Showing posts with label amicus.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amicus.. Show all posts

Monday 30 July 2018

I MONSTER : RARE PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY : PART ONE




EVEN AS THE CAMERA first began turning on 10th of October 1970,  it was felt that the Amicus film 1971 film,  'I MONSTER' was not going to have an easy time either during production or after it. What should have been a subtle dream-like and different gear, for the well worn telling of the JEKYLL and HYDE story, it was instead rapidly turning into a nightmare, just days into production. Amicus films producer, Milton Subotsky was, compared to his business partner, Max Rosenberg, quite a shy and reserved fellow. He left the contracting and book work to Max in the USA, while Milton managed the more creative side of production, at the studios in the UK. Milton though calm and reserved, could be quite passionate and stubborn, when he thought he had discovered something that would improve and enhance any of their film projects. He was known for dabble editing and probing into areas, where crews and managers, reacted in REAL horror. 


IN THE CASE OF 'I MONSTER', Milton thought he had discovered, a cheap and effective way of making the classic Jekyll and Hyde tale, a 3D masterpiece and CHEAPLY! His vision was discovered one day, when playing with his young son at home, looking through plastic candy sweet wrappers, colours blue and red. What Milton had come across was the school boy chemistry set, hit and miss theory of 'The Pulfrich Effect', so named after Carl Pulfrich its founder. It was a system that depending on your vision, could not be relied upon, and certainly not thought good enough, to stand as a 3D effect, to enhance an entire movie. The crew was instructed to suddenly rehash the many weeks spent blocking and plotting camera direction set ups. All of that went out of the window. On top of that, director Stephen Weeks felt rumblings of resistance and the beginnings of a sour working relationship with the crew, who resented an unknown 'young guy' being chief. The industry at this time,  was strongly union, tight and fighting cuts and lack of work. The  shrinking of what was once a major industry in the country, was dying a slow death and Weeks felt that his 'boyish looks and early twenty's age', was going against him. Even though he was more than experienced and competent, the crew made problems. All these factors, made for shaky foundations on what was, a tight budget, short schedule, that now appeared to have changed direction, with a ham fisted idea of 3D, that hardly anyone could see! You can read MORE about this in a NEW feature arriving here at the PCASUK website this week 



I MONSTER, has been ignored and kept out of any chance of revival, that many other fantasy films made in the 60's and 70's, have enjoyed of late. No remastering, no DVD or blu ray repackage and that is shame. The film does have some issues, but it has three things in it's favor. The direction is very good, the performances of both CUSHING and LEE are as we would expect, excellent. Lee pulls off something quite different, compared to the many of his known characters roles, over those years, DRACULA, FU MANCHU and a VAST array of villains. Lee's Mr Blake is like a brain fractured child, with a sledge-hammer approach to anything he doesn't understand. 


IT REALLY IS SOMETHING quite different for Lee, and is wonderfully enhanced by make up artist Harry Frampton's touch, as Dr Marlowe's face and body, slides into a horrifying vision of  hate and evil! CUSHING did best with what he was presented, playing the 'good-guy' who will save the day. What is different in his role of Frederick Utterson, is how he applies his rules of inquisitiveness and doubt. Unlike with Vampier Hunter, Van Helsing there is no chasing and dramatic crosses and stakes. Here he is trying to rescue his friend and colleague, Marlowe from an unwelcome visitor called Mr Blake. Not knowing, they are one...and the same.  



THE PACE OF EDITING ACCOMPANIED by a beautiful musical score from composer CARL DAVIS, from the beginning flags up, this wasn't going to be anything like the tried and tested, familiar sights and sounds,  of market leader, Hammer films, who were Amicus films only genre competitor in the UK at this time. What we are given is a almost dream-like flip of a well known story. All sets look authentic for the time, as do the costumes. The language and reserved quality of communication among professional men, plays out well. All guys are emotionally tongue tied, stiff as their starchy collars and wrought in the game of upper class frigidness and good manners. 


