Showing posts with label pertwee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pertwee. Show all posts

Sunday 21 January 2018

FROM SERIAL TO CEREAL : WIN A DALEK : HUGE GALLERY : CALLUM MCKELVIE PART TWO


FOLLOWING ON FROM last week’s piece, I’m now turning my attention towards the second Dalek film, Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. Released in 1967, right at the very end of ‘Dalekmania’, Invasion Earth was not as warmly received as its predecessor despite my thinking it the superior film. My DR WHO AND THE DALEKS REVIEW AND GALLERY HERE! However, it still has a slew of interesting facts and tid bits concerning its production and release...


OF COURSE ONE of the more infamous aspects of the films production and marketing concerns the ‘Sugar Puffs’ sponsorship. On the one hand, this was extremely beneficial, assisting in the films financing and helping immensely with marketing. Examples of this include the Daleks featuring in Sugar Puffs television commercials, on the front of cereal boxes and of course a competition to win one of the Dalek props. 






THE NEGATIVE SIDE concerns the product placement that features regularly throughout the film, most notably on the walls during the opening sequence in which the Tardis is covered in rubble. It’s not damaging to the film in any particular way, but it is somewhat distracting when considering the film is supposed to be set in an apocalyptic future. I mean, did all other forms of food run out during the Dalek invasion and everyone went Sugar Puff mad?


WHEN BUILDING DALEKS for this film it might seem an obvious assumption that the Daleks were simply edited and re-used from the first film. Unfortunately due to prize giveaways and tours these Daleks numbers had been sufficiently depleted. With a number of new props built others were taken from the Curse of the Daleks stage-play and sufficiently remodelled. 


IN TOTAL NINETEEN were used with Terry Nation (Dalek creator) going on to own four. The rest, reputedly were left on the Shepperton backlot to rot. Nations Daleks would spend the next few years appearing on tours, being used for photoshoots and fairs. One of the Dalek props would get another chance to show off its acting chops- albeit on the small screen, appearing opposite Jon Pertwee’s third doctor in Planet of the Daleks.



THIS DALEK WAS SUITABLY ‘pimped’ out, having been repainted gold and black and appearing with a torch instead of an eyestalk. It looks suitably impressive and despite not getting much screen-time, steals the show. Nation's Daleks would continue to make public appearances for the rest of the 1970’s including the stage show Doctor Who and the Daleks in Seven keys to Doomsday.


OTHER MORE CONVENTIONAL and traditional marketing appear to have been a little less extreme this time around. Perhaps Subotsky, reassured by the massive success of the first film, decided to cost-cut in this area? That’s not to say there wasn’t any however. Some fascinating behind the scenes footage remains in a television programme entitled ''A WHOLE SCENE GOING ON' (1966) which features a fascinating interview with director Gordon Flemying, who discusses his motivations for wanting to direct BOTH Peter Cushing / Dalek feature film and how he chooses to work. Hammer stalwart Eddie Powell gets a shout-out and features in a few clips, setting up for stunts during the final battle sequence within the Dalek base. Cushing can also be seen walking around set and preparing for scenes


ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING promotional aspects concerns the films soundtrack, which was adapted and presented by Gordon Gow for the BBC Light programme. Aired on November 18 1966 as part of the Movietime series, I’ve been unable to discover if any copy of this broadcast remains. There is however, the original soundtrack recordings, lovingly restored from the vaults of Pinewood Studios, and presented with 20 page booklet from Silvascreen. Some of the vibrant period scores written by Malcolm Lockyer and Bill McGuffie, also have sections enhanced by electronic sounds created by Barry Gray, famed for his work with Gerry Anderson.


