMAIL.COM

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CUSHING DR WHO REGENERATION WISHFUL THINKING!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: FOLLOWING ON from our Peter Cushing Interview Clip yesterday, about how after being approached by the BBC, Cushing nearly did step into the role, after William Hartnell left the series... here's a token how it COULD have looked, in the series tradition of the Doctor regenerating, when Harnell became Cushing. Well. it could have been...it could have been....

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY A REQUESTED Repost for Gayle Davis, who wrote and asked on the weekend, 'Is it true there was once a weird line drawing of Peter Cushing in the Pizza Hut or Express in te town where he lived??' The answer is yes. I am not sure WHICH pizza restaurant had this large line mural in it...but as the photograph shows, a large mural of Peter did once live and greet nosher of pizzas, in Whitstable... the town where Peter lived from 1958 until 1994. And yes..this was very cool indeed!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAYS : PETER CUSHING was quite an 'animated' interviewee at times. Just take a look at his hands and gestures in these snaps taken from a short 1971 interview. Like gloves on a washing line, on a windy day! After making this banner, I must confess to have drawn a blank on thinking of a #CAPTION for it. So, over at the Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Facebook Fan Page we've asked them to come up with a caption! If you would like to joj in the fun (??!!) zip over to the page. It could be witty, thoughtful...or even er... handy! The BEST caption gets their name blazing in glory, on a PCAS CUSHING BANNER, specially made for you and posted here on this thread. We'll see how it goes, and we'll pick the best one, in a few hours time. Good Luck!

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#MONSTERMONDAY: GUESS WHO AND CUSHING INTERVIEW

#MONSTERMONDAY: AND SO we present this week's #MONSTERMONDAY and our next candidate to fit the bill of 'Is THIS this most terrifying 'Monster / Creature' encountered in his work...' YOU decide 🙂 Below is a GREAT short and sweet interview with Peter about playing #DOCTORWHO. It seems Cushing did enjoy playing Dr Who, though as always and here, he is thinking about what his 'public' wanted to see him appearing in. As Cushing says in his motto, 'We are pleased to serve, and serve to please' in regarding an actors life. Very surprised to also hear his opinion about the Daleks though! It's a short clip and well worth a quick listen! Btw, we have a great little treat for #TOOCOOLTUESDAY tomorrow concerning William Hartnell and Peter Cushing . . .

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#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: March 9th 1976 . . . Unbelievably, it's 41 YEARS, that's 14983 Days Today... since Peter Cushing started his four days work at Elstree studios playing the role of Grand Moff Tarkin in 'Star Wars'. Here's a very nest snap of Peter between takes with Don Henderson on the left and Dave Prowse as Darth Vader, standing... er, where else but, behind!

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: The TWO Peter Cushing Dr Who Dalek films were produced in the mid sixties, 1965 and 66. But what if Milton Subotsky and AARU Productions, hadn't stopped at TWO films and produced more with Peter Cushing?? That’s the premise talented artist Dave Burgess has explored with artwork such as this excellent piece featuring Christopher Lee too in Dr. Who and the Dalek Masterplan! Dave has a portfolio: DR. WHO | MOVIE ARTWORK and much else here besides. Worth a look.

 TWO SMASHING GIFS FOR FRIDAY!

#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY: Beauty is THE killer! Christina (Susan Denberg) goes in for the kill from Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)

#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY: Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) issuing a stern warning to Dr Helder (Shane Briant) from Hammer's Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell (1974)

TWO POSTS YESTERDAY  for our weekly dip into the

 #HAMMERFILM archive!

HERE'S AN IMAGE, I had not come across as a publicity still before, until a few days ago! #HAMMERFILMSSATURDAY: Here is a great action shot of Peter Cushing as Van Helsing about to drive the spade into Count Dracula from Hammer's Dracula AD 1972. Ouch!

NOBODY EVER QUIET stalked the way, Christopher Lee stalked in the role of #COUNTDRACULA. Here he is in his first outing as #DRACULA in Hammer films 1958, 'Dracula' / 'Horror of Dracula' with Carol Marsh awaiting her, 'Terrifying Lover who died, YET lived' !!!

#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING! A beautiful and rare publicity photograph of Peter Cushing as Dr Lawrence from 'The Ghoul' (1975) Kneeling at the altar, the photograph that Cushing is holding, is actually a photograph of his late wife, Helen. As I am sure regular visitors to this page know, the pic was included in the film, by special request from Peter... in order that he could fulfill his wish, of having appeared in a motion picture with his wife...