IT'S BLEAK, and all wrapped up in soup like fog, which Blake LOVES and uses as cover, as he stalks, like some man-child-rabid rat. When the end comes, it's sad to see him go. Like a naughty child, who has no concept or understanding of what he has done wrong, the climax of his violent collapse plays like, the waking up from a personal bad dream. He fades away. But like those nightmares, the visions and echo's of what one has been experienced and seen, stay with you long after the lights have come up, and a new day begins . . .  'I MONSTER' deserves a better and a patience audience, who appreciates, not all tales are told with screaming sound and busty vampire bites!





PART TWO of our I MONSTER GALLEY will be posted here MONDAY 6th AUGUST. Some of the rare pics from this and part one gallery are also posted at our FACEBOOK PETER CUSHING APPRECIATION SOCIETY UK FAN PAGE where followers of the page and lovers of Peter Cushing work, can discuss and debate the film, 'I MONSTER' and Cushing's role in this and other films for Amicus. Wherever you are in the world, you are invited to join us at our PCASUK FACEBOOK FAN PAGE along with over 33 thousand other friends and fans. Just CLICK HERE  and CLICK LIKE THERE! We would love top have you along!  

Sunday 19 November 2017

THE BRIDES OF DRACULA PREMIER : GOLDEN VAMP GOOF AND BEAST MUST DIE!


#GETHECUSHIONSUNDAY! Peter Cushing and Yvonne Monlaur rolled up at the West End Rank Cinema, London for the premier night of #hammerfilms 'The Brides of Dracula' on July 7th 1960 . . .looks like Yvonne had wondered off for a popcorn or hotdog, leaving Peter at the mercy of these two ladies from the Rank Organisation, in fancy dress..at least I HOPE they are in fancy dress....


PETER CUSHING AND YVONNE MONLAUR together at the #bridesofdracula premier night . . .with the Vampire Girls just...off..camera...


TWO GREAT PUBLICITY shots of Peter Cushing from Hammer films, 'THE BRIDES OF DRACULA' (1960) One in character as #VANHELSING and the other, as himself!


WE HAVE compiled the SIX photographs that were taken exclusively on set of #HAMMERFILMS 'The Brides of Dracula' for the PICTURE SHOW magazine feature, and reassembled them, in this banner, to give some idea of how, they could have looked . . 



#GETTHECUSHIONSUNDAY! CALLUM McKELVIE'S feature this week is on the Amicus Cushing 'WHO-DONE-IT'.... 'The Beast Must Die'! Link below... Many still talk about the WEREWOLF BREAK, an ingenious little gimmick, which gave you a minute to guess the TRUE identity of the werewolf in the cast. Even though I have watched this movie about half a dozen times...I STILL can't ever remember when watching, WHO it turns out to be. DON'T REVEAL PLEASE! Cast your mind back, to when you first saw the film...HONESTLY...DID you SUCCESSFULLY GUESS who the werewolf was??? Here's the link to great memories, photographs and stuff on this most unusual of Amicus Horror films . .

 FEATURE HERE: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  . .

Tuesday 10 October 2017

MR SMITH'S SON IS BACK FROM THE DEAD! HE IS VERY ANGRY AND NO DUMMY!



#MONSTERMONDAY! Asylum as most of you will know is a British Horror film, made in 1972, starring among many others, Peter Cushing, and Barry Morse. It is a horror anthology film, one of several produced by Amicus during the 1960's and 1970's.


Here Cushing and Morse star in a story entitled, 'THE WEIRD TAILOR' Here it is for your enjoyment! TRAVIA: Cushing Morse and their wives, Helen and Sydney were once traveling across London together in a double decker bus during the end of WW2...and were almost killed by a flying bomb....!






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   

Thursday 17 August 2017

I NEVER FORGET A FACE OR A HEAD! #THROWBACKTHURSDAY!


#THROWBACKTHURSDAY! I NEVER FORGET A . . . HEAD! You may recall I asked all #HAMMERFILM fans out there, if they recognised the HEAD posing as the remains of the Marquis de Sade in Cushing film, The Skull, and posted a pic of the HEAD. No one spotted it, so here is the answer . . . that should make em sit up at the next pub quiz!


FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS FILM at our SUPPLEMENT WEBSITE The Black Box Club. There is a full review and RARE IMAGE GALLLERY : 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      

Monday 25 April 2016

MONSTERMONDAY THE SKULL AND FREDDIE FRANCIS SCRIPT


This weeks #MONSTERMONDAY features not so much a body or person, but a head! The SKULL, of the Marquis de Sade to be exact! Amicus films, THE SKULL produced in 1965 starred another teaming of Peter with Christopher Lee, who were supported by the superb casting of Patrick Wymark, Nigel Green, Patrick Magee and Jill Bennett. In recent times, the cranked up suspense and lush photography has enjoyed a remastering on blu ray, unfortunately the 'clean-up' of the print reveals not only the finer framed details, but also the 'strings' that suspend the floating skull of the title! Having said that, the Skull's suspense and menace, still delivers unnerving chills some 50 years on...and makes it more than worthy of being our nominated Monster this Monday.... The Skull.thumbs UP or DOWN?




Peter Cushing and Jill Bennett in Le Crane Malefique - The skull from Amicus films directed by Freddie Francis. This FRENCH lobby card carries the proof of a replacement paper sticker, that has been placed over the original title in French. The heirs of Donatien Alphonse François de Sade pressed charges to prevent any use of his name on the advertising material. The changes on posters and lobby-cards were made at the very last minute by gluing a paper sticker with the new title "Le Crâne Maléfique" (meaning "The Evil Skull") on top of the former, "Les forfaits du Marquis de Sade" (meaning "the Infamies of Marquis de Sade"). Only on that condition the film could finally be released in the French territory.


For many years, the director of Amicus films, THE SKULL starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, insisted that the impressive 'dream sequence' that takes place in the film with Peter Cushing, was entirely improvised on the day of shooting, on the studio floor. Here we present , from our collection, two pages from director's Freddie Francis personal script of The Skull. Page 21 describes 'Scene 12A Int Library Night' and gives detail of a MONTAGE SEQUENCE 'almost Dreamlike'... to the right of the page, in Francis own handwriting is an annotation note which says, 'OLD FASHION DREAM TRICK', which throws some doubt on Francis story. Throughout interviews in later times, Francis expressed his irritation with producer Milton Subotsky, and his habit of presenting Francis with incomplete scripts. This FINAL DRAFT shows clearly that a dream sequence was indeed included in the final vision of the script and that before shooting commence, Francis had also identified the style and technique that would be needed.


The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society is based in the UK but truly is an international group of fans, friends and admirers of the work of actor Peter Cushing. Established in 1956, PCAS is celebrating its 60 year this year. From its humble beginings as a newsletter and journal managed by Ms Gladys Fletcher until 1979, when it became a journal and audio tape service. The development of the audio tape show, was a forerunner of the todays PODCASTS, which was recorded in the style of a radio show, including interviews, competitions, sketches and features. The PCAS Sound Mag, later branched out into a spin off club and it's own following called The Black Box Club. Now both PCAS and the BLACKBOXCLUB enjoy a very popular presence on the internet and across many media platforms and social network sites. The PETER CUSHING APPRECIATION SOCIETY FACEBOOK FAN PAGE  AND our WEBSITE are UPDATED SEVERAL TIMES DAILY.

Saturday 20 February 2016

#ONSETSATURDAY : THE BEAST MUST DIE : ANTON DIFFRING IN THE MAKE UP CHAIR!


#ONSETSATURDAY This week we visit that Amicus favourite, THE BEAST MUST DIE, with a rare shot of ANTON DIFFRING in the make up chair of Paul Rabiger. An interesting film in the Cushing portfolio, is a horror film, a thriller, a who done it??? The answer is probably, it's all three! With it's excellent 'WEREWOLF BREAK' a quite eclectic cast, headed by Peter Cushing, Charles Gray and werewolf hunter, Calvin Lockhart, who sounds like he's just popped over during a tea break from the Royal Shakespeare company's production of 'As You Like it'. It's not one of my favourites, and the music score I find so bad, I have been known to watch the entire film with the volume down. Amicus films, didn't have those memorable scores, like many of the Hammer films, and went down the route of employing Douglas Gamley (1924–1998) to score this one, and many of the portmanteau films. Just my opinion, but I am not a fan. 