DALEKS INVASION EARTH 2150 AD would be the final film in the series although a third film was planned, any ideas were shelved when 2150 AD didn't  hit the lucrative mark of its predecessor. However that’s not to say that that this would be the end for the Cushing doctor. Cushing himself maintained that he had been asked to take the role on for television 


IN EARLY 2010, it was discovered that Cushing did indeed reprise the role, although not on television or the big screen.  A promotional bill announcing the commencement of recording, 'JOURNEY INTO TIME' in ISSUE FIVE had appeared in the pages of the Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Journal, way back in 1981. It took until 2011, for anyone else to realise that the bill was indeed genuine, and seriously take up the research. Cushing recorded a pilot episode in the late 1960's, with the company mentioned in bill, STANMARK and Watermill Productions. However, the pilot came to nothing and sadly, the tapes have since been lost. The recording is thought to have been a thirty minute radio pilot for a proposed series, written by well-known Doctor Who script writer, Malcolm Hulke (creator of the Silurian’s and Sea Devils amongst other well-known monsters). All 52 episodes were to have been produced for Australia and other overseas territories. The plot concerned the Doctor and his companion 'Mike' journeying to the American Revolution.





FOR TWO SCI-FI 'kid's flicks', the Dalek movies have certainly left something of an impression. As I said in my reviews they are incredibly controversial which seems surprising due to their lighthearted nature and just how fun they are.  Love them or loathe them they certainly have an interesting history, though I feel I may be staying away from WHO for a while now, having already devoted four articles to it! I hope you have enjoyed them. Peter Cushing's work is all incredibly interesting and who knows, what we will be featuring here next Sunday? I HOPE you'll come along and find out!

If you want to know more about the Dalek props then I highly recommend visiting HERE!’, a site which features a complete and in-depth breakdown of what happened to both sets of movie Daleks. ALSO these sites are recommended too! http://www.doctorwho.tv/ and HERE!




REMEMBER! IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA   

Sunday 2 July 2017

#GETTHECUSHIONSUNDAY! ANOTHER STUNNING LIKENESS : A MOFF POSTER WITH A DIFFERENCE : TAKE FIVE : PETER CUSHING WITH A CHICKEN!


#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHINGSUNDAY! as well as loads of 10x8 photographs, portraits and stills, this stunning artwork will also be on offer at events were Guy Henry is signing. Depicting both Peter Cushing as Tarkin from Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) it also features Guy Henry's CGI Tarkin from 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' (2016) I would love a signed one of these, what do you think???


#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHINGSUNDAY! IF you were around you may well remember the stunning Peter Cushing Tarkin bust work of Phillip Thomas Robinson? Well, this weekend, ANOTHER extremely gifted sculptors work, came our way. James the Sculptor applies his spot on skills to produce, 'Custom, bespoke and "One Of A Kind" sculptures. Focusing on likenesses and caricatures...' as per quote his website. His Peter Cushing sculpt entitled, 'Dear Boy' isn't just an uncanny likeness of our man, but James has also captured that twinkle and polite smile. How do you rate this? Take a look at the other examples of James work in the thread below too. JAMES TAKES COMMISSIONS / ONE OFF'S TOO! VERY REASONABLY PRICED. You can learn more at his WEBSITE: HERE!


FACES LOOK FAMILIAR?


#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHINGSUNDAY! IF YOU are on a bus, train or plane reading this, this may keep you busy for half an hour...OR maybe not? It's always fun posting something like this, because you never know what the results are going to be... so, what do you think???

 
#GETTHECHICKENITSCUSHINGSUNDAY! I toyed with posting this photograph, for no other reason than, the heading, key word search and caption, are just so weird, and without doubt the winner of the most bizarre caption of the year so far! But no. There is a better objective to posting this charmingly strange photograph of Peter Cushing. CAN YOU TELL US WHY he is posing with not ONE but TWO CHICKENS?  Not that the number of chickens is  of any importance actually. WHY is Peter Cushing posing with Chickens? You think you have the answer? THEN join us at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE and see this post there, and tell us why!




UPDATE: ANSWER TO CUSHING AND CHICKENS!


IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA. 

