Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label death. Show all posts

Wednesday 6 May 2020

GITTE SAYS TO SEND YOU HER LOVE! WHILE YOU ARE STILL HERE! WHEN LOVE FILLS THE VACCUM OF FEAR!


#WATCHWITHCUSHING! It takes a special friendship and almost psychic understanding... in order to meet for what you know is probably the last time, and to give exchanges and comments to each other, that because of your bond, need only be given in your shared 'short hand', that has been crafted and exchanged over many years, during tough times and good. This is how we see a brief insight into the friendship, love and respect both Peter Cushing and his close friend Christopher Lee had for each other. 




EVEN WITH THE CLOSE  proximity of death, could be handled with irony and gallows humour! Although, when asked by Peter, 'Will you fill in for me, if I don't make it through this day?' even Lee could only reply, 'Oh don't say that..' They behaved like this over a 30 year career and friendship of even longer, even though, it was known in the industry that even though Cushing and Lee had this closeness, their wives Gitte Lee and Helen Cushing . . were not that close. What they were was fiercely protective of their husbands, their careers, standing and reputations.. plus Helen was born in Leningrad, USSR and Gitte in Copenhagen, Denmark . . Strong wives, for husbands who loved to play 😊 - Marcus
 
FIND THE ABOVE CLIP AT the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE RIGHT HERE!


FIND THE WHOLE PLAY LIST AT the PCASUK YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE!
 

Tuesday 30 July 2019

RARE AND UNPUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHS : PCAS ALBUM : AT HOME WITH PETER CUSHING : PART ONE


ON SEEING these rare and unpublished photographs for the first time, it isn't obvious who the man in the pics actually could be. A neat and trim moustache, the absence of a hair piece and several pounds of body weight along with clothing that wasn't the usual attire familiar to the thousands of cinema goers, who had watched him on the big screen and tv over the past three decades. 1971 was a year that changed Peter Cushing's life forever. The loss of his wife, Helen in February after many years of fighting her illness, set Cushing on a path of work, that would have psychically and emotionally exhausted many others.




THE GRIEF AND LOSS effected everything in Cushing's life, except as he saw, his one distraction away from the loneliness and pain. Work. These unpublished stills were taken in December 1971, as part of a Radio Times magazine feature, promoting a BBC radio programme Peter had recorded earlier on July 27th -29th July 1971 at his home in Whitstable. The programme 'Nature Spectacular' focused on the wildlife and birds of which Peter was very familiar and loved around his beach front home. I am sure you have seen the many watercolour's and sketches that Peter produced over the years, here on PCASUK. He was a lover of nature. The photo session produced quite a few unique captures of Peter, that we will be sharing over the next three weeks. . . 


THIS LOOK INTO Peter's home study, gives us a peep into the things that surrounded his day, the photo portrate of his late wife, the paperwork, the delicate bird figures he made and his desk, which I am very proud to be sat at, while writing this. Just a few weeks before these photographs were taken, Cushing had began his journey, in 'keeping busy' in March until April, he returned in his first film just weeks after Helen passed, Hammer films 'Twins of Evil', September he filmed his award winning performance as Arthur Grimsdyke in Amicus films, 'Tales from the Crypt' at Shepperton studios, work on Hammer's Dracula AD 1972' as Van Helsing with Christopher Lee as the Count, kept him busy from September 27th until November 5th along with several radio appearances from September 30th until early November. He brought the year to an end, with shooting Hammer films, 'Fear In The Night' with Ralph Bates and Judy Geeson' .... hence the little moustache, of his character headmaster, Michael Carmichael. Cushing was allergic to spirit gum that would hold on a false tash, so he grew his facial hair when roles required it! A busy time, indeed.



Tuesday 25 June 2019

THE BRAVE AND GENTLE SOUL OF PETER CUSHING PICS AND COMPETITION


THE 1972 AMICUS FILM, 'Asylum' which is featured in our Second Sight Films / PCAS competition this week, was a film that contains quite a sad and poignant role for Peter Cushing, both his character and Cushing in his own life, were dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. After the release of Asylum in the UK, the connection of the role and Cushing own loss, prompted quite a few interviews and features in magazines and newspapers. A few weeks ago, we posted the quite well known photo of Peter sitting at a dresser in his home in Whitstable, with framed photographs of Helen at his side. On posting this pic, I received quite a few messages from many of you out there who were very moved to see Peter looking so remorseful. So, I looked into our files and to find this 'other' photograph from this photo session and post the two here today 😀 The loss of Helen was something from which Peter Cushing never truly recovered, but being the gentleman and brave soul he was, he always managed to push on, to another day ... I hope you like the insert photo - Marcus 😉


ABOVE: YOU CAN bag your chance to win a copy of the LIMITED EDITION BLU RAY SECOND SIGHT FILMS  release of  'ASYLUM' in our PCASUK COMPETITION  right now at our FACEBOOK PCAS FAN PAGE! The competition is open until SATURDAY 29th of June 2019, so there's still time to take the opportunity now!