Mind you, he's not quite as bad as Elisabeth Lutyens ...who scored Dr Terrors House of Horrors. Her avant-garde blackboard scrapings, set me on edge. Maybe, that was what they were meant to do??? What is YOUR favourite AMICUS film score??


MORE  on THE BEAST MUST DIE at our 
FEATURE and PHOTO GALLERY : HERE

Saturday 24 October 2015

WIN AND WIN AGAIN! QUICKY COMPETITION SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN BLU RAYS!


COMPETITION NOW CLOSED!!

Here's ANOTHER chance to win yourself a copy of the TWILIGHT TIME LIMITED EDITION BLU RAY of SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN!

It's another of our QUICKY COMPETITIONS where you can WIN AND WIN AGAIN, But you have JUST FIVE HOURS, starting from NOW  gmt to send it your answer!

GOOD LUCK!!

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED AND HERE ARE OUR LUCKY WINNERS!





You can purchase YOUR copy of this REGION FREE BLU RAY from HERE  OR HERE!


DETAILS: Kind of a horror movie, kind of an espionage film, and in some sense a piece of science fiction, Scream and Scream Again (1970) features turns by three icons of the horror genre: Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing.  All are involved in a wild “plot” connecting Great Britain to some unnamed totalitarian state where torture, murder, and out-of-control “experiments” are the order of the day. Directed by Gordon Hessler from a screenplay by Christopher Wicking, with cinematography by the worthy John Coquillon.



Starring: Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Judy Huxtable, Alfred Marks, Michael Gothard. Directed By: Gordon Hessler. Written By: Christopher Wicking. Score By: David Whitaker. Language: English.Video: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1 / Color. Audio: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA.  Subtitles: English SDH. Theatrical Release: 1970. Runtime: 94 Minutes. Rating: R (Some Violence and Brief Nudity) Region Code: Region Free (A/B/C)

Special Features: Isolated Score Track / Audio Commentary with Film Historians David Del Valle and Tim Sullivan / Gentleman Gothic: Gordon Hessler at AIP / An Interview with Uta Levka / Still Gallery / Radio Spot / Original Theatrical Trailer



Join Us At Our Facebook Fan Page : HERE 

Monday 19 October 2015

EUREKA THE SKULL BLU RAY AND DVD COMPETITION PLUS FULL REVIEW


THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. HERE ARE THE WINNERS!



EUREKA AND THE PETERAPPRECIATIONSOCIETY.COM BRINGS YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN A PETER CUSHING AMICUS HORROR CLASSIC 
ON DUAL BLU RAY AND DVD RELEASE

EVENT
OCTOBER 26th sees the BLU RAY and DVD release from EUREKA of Amicus films classic THE SKULL starring the two grand masters of terror, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. This is the first time that THE SKULL has been available on BLU RAY in the UK and to celebrate this, EUREKA have sponsored our competition by providing THREE copies of the DUAL FORMAT release for you to WIN! This edition contains both the BLU RAY and DVD.


ALL YOU HAVE TO DO
To enter the competition and be in with a chance of winning EUREKA's EXCLUSIVELY RESTORED release of THE SKULL is correctly ANSWER the question below. Once you have your answer, just simply send it in an email to us at: theblackboxclub@gmail.com

QUESTION:
Amicus script writer and producer, Milton Subotsky had a favorite SURNAME he used for his characters in over half a dozen of his films. WHAT WAS THAT SURNAME?

This competition CLOSES on FRIDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2015 at MIDNIGHT GMT. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

You can place a PREORDER for EUREKA's 'THE SKULL' Dual Blu Ray and DVD release at Amazon.co.uk : QUICK LINK: HERE 


OVER VIEW:
This is for many the quintessential Amicus film. Adapted for the screen by ‘Mr. Amicus’ himself, Milton Subotsky, it adheres pretty closely to Robert 'Psycho' Bloch's short story 'The Skull of the Marquis De Sade' and it is one of Bloch's best. It’s pity that for many he is still remembered for 'that' novel alone.


SYNOPSIS:
CONTAINS SPOILERS! After the 6-min pre-credit set in the early 19th century, phrenologist Pierre (Maurice Good) robs the grave of the notorious Marquis de Sade and steals his skull. Soon after, he pays the dire consequences…Forward to the present 1965 and we’re at an auction (Michael Gough appears briefly as the auctioneer). In attendance are two collectors of objects d’art. It won't be too difficult for you to work out who they are: Peter Cushing as ‘Dr. Christopher Maitland’ and Christopher Lee as ‘Sir Matthew Phillips’. Both are keen to acquire a collection of satanic statuettes. Phillips has more money and outbids Maitland by offering an absurdly high price for the figures in question. Maitland’s seedy and snuff taking oppo Marco (Patrick Wymark) also advises him to hold back, “he's got more money than you have". Perhaps it should be pointed out that Wymark's ploy with the snuff is tantamount to what McQueen did with his hat in The Magnificent Seven.


Shortly afterwards Marco arrives at Maitland's period London home and sells him a book (the life of that debauched libertine, the said Marquis) bound in human skin! Marco is a supplier of such curiosa and Maitland is a fevered collector and is “none too fussy” as regards the provenance of said items. The next day, Marco arrives with a skull claiming it to be that of de Sade. For this he asks a very high price but then agrees to accept a much lower offer, hence Maitland suspects it is a fake. Marco claims he wants to get rid of it as it gives him the jitters. Pretty soon after, our seedy supplier makes his appointment with the grim reaper. Maitland visits his old acquaintance Sir Phillips who, over a game of snooker, informs his colleague that the skull is genuine enough: “My dear fellow, that skull was stolen from me! And I advise you to keep well away from it!” Does Maitland heed the warning? Don't be daft! We all know that no good will come of it. He then steals the skull from Marco's Soho flat, accidentally killing dodgy landlord Bert Travers (Peter Woodthorpe) in the process. And now Maitland’s nightmare is just about to begin, including a beautifully done dream sequence.


THE CASTING:
Cushing (who after this was never again billed above Lee) is at his best as the fevered and tortured occult collector Maitland. A similar role for him came later in The Creeping Flesh. Second billed Patrick Wymark has all the best lines including a tasty monologue giving a brief yet somewhat exaggerated account of the man “whose name has become a byword for sadism”. And a succulent performance it is too from the revered stage actor. The late Christopher Lee adds his usual cold and austere pomposity to the proceedings, who else could get away with it. Peter Woodthorpe is hilarious as landlord Bert. Stalwarts Nigel Green and Amicus fave Patrick Magee are on hand as the law, though stage actress Jill Bennett is somewhat wasted as Maitland's wife.


SUMMING UP:
Director Freddie Francis has done a sterling job here, and the action seen through the eyes of the skull adds a particularly effective and chilling touch. For these scenes a huge, presumably polystyrene skull was used. John Wilcox's photography did the job amply. You really can feel Cushing's panic through those close-ups! As is usual with the dialogue-hating Subotsky, it is kept to a minimum. Indeed, there is hardly any for the last third of the film. Which must have been a welcome opportunity for the then in-house classical composer Elizabeth Lutyens who very much has to be praised for her score… an integral part of the film's success. The Skull is drenched in atmosphere and its claustrophobic feel (practically no location work or day shots here) only enhances the splendidly spooky vibe throughout. A classic of the genre!


You can place a PREORDER for EUREKA's 'THE SKULL' Dual Blu Ray and DVD release at Amazon.co.uk : QUICK LINK: HERE 

This Dual Format Edition offers the following EXTRAS:
• Exclusively restored 1080p presentation of the film on Blu-ray
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• New video interview with film scholar Jonathan Rigby
• New video interview with critic and author Kim Newman
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and new artwork
• Limited Edition Collector's Booklet, featuring an essay by Vic Pratt


Review Source: HERE
Images and Design: Marcus Brooks

 Please come join us at our FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: HERE 
EUREKA AND THE PETERAPPRECIATIONSOCIETY.COM BRINGS YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN A PETER CUSHING AMICUS HORROR CLASSIC 
ON DUAL BLU RAY AND DVD RELEASE!
- See more at: http://petercushingblog.blogspot.co.uk/#sthash.sYCf2IE0.dpuf
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