#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING! A fine film from Amicus, that needs some reassessing...and blu ray would be nice too! Christopher Lee as Dr Marlow and Mr Blake in Milton Subotsky's character name twisting tale of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....I MONSTER (1971)

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HES A DJ AND MC. HE'S DJ TARKIN!

HE'S A RAD. He's a DJ and MC. He's DJ TARKIN... he spin you out of the universe! 😉 12' inch high action figure, complete with death ray and vinyl discs! Carpet slippers optional! ...I sure you can 'think' of many other titles of Tarkin's releases and songs?

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#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: PAINTING INTO A CORNER?

THERE WERE MANY 'could have been's' in the long career of Peter Cushing. On both small and big screen, and scanning the long litter of tantalizing titles and scripts, are as exciting, as they are frustrating. Putting aside the Daddy of all these no-goes, John Carpenter's 'Halloween', two names that appear to come up frequently as culprits of numerous Cushing non starters are the BBC and, as you would expect, Hammer films. The later was a company where the fate of a go-green light was finely balanced on a thumbs up OR down, following the flashing of some titillating artwork on a poster, unveiled at a meeting of money types looking to make a profit. The long and sad cry of projects that never got beyond treatment stage, makes for an emotional read! With Hammer it was always the bottom line of finance, the BBC was often crippled by it's own business model of, creativity by committee.

DISPITE THIS, during the 1950's and 60's Aunty Beeb did a tremendous job of presenting much ground-breaking, and exciting drama. However, it was the same BBC though that in its urge to unwrap a tv Christmas schedule that would keep the viewers glued to their programmes , that was instrumental in causing Cushing's absence from what could have been another Peter Cushing / Christopher Lee Hammer film smash. Based on the Barry Lyndon's play, 'The Man in Half Moon Street', or as Hammer came to re-tittle it, 'The Man Who Could Cheat Death', would have been that film. As it turned out, only Lee would appear in a minor supporting role, with actor Anton Diffring starring as the 'Man', one Dr. Georges Bonnet.

AFTER A VERY busy year and completing Hammer films one and only dip into Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes library, with The Hound of the Baskervilles, by October 1958, Cushing was looking forward to spending some time on preparing an exhibition of his paintings in the new year. The BBC however, were keen to get him on-board in their line up of stars appearing in their programming during the Christmas scheduling of 58.  Michael Barry (1910 – 1988) producer, director and executive at the BBC was very busy preparing a production of George Du Maurier's 'Trilby' for the festive programming, and very much had his eye on Peter Cushing to play the role that had brought much critical acclaim to  John Barrymore on screen and Herbert Beerbohm- Tree on stage. On September 9th Michael Barry received some sobering correspondence from Cushing television agent, Angela Hepburn : 

'I have some more information from Hammer films as to their plans for Peter's next production  for them. which ..... is to be 'The Man in Half Moon Street. At present they plan to start shooting this picture on or about the 10th of November. It will be a six to seven week schedule- generally six. Hound of the Baskervilles, on which he has just commenced work this week - and the start of Half Moon Street gives an available period of October 20th - 9th November approximately'. 

BARRY, DESPITE his impressive and long production experience must have chewed a couple of pencils on that one! But despite the tight schedule and restrictions, he was still very keen to go ahead with Cushing. In his reply to Angela Hepburn, Barry noted, 'Svengali belongs to a period that requires breadth and colour which I believe Peter would join me in appreciating' Barry had in 1952, he succeeded Val Gielgud to become the Head of Drama at BBC Television, a position he was to occupy for the next decade. He was responsible for commissioning several important productions, including the Quatermass science-fiction serials, and in 1954 suggested Peter Cushing to play Winston Smith in the famous adaptation of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. This latter production caused much controversy due to its supposed horrific scenes and subversive content.

THROUGHOUT the 50's Peter Cushing was Mr Television. Hardly a week went by without him appearing in the BBC's listings. He was the BBC's Mr. Darcy in their flagship 1952 production of 'Pride and Prejudice', he had won several television awards, a BAFTA and the BEEB still saw him as one of their stars. Also, since the launch of the 'Other-side', Independent Television the loss of their monopoly on the little screen, was starting to make Aunty wobble. ITV were starting to nibble away at the BBC's hold, and the Independent Television regional stations had started to broadcast around the UK. Whispers of competition, ratings and stars jumping ship, were staring to be heard along the hallowed corridors of Alexandra Palace and the Riverside studios. Which is why, when Barry was faced with the timing problem, he offed to reschedule and postpone the transmission of Trilby to Boxing Day, rather than loose Cushing.

Despite this, the casting of Cushing in Trilby, was not to be. The whole idea was shot down in a letter to producer Christopher McMaster from Angela Hepburn on November 27th 1958.

