#SILENTBUTDEADLY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES BERNARD PLUS HAMMER THEME

Today, 20th September marks the birthday of the late JAMES BERNARD composer of many of Hammer films greatest music scores,starring Peter Cushing. Probably best remembered for his music score for Hammer films, Dracula (1958). It featured a motif based on the name... Dra-cu-laaaaa.... However, he could also write lushly romantic melodies, such as appear in Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970) and Scars of Dracula (1970). Unlike the majority of film composers, Bernard orchestrated almost all of his work.

Bernard's first major break as a composer was at the age of 17 when he met Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, for whom Bernard later wrote a song cycle. Other memorable Hammer scores include The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), She (1964),The Kiss of the Vampire (1962), The Plague of the Zombies (1966) and The Devil Rides Out (1968).

TRIVIA: James Bernard was educated at Wellington College, which actor Christopher Lee also attended....

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     

#TOOCOOTUESDAY: THE MAN WHO THOUGHT HE WAS A HAIRDRESSER: CELEBRATED TODAY!

Today, the nineteenth of September we remember the late ANTHONY HINDS, today he would have been his 96th birthday. And we are marking this day in style, a whole new PLAYLIST of vintage INTERVIEW CLIPS with Anthony Hinds, available to watch at our PCAS YOUTUBE CHANNEL and LINKED HERE TOO! There are also EXPANDED features on HINDS films for Hammer, accessible at our supplement website, THEBLACKBOXCLUB.COM For many Hammer film fans, Hinds represents the 'Golden Years' of the studios output and production. Producer and script writer, he was responsible for some of Peter Cushing's most revered work in the fantasy genre.

ABOVE TWO #GIFS FROM HINDS 'BACK TO BACK' PRODUCTION PERIOD, HAMMER FILMS, 'THE PLAGUE OF ZOMBIES' (1966) 

In Hammer's early days, it was Hinds idea to hire country houses and to based the production and shooting in the rooms and grounds of the locations, which saved the the studio huge production costs. He was also the brains behind shooting productions 'back to back'. (See the CLIP ABOVE!) 'The Reptile' and 'The Plague of the Zombies', are two very good examples.

In his private life, Hinds lived in the stock-belt district of London. His family owned a large chain of jewellery stores through-out the UK. But to his friends, the details of Hinds day job was only shared outside of the family, on a 'need-to-know' basis. Hinds told neighbours and acquaintances he was the owner manager of a string of Hairdressing salons in the city, and that the E Type Jag in his drive, was the result of many shampoo and sets! It wasn't that he was embarrassed about his job, but as he explained many years later, he didn't think the daily doings of The Baron, body parts, Dracula and gore, wouldn't go down too well, with the chaps at the golf club . . .  

ORIGINALLY POSTED IN 2013 ON HIS PASSING : OUR TRIBUTE 

TO ANTHONY HINDS  HERE!

His script writing skills, have been picked over by many, but few could doubt his skill in managing tight budgets, and building impressive productions, with very limited resources and finance...and for this, he was indeed, the 'Master Builder and Architect of Hammer films'...and for that, we are very grateful.....

ABOVE ANTHONY HINDS AND HOW HE STARTED AT HAMMER FILMS

ABOVE HINDS ON THE MAKING OF HAMMER FILMS 1958 DRACULA / HORROR OF DRACULA

OUR FEATURE AND GALLERY AT OUR SUPPLEMENT 

WEBSITE CONTAINING RARE IMAGES AND FEATURE : HERE!

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HINDS 'BACK TO BACK' FEATURES 'THE REPTILE'.

READ OUR FEATURE, SUPPLEMENTED WITH VINTAGE STILLS AT THE BLACK BOX CLUB WEBSITE!

ANTHONY HINDS PRODUCED 'RASPUTIN, THE MAD MONK' (1966) 'BACK TO BACK' WITH 'DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS' (1966) READ OUR FEATURE AND VIEW THE VINTAGE STILLS GALLERY : HERE!

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    

NEWS: MYSTERY OF MISSING BRASS PLAQUE IN WHITSTABLE

Over the years, many of you have sent us photographs of your visits to what was Peter and Helen Cushing's home town of Whitstable in Kent. I see many many photographs of the 'love bench' that Peter donated to the town, dedicated from both he and his late wife. Only yesterday (Monday 18th September), a good friend to the PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE Becky Jarrett, made a trip to Whitstable and thought she would walk along to 'Cushing's View' at the sea front and sit on the 'Cushing Bench' and take in the sun and sights. She was upset to discover that the brass dedication plate has vanished from the bench ....

