#NURSES #VAMPIRES AND #CARRYON'S : REMEMBERING ACTRESS VALERIE VAN OST

TODAY, over at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page we are REMEMBERING actress VALERIE VAN OST, who was born on this day, in 1944. Van Ost appeared in THREE films also starring #PeterCushing, #Corruption, #IncensefortheDamned and #TheSatanicRitesofDracula. Valerie was also very popular in the 'Carry On' series of films in the 1960's, “Carry On Cabby,” “Carry On Don’t Lose Your Head,” “#CarryOnDoctor” and '#CarryOnAgainDoctor,'. Van Ost’s sad passing was announced in 2019 by agent Barry Langford who said in his tweet, “A sad goodbye to beautiful Valerie Van Ost, who passed away this week. Valerie gave up her successful acting career to become a respected casting director and was beloved in both profession". 

 

#VANOST, a native of #Herkamsted, #Hertfordshire, turned to acting after she had been a dancer in her teenager at London’s famed Palladium theatre. It's believed that at one time she was once considered to be a possible replacement for #DianaRigg as Emma Peel in “#TheAvengers,” having once appeared in an episode of the show. 

 

ABOVE: Valerie Van Ost with Patrick Macnee in 'The Avengers' episode 'Dead Man's Treasure' 1967  

 

IN 1973, Van Ost took on her other most famous role, in the #HammerHorror movie, “The Satanic Rites of Dracula'.” Van Ost played the role of a Secret Service secretary who is kidnapped by a satanic cult. Van Ost was married to movie producer Greg Smith. Smith had been the producer of Britain’s other great bawdy comedy series, the “Confessions” series of movies in the 1970s.

 

ABOVE: VAN OST SHARED AND POSTED a photograph of her and BARRY LANGFORD on her twitter account a short time before her passing . .

 

ABOVE:  An image shared over at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page today. Can you ANSWER both parts of the question?

 

LATER IN 1985, Van Ost married Andrew Millington, with whom she set up a casting agency. This coincided with Van Ost’s retirement from acting. The pair cast five movies and a television series during the 1980s. Two of those films, “The Boys in Blue” and “Funny Money” were produced by her first husband.

 

TODAY, why not come over the the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page and help us remember and celebrate Valerie Van Ost's career and life too?  . . 

 

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  

#PUTTINGONAJACKET! PLUS ROBERT HARTFORD-DAVIS: CORRUPTION AND INSENCE FOR THE DAMNED

TODAY we mark the birthday of a director who during his pretty strange, and always on budget or even under budget films, made two of the weirdest entries in Peter Cushing British film career, '#Corruption' 1968 and 'Incense for the Damned' in 1971. Robert Hartford-Davis, born William Henry Davis, 23 July 1923 in Ramsgate, Kent. 

 

ABOVE:Director, producer, writer and at one time.. agent for Roy Rogers, Robert Hartford-Davis. According to Davis, he only ever lost money on one film, 'Incense for the Damned' starring Peter Cushing and Patrick MacNee.. According to Davis along with his partner Peter Newbrook, had an unparalleled track record of successes, producing one of the highest grossing 'low-budget films ever produced in the UK' the 1963 'The Yellow Teddy Bears' .... I wonder what Hammer films CEO Sir James Carerras, thought of that at the time???  

 

ABOVE: RELEASED in it's AKA title, 'Blood Suckers' Robert Hartford-Davis, 'Incense For The Damned' 

 

HE CHANGED HIS NAME  on becoming a television director in 1955, a very full television career encompassing drama, comedy and entertainment shows. Davis made his way into film by becoming an electrician, it was here he went on to develop his skills as a cameraman, editor and even sound technician. Davis like many of the best in the industry, learned everything he could, before donning the role of head producer and director... the only difference being, unlike the majority of his peers, he didn't share their talents. Getting to value the weight of a penny while working as an agent, where at one time he even managed American 'singer-actor-television host-cowboy- #RoyRogers! 