'It is with the greatest regret I have to tell you that Peter Cushing will not be available to play Svengali for you on the postponed filming date. As you may or may not know, Peter is under contract to Hammer films to do five films for them within the period of 18 months. This means virtually that he has approximately ten days to a fortnight off between each film and therefore his periods of availability are not only limited but also spaced far apart. In actual fact the film he is about to do (on a 12 week schedule) is not for Hammer but for another company - and therefore it follows that as soon as it is completed he has to return immediately to Hammer to start work on his next film for them. I explain this to you so that you can see how very little point there appears to be in postponing your production with the idea of Peter being available at a later date. I have just talked with Peter on the telephone and he liked the script very much indeed, and he is extremely sorry that he will not be able to play it.'

WITH CUSHING'S decision to not engage with the BBC festive drama roll out, a chill descended on their relationship. A reluctance to invite Cushing into new productions on reflection, is quite evident, though there were several inquiries from his agent, and the idea to explore to reboot interest in a production of 'Cyano de Bergerac', Cushing would not appear in any major BBC production for at least another five years in 1963.

THERE SEEMS TO be no defiant answer to the question, 'Why didn't Peter Cushing appear in Hammer films, 'The Man Who Could Cheat Death' ..other than, if there were a reason, it probably had more to do with Peter feeling, after an intensive period of work, and production companies pulling him this way and that, he was due some me time...and a focus on his passion for painting. Just weeks after all the fuss calmed down with the BBC, on December 3rd 1958, Cushing unveiled 'Here and There: An Exhibition of Water-Colours by Peter Cushing, at the Fine Arts Society in Bond Street, London. The 'non Hammer film' that Angela Hepburn mentioned in her correspondence, that would have made Cushing's BBC appearance impossible, never happened...and there is no paper trail or evidence of what it could have been. Cushing did not start work at Bray with Hammer, until later than predicted, on February 25th 1959 when THE MUMMY started to roll. By this time, having spent time needed, the exhibition was launched and open to visitors.
 

IT'S DIFFICULT to prove now, years on, but maybe it wasn't just about Peter making time for his exhibition, maybe there was something about that TRILBY script, politics or health matters, that lead Cushing to opt-out. The invitation to play Svengali for Cushing, would have been a terrific opportunity. Did Cushing really do the right thing, and pass on this chance, for his love of painting? Whatever it was, I can't help feeling that Cushing did feel a loyalty to the BBC, and when he had time to think about it, knowing his exhibition had to take priority, both  projects 'The Man Who Could Cheat Death' AND 'Trilby' had to go. Maybe in dropping out of the unknown film and 'Cheat Death' Cushing hoped it would be seen as a 'walking on glass' gesture to appease Michael Barry, Christopher McMaster at the BBC. Maybe Cushing hoped it would sooth what would turn out to be a definite sting, and ultimately sour their working relationship.

A FULL COLOUR DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD IN THE KINEMATOGRAPH WEEKLY APPEARED ON APRIL 30TH 1959 ANNOUNCING THE RELEASE OF THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH WITH LEE BUT MINUS CUSHING.

WHATEVER HAPPENED, 'The Man Who Could Cheat Death' did middling business, even though it didn't lack drama and had very good production values, with it's  beautiful sets from the previous Hammer hits, Dracula / Horror of Dracula, Hound of the Baskervilles and the Revenge of Frankenstein. Diffring did a great job under Terence Fisher's direction. Hazel Court shines. But for all of this, I don't think that the inclusion of Cushing and Lee together in this film, would have made it a better film... Their casting would have certainly made it a, different film.  Another classic maybe? Another opportunity to mine that rich seam of chemistry, that both Cushing and Lee demonstrated with wonderful results in twenty two other films, together. You may think, well, twenty two is a good number. I would have to answer, any opportunity to cast, the two greatest exponents of British Fantasy cinema, that was lost.... should make us all feel, quite, CHEATED.

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#MONSTERMONDAY : CHLOE FRANKS AND AN AMICUS DRIPPING HOUSE!

 

#MONSTERMONDAY: Hide your toys, your dolls, and put that fire OUT! One of Amicus films smarty creations, Jane Reid from The House That Dripped Blood, and played wonderfully by a young Chloe Franks. Christopher Lee was great as her father, in a performance that kept you guessing to his motives. Was he a victim? And how about the little one in the frock??

FRANKS was great in Tales from the Crypt too... didn't seem at all bothered being in the company of monsters and madmen. Ironically, Franks went on to work with in the medical field, working as a consultant in mental health....

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