You'll find LOTS of features about the 'Cushing's Love Seat'

here at the website, but here is a interesting one! CLICK HERE! 

For over 25 years, the bench has sat there, in all weathers, offering a place to sit and admire the view, that Peter Cushing visited on his daily walks along the front. Visitors from around the world, visit Whitstable, many knowing the town's connection with Peter and Helen, and visit Cushing's View and the bench. Never has the bench been defaced, carved into, vandalized or damaged. Just over two years ago, the bench vanished... no warning.. while it was given a coat of varnish and some TLC. It returned, looking better than ever. I am hoping, the plaque has been removed for some maintenance too... If you have any news or information about its where-abouts, please let us know here . . . thank you Becky for letting us know ;) Marcus

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    

#MONSTERMONDAY! CELEBRATING A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY!

BIRTHDAY GIRL!
A SPECIAL DAY.. A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY: Join us in wishing in lovely VERONICA CARLSON a VERY Happy Birthday TODAY!

Image Above: Veronica Carlson and Peter Cushing pose for a publicity photograph during the making of #hammerfilms 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' at Elstree film studios in 1969.

READ MORE ABOUT Veronica Carlson and her work on Franknestien Must Be Destroyed : HERE!

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   

#GETTHECUSHIONSUNDAY! A MEGA MILESTONE AND STILL IN FLAP ABOUT MOTH-GIRL?

#GETTHECUSHIONSUNDAY! #MEGATHANKS!

Many Many thanks, everyone . . . for your continued support, comments, posts, shares and ...all of the likes! You are the BEST 🙂 - Marcus

#SECOND THOUGHTS?

OK. Last post on this one for a while... and then it goes back in the box! HOW MANY of you had an opinion of the 1968 Cushing film, 'THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR' . . .and if you have seen it, since it's legit release on blu ray . . . or an official dvd, have changed your opinion??

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   

#CHRISTOPHERLEESATURDAY! THE MANY FACES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

#CHRISTOPHERLEESATURDAY: Here is a great documentary with Christopher Lee hosting, an overview of Sherlock Holmes from the SHERLOCK from Arthur Conan Doyle pen, as portrayed on stage, on radio, television, and in motion pictures, by dozens of actors from, 1900 to 1985 . . 

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  

THE ARTIST WHO CAPTURED THE BEAUTY IN THE HORROR: BASIL GOGOS IS DEAD.

Very sad to hear of the passing of legendary artist, BASIL GOGOS today. . . I first became aware of his incredible work on the Famous Monsters of Filmland covers... and this one in particular, of Peter Cushing. He leaves behind an enormous body of work, which fans and the lovers of his art will appreciate for many years to come . . .Do you have a favorite Gogo piece... ?

MANY MOONS AGO . .. . I spotted the cover of a certain magazine, on a  magazine rack, the kind you  see at airport news and book stores at airports, in our local newspaper vendors, in a teenie-tiny village, in the South of England.  It was my sixth birthday, and my grandma was taking  holding my hand, making her daily trip , to by her newspaper. I was invited along, because being my special day,  I could pick some sweets / candy from the large glass jars, that stood on shelves, behind the counter. I settled on half a pound of loose Jelly Babies, and while my Gran and shop keeper chatted and he was  weighing them,  looking around, I spotted the strangest cover of a magazine. 

I didn't really know what the magazine was about, although I judging by that word 'MONSTERS' in white, and that amazing character on the front, which I guessed, was maybe the Phantom of the Opera ...I knew my monsters from watching the late night movies at my Grandma's . . . I wanted it SO BADLY. But my birthday treat was being poured from the weighing scales scooped sliver bowl, into brown paper bags. I'd blown it! If only I had seen the magazine before my sweet tooth had led me to the Jelly Babies . . . In hindsight, I didn't really need the sweets, because I had the sweetest, kindest Grandma in the world. I left the store holding my Grandma's hand with my right hand, and two bags of Jelly Babies in my left..... but under my arm, were was that magazine, with that amazing art on the cover. From that day on, things would never be the same. . . - Marcus

UPDATE: BASIL GOGOS NEW YORK TIMES OBITUARY

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