Tuesday 18 June 2019

TERENCE FISHER REMEMBERED TODAY


REMEMBERING TERENCE FISHER TODAY 😊 If you enjoy any of the better Hammer films of the 1950's and 60's . . this is the point, you doff your cap 😉 There can be few directors who worked for Hammer films, who did so much to develop that Hammer-in-house style. Terence Fisher, WAS Hammer. Along with Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and the players who helped under pin the rich vision of fairy-tale come Gothic nightmare style. Even when the 'monsters' were 'shaky' the script, with more holes than a Swiss cheese... the look, pace and world beautifully styled by Fisher, just sat so well. The Curse of Frankenstein in 1957 was the first, it also lit the rocket that would spin Peter Cushing into a new and long lasting career within the fantasy genre and Christopher Lee, on scraping off the make up and anonymity as 'the monster', would soon don a cloak and a feral shocking performance as Dracula, that set him on path, for more Fisher, Cushing Hammer classics to come. The Mummy, The Gorgon, and The Hound of the Baskervilles, still stand, as maybe the best of Terence Fisher and Hammer. 



TERENCE FISHER was one of the most prominent horror directors of the second half of the 20th century. He was the first to bring gothic horror alive in full colour, and the sexual overtones and explicit horror in his films, while mild by modern standards, were unprecedented in his day. Fisher although aware of the terrifying elements of his Hammer films, would only smile when questioned about their shock factor, and answer...'I make wicked fairy tales...!' Fisher also along with Lee and Cushing, had a wicked sense of humor, hints of which can often been seen on the screen. Given their subject matter and lurid approach, Fisher's films, though commercially successful, were largely dismissed by critics during his career. It is only in recent years that Fisher has become recognised as an auteur in his own right . . .



'BACK IN MARCH 1980, I was just 19, living in Kent and scuffling back and forth to London, jobbing in very basic model and extra work, desperately earning my actors 'Equity Card'. With PCAS has my hobby, I was living in digs, that belonged to a family who were organizing a fantasy convention in London just a few weeks away. They were very kind people and good friends of Terence Fisher's, who had now retired, and was sadly, not in very good health. But he had agreed to attend the convention. While sitting in the kitchen one evening, I was star struck to hear, they were chatting with Fisher on the telephone. I had spent the last two days laughingly trying to get myself an agent in London, the shambolic details they shared with Fisher. Laughing into my coffee I shouted across the room, 'Ask him if he knows any charitable, kind and helpful agents!'. There was a pause and a howl of laughter. I asked, what was his answer? 'Oh, you'll never find one of them!' was his reply . . and he is still laughing down the phone!' 🤣🤣 Sadly, Fisher passed in June. I did get my Equity card, thanks to sponsors, actor Michael Ripper and Make up artist, Roy Ashton... who strangely enough, held a membership of the Equity Union, for many years! So, I sadly never got to meet Terence Fisher... but I did get to make him laugh 😀😊' Marcus Brooks




PETER CUSHING AND THE DIRECTORS: PART ONE OF FOUR: HERE!


Friday 14 June 2019

REMEMBERING MAX J ROSENBERG AND A HAMMER FILM PREMEIR!


REMEMBERING: Max J. Rosenberg (September 13, 1914 – June 14, 2004) Rosenberg was an American film producer, whose career spanned six decades. He was particularly noted for his partnership with co founder of Amicus films, Milton Subotsky who both found much of their success while working in England, producing #supernatural and fantasy cinema, many of which starred #PeterCushing and #ChristopherLee. Max was a clever businessman, Subotsky was the brains and imagination behind what was for most part, the only true competitor of the UK based #Hammerfilms. Sadly, the business partnership soured, then court and libel cases strangled the whole thing to death...a climax worthy of any Amicus film's big finish!


YOU CAN FIND OUR MORE about MILTON SUBOTSKY AND MAX ROSENBERG and AMICUS FILMS in our PCAS feature and REVIEW of THE UNCANNY RIGHT HERE 



 . . AND IN OUR SEVEN PART series on The AMICUS Films of PETER CUSHING HERE!


ABOVE: A RARE press photograph taken at the PREMIER of #Hammerfilms 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' with #PeterCushing, #VeronicaCarlson, #ThorleyWalters, #CatherineSchell and producer, Anthony Nelson Keys, posing for the press with two Hammer fans in fancy dress! Schell was in attendence while working on Hammer's other film at this time, #MOONZEROTWO! 

Friday 7 June 2019

SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE REMEMBERED TODAY : FROM 2O15 FOUR YEARS ON . .


SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE remembered today. Four years on . . . It's still a little strange how there still isn't an official CHRISTOPHER LEE fan site on the net. Before his passing, there was an official site, that had slowed down, then a week after Lee's death, was closed to any updates and carried a banner of, being remodeled to re-appear soon. We are still waiting. Just two weeks ago, during the week of both Lee's and Cushing's birthday anniversaries, we shared the news of Lady Birgit Lee, donating several personal scrapbooks of rare photographs and clippings, from Sir Lee's archive to the British Film Institute.


