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

Thursday 25 June 2020

LATEX TISSUE PAPER WAX AND GORE : THE ANSWER TO THE MYSTERY BOX


BOX CLEVER ANSWER: Yesterday, I posted a photograph of an 'interesting' multi layer case-box and asked you if you could identify what it was, who was its owner ..and maybe it's contents! A larger version of the pic was also posted at the website, so you get a closer look, if needed. It was quite a puzzle for some, as the compartments of the box also contained, cotton wool balls, pencils, paint brushes.. and two knives and forks!!


ABOVE : ROY ASHTON MODELS HIS FANGS, that were used by David Peel in Hammer films, 'THE BRIDES OF DRACULA' (1960) Peter Cushing's second outing as Van Helsing!

SUGGESTIONS OF  'Something to do with model soldiers?' from Darren Park, was a good guess, as the box has a connection with Peter Cushing and this could have easily been a handy box for his painting and making of his mass collection of model soldiers and model theatres 😉 Daniel Worlsey suggested something similar in 'Is it it not Cushing’s “bit box”, wherein he keeps all the tools for gaming miniatures, paints and the left over bits and bobs of such a hobby?' Mateja Djedovic, asked if it was 'A vampire hunter tool kit box' ! 😁. It could have been, that fork looked nasty! 😉 Stephen Johnson said 'Is it Peter's private make up box, as he was allergic to the studio make up?🤔' which was a good answer and certainly on the right track! Donna Vallois Broughton thought it was a 'Fishing box' 🤔. Hmm...I too have seen plastic versions of these boxes used for that job too. One of the clues was that weird fork 😉 Colleen Crouch suggested 'It looks like a make-up kit. I'd guess Phil Leakey's. Wonder what the fork is for...🤔 The Cushing Connection would be Curse of Frankenstein, among other films.


THIS FORK LEAD QUITE A FEW to the ANSWER : Roy Ashton's Make Up Box. Roy had three. He said, 'One to beautify, one for extras and crowd and the other... for more extensive jobs, like monsters!' This box held fangs, latex vampire bite marks, noses, ears and of course two bottles of 'Kensington Gore'... blood! The Knife and Fork, Roy used '..for lunch'! Often he would find himself on location, or unable to leave work for the 'canteen or catering truck, so would bring his own lunch.. and use THAT knife and fork!


A ROY ASHTON QUIZ from the past! You can find the answers to 'NAME THE MONSTER' HERE! 

NAME DROP ALERT! I did three interviews with Roy, and one quite detailed video interview while he worked. He was always very kind and I was very fortunate to meet him and his wife at home too. You wouldn't think such a charming, calm gentleman could devise and create such works of terror and horror... but he did 😊 


THE BOX IN QUESTION has many connections to Hammer films, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, Amicus and Tyburn productions. Roy told me he only replaced the 'monster box once.. in 1960. The other one the hinges broke!!'😕 So I asked him, which films and creations was THIS box in partnership with himself responsible for?' He replied ' Well. Most of them after 1960... certainly one you would be interested in with Peter. Arthur Grimsdyke in 'Tales from the Crypt'! He then pulled things from the box, that would have been typical of the materials he used over the period of working with Peter on the character, latex, make up sticks Leichner 'Greasepaint 'G' Stick - Light Blue, Black and Greasepaint Stick - Light Grey.. and TISSUE PAPER for Grimsdyke's skin! So HERE was THE box!


QUITE A FEW OF YOU cracked it, but WELL DONE Robert Withers, who got it in 20 minutes with ' Roy Ashton’s box of tricks' 😀 Also, Deb Duncan-Faul, Ben Smothers took two guesses, but got it. No one guessed the movie, lots of suggestions, but not the title I was looking for. . .


ABOVE : ACTOR DANIEL JOHNS who was transformed by Roy Ashton into a 'living wax mannequin' with Peter Cushing in Amicus films 'ASYLUM' (1972)


MIKE GIACOLONE, was almost there with 'Jimmy Sangster's lunch box!!' Sangster was probably there for most of Roy's work in some fashion or another, having written most of the Hammer films on which he did the make up. Thanks for everyone who took part, had a go. I hope you like the photographs too! 😉 Another one soon 😉 - Marcus
 

Sunday 21 June 2020

#HAPPYFATHERSDAY! RARE PICS OF PETER CUSHING, VINCENT PRICE AND CHRISTOPHER LEE #FATHERSWAY!


#HAPPYFATHERSDAY! It's the day for Dad's whoever you are, wherever you are all over the world. Father's here, Father's passed. Father's who can celebrate with their children today, and Father's, for whatever reason can not - Marcus


ABOVE: PETER CUSHING and his family, his father, mother and brother, David


VINCENT PRICE and his