 

IN BETWEEN MAKING Cushing's eyebrow raising 'Corruption' - which because due to the strong graphic content of the film, different markets around the world received different versions of key scenes.. and 'Incense for the Damned' which Davis always stated was actually two different films that were 'spiced together' because we ran out of money, removed his name from the film- Davis made a film with both #PeterCushing co stars, #IngridPitt and #JudyHuxtable. Called 'Nobody Ordered Love' is now thought of as a lost '1972 British drama film' 

 

ONE THING you can say for Davis, he made TWO films with Peter Cushing, that despite their reception at the time of there release, have since gone on to cultivate a lot of interest, with 'Corruption' having a huge following of fans. Sadly, for some, Davis output stopped in 1977, with a tv series called 'Dog and Cat' in the US. He passed in his Los Angeles home on 12th June 1977. Remembering #RobertHartfordDavis today!

 

AND FINALLY,  There's putting on a jacket and.. 'putting ON a jacket'! #PeterCushing as #VanHelsing in #Hammerfilms '#Dracula 1958

 

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     

THE BIRTHDAYS OF MARY AND MADELINE COLLINSON : TWINS OF EVIL HAMMER FILMS 1971

REMEMBERING TODAY: Madeline Collinson. I must admit, I wasn't quite sure how I was going to present this today. The sad and premature passing of Madeline Collinson on August 2014 shocked everyone. For several years, fans and admirers were unaware of the struggle that Madeline had experienced with her health, a condition that through a series of unexpected and believed to be unfortunate timing, that sealed her fate. Madeline suffered from quite chronic emphysema. For months, she was nursed at her home, living quite a restricted life supported by  a ventilator system. In a horrendous turn of fate, the system shut down, as a result of a prolonged nationwide power cut. Mary, who now lives in Milan, later complained to the 'Times of Malta' newspaper that, 'Madeleine could have survived if the emergency services had got her to hospital quicker. . . ' A sad and tragic ending to a life. . .  Both her and her twin sister, Mary for a short time had a career in film, where their uncanny 'double-take' resemblance to each other, was the perfect device for films like '#HAMMERFILMS 'Twins of Evil'. 

 

BOTH MARY AND MADELINE, Both her and her twin sister, Mary for a short time had a career in film, where their uncanny 'double-take' resemblance to each other, was the perfect device for films like '#HAMMERFILMS 'Twins of Evil' which starred Peter Cushing, Damien Thomas and Denis Price. Neither Mary or Madeline, let their inexperienced in acting for the big screen get in their way. They knew their limits, and played to their strengths, and the results were very good indeed. . . . Both Madeline and Mary gracefully retired from their film careers, and went on to have families, children and lives..far, far away from the clutches of Count Karnstein! Mary still makes the occasional appearance at signing events, and is always happy to talk.

 

IN POSTING this tribute today also at Facebook PCASUK Fan Page, it is interesting to read and see the response from many, many admirers and fans, who remember and still appreciate both Madeline and Mary's work. 

Mary and Madeline with director John Hough during the making of Hammer Films 'Twins Of Evil' (1972) 

 

John Hough with 'The Twins' Madeline and Mary, during the filming of Twins Of Evil (1972)

 

 

BOTH MARY AND MADELINE featured in a rare Norwegian lobby still for 'Twins of Evil' where the feature was theatrically released with the confusing title of 'Twins of Dracula'!

 

PETER CUSHING and MARY COLLINSON wait for the cameras to start rolling and the flames to start roaring, on the woodland set of 'Twins of Evil'  

 

 

A FULL PCASUK REVIEW OF 'TWINS OF EVIL' WITH GALLERY OF STILLS 

CAN BE FOUND HERE!

 

PART ONE of a THREE PART GALLERY SERIES of RARE photographs on set during the making of Hammer films 'Twins of Evil' can be FOUND HERE

 

PART TWO RIGHT HERE! 

 

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