MORE ON THE CHRISTOPHER LEE SCRAPBOOKS HERE! 

IN THE MEANTIME, I try to share something related, if only by a Cushing post. Plus we do have a Christopher Lee theme EVERY Saturday here! Posts about Christopher Lee here and at our PCAS Facebook Fan Page are always well received and supported. There are always lots of comments and text from followers and members, who still miss his presence and regularly watch the wealth of work, that we can always enjoy . . . in memory of one of the greatest!


ABOVE: The LATEST clip from the PCASUK series 'The Last Meeting of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee' posted to celebrate and mark the 106th anniversary of Peter Cushing birthday!






Monday 14 January 2019

SHE LIVED FOR HIM AND HE LIVED FOR HER : REMEMBERING HELEN CUSHING TODAY


TODAY January 14th marks the 48th anniversary of the passing of HELEN CUSHING. Peter and Helen were married for nearly 28 years. They were a devoted couple. She lived for HIM and he lived for HER. . .. the story of the effect on Peter of Helen's passing is well documented here on the page and website. Both of them thought their meeting was kismet, meant to be . . . years after, she would remember their first meeting, as if it were yesterday ...







Sunday 9 December 2018

UPDATED! THE SEVEN WINNERS WHO HAVE WON TWILIGHT TIME REMASTERED ;SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST' BLU RAY PRIZES TODAY!


THIS COMPETITITON IS NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN DRAWN! MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO DOUGLAS, LINDSAY, SANDRA, PAUL, ALEX, JIM AND BARBARA! YOU are ALL Winners Many thanks to everyone who entered this competition and to our sponsors Twilight Time for our prizes! Can the winners please contact me within 24 hours, with details of where you would like your prize to be despatched! The CORRECT ANSWER was of course, MAID MARIAN or Marianne! So many of you got THAT one! There is ANOTHER PCASUK COMPETITION getting set on the starting blocks for early next week! Please check the VERY BOTTOM of this post below Thanks Everyone! - Marcus


IF YOU HAVEN'T HAVE TIME to ENTER our PCAS 'Sword of Sherwood Forest 'COMPETITION or have missed our posts... SEVEN prizes of TWILIGHT TIME'S remastered blu ray, starring Peter Cushing... HERE is YOUR CHANCE! YOU have just over FIVE HOURS to enter! Below are the details of our competititon NOW being held at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE, the competition question and HOW TO ENTER! I'll be annoucing the lucky winners at 6pm GMT tonight. So, time is ticking, get you ENTER in NOW! This competititon like ALL PCAS competitions, is open to EVERYONE, who ever, where ever YOU are 😉. YOU CA ALSO ORDER YOUR COPY, DIRECT FROM TWILIGHT TIME RIGHT HERE!



THE TWILIGHT TIME SPECIAL EDITION release of the remastered blu ray of Hammer films 1960 'Sword of Sherwood Forest; is a pretty neat package and a great addition to anyone's Hammer or Peter Cushing collection. Twilight has done grand job on the remastering, and Cushing looks every bit the villain of the piece, as the Sheriff of Nottingham, very sharp images and good enough to eat in glorious Eastman colour. It's a great job, on a not so well known Hammer film, that makes you wish the studio, director Terence Fisher and Peter Cushing had produced more adventures, with this same cast.


WE ARE VERY PLEASED to have SEVEN COPIES of the REMASTERED 'Sword Of Sherwood Forest; Blu Ray... courtesy of TWILIGHT TIME.... as prizes in the PCAS Competition! All you have to do is GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PCASUK FACEBOOK FAN PAGE FOLLOW the directions on the Competition Banner and ANSWER THE QUESTION BELOW, ONLY USING THE FACEBOOK MESSAGE CONTACT BUTTON! BEWARE! ANY answers posted on Facebook PCAS FAN Page, will be deleted and deemed void... plus you can expect a visit from a bunch of medieval rough-types with clubs and pointed sticks..! So, HERE GOES:

COMPETITION QUESTION:
In Hammer films, 'Sword of Sherwood Forest' and many other Robin Hood stories, Robin has a long time romantic interest . .. what is HER NAME?

Please chose ONE of the following:
a) Maid Melanie b) Maid In Hong Kong c) Maid Yesterday d) Maid Marian e) Maid Outofwood f) Maid Justintime

NOW GO TO THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE  AND SEND US YOUR ANSWER!

A REVIEW of the blu ray appears here at the PCAS website shortly, Good Luck Everyone!


BELOW FULL RELEASE SPEC: 'Sword of Sherwood Forest' Starring: Richard Greene, Peter Cushing, Niall MacGinnis, Richard Pasco, Jack Gwillim, Sarah Branch, Oliver Reed Video: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1 / Color Audio: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA. Subtitles: English SDH Theatrical Release: 1960 Runtime: 80 Minutes Rating: NR (Not Rated) Region Code: Region Free (A/B/C)

Special Features: Isolated Music & Effects Track / Original Theatrical Trailer



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