Tuesday 21 February 2017

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: TOGS THREADS AND DUDS : SHARP DRESSER AND NO SCHMATTA


#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: Look around you. Today, it's all too easy to slip on a tee-shirt and a pair of joggers and go to the store. Just the other day, sitting on a train, the majority of my fellow passengers looked like they didn't have a mirror in their home! Back in the day, not so, Peter Cushing. Ok, the 1950's and 60's did have a certain class, no onesies back then. Individuals had dressers and consultants, who would purchase clothing for them, AND dress them.


BUT, NOT MR C. There are some who can wear a hat, 'You have a head for a hat' I've heard people say, or there are men who put on a suit and look a million bucks. Like Peter Cushing. Maybe it was his height, his slim build? He certainly could carry a suit very well. It wasn't always this way.


TRIVIA: PETER CUSHING  was a member of the 'WAISTCOAT CLUB', which was founded in 1953, by actor Jon Pertwee. Above we see Cushing at a Waistcoat Club New Years Eve Party function.




WHEN HIS WIFE HELEN, met Peter for the first time, she though he was a tramp! 'He wore an old velvet cap, with a hole in the crown and was carrying a very heavy old kit bag, like sailors use. A jacket beyond description AND repair. A white shirt, that was spotless, but worn at the cuffs and collar, a pair of once dark corduroy trousers, most of the nap worn away from constant wear and a pair of down-at-heel shoes of grey suede. I was later to find that the shoes had holes in their soles, as large as half crowns. His woolen socks had never known the comfort of a darning needle. BUT I knew I would love him, for the rest of my days...and beyond...' Cushing's attire did certainly improve once he and Helen were married in 1943. Cushing clothing was of enough merit, i think to mention here today. And if you are wondering where this feature will archived? You'll find it in the same file, as 'Christopher Lee's wigs'! It's all good! - Marcus



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Sunday 24 January 2016

TV 21 COMIC COMPETITIONS AND DALEKMANIA FROM 1965


We have a bit of a Dr Who thing going on at the facebook fan page today.. so let's continue with that thread and this lovely old ad from TV 21 comic from 31st July 1965. The hight of Dalekmania! I remember having that Dalek badge...and maybe that push along plastic Dalek too. Did any of you own Dalek toys and novelties during the 1960's???


We have posted some of these pages before, but they are such a great example of retro publicity, I often get requests to repost them here or at the facebook Fan Page. Below, the one thing I wanted more than anything else in the Summer of 1965, an Inflatable Dalek of my own....and the Dalek jigsaw puzzle. All of of this was on offer and dangled like a carrot, hanging on the naming of the one thing we pretended to be, in our playground antics at school... the cooler than cool.. RED DALEK!


The children's plastic Dalek costume looks a bit shabby now, but back in the day, Berwick's Red Dalek outfit was the bees knees! These too were often given away in competitions. I guess the absolute dream ticket was to own the suit AND the jigsaw, and to able to piece the jigsaw together, whilst wearing the suit!


And as for the chances of winning one of the THREE much coveted Sugar Puffs Movie Daleks, one could only dream!

 
It's frightening to think we once sold candy to children in the shape of cigarettes back in the 60's...but we did.. Noddy Sweet Cigarettes, Thunderbirds too...what is also weird is the ingredients on this packet...E- numbers I am sure have been left off, but look at the first ingredient...??? A lump of petrified forest with your candy contraband, sonny??



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Thursday 14 January 2016

INGRID PITT BRINGS US A THROWBACKTHURSDAY WITH BITE!


She was an actress that appeared in a handful of genre films, but she certainly made her mark! In 1970, she gave us her Marcilla / Carmilla / Mircalla Karnstein in Hammer films, THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, the following year she starred in another Hammer film, COUNTESS DRACULA.


Hot on the trail of those two hits, came yet another 'vampire', even though it was a bite size role in one of the stories in the portmanteau feature, 'THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' for Amicus films, with Peter Cushing and Jon Pertwee.


In 'THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' she wrapped up her part quite nicely, with a plot twist and flew across the screen and once again, into our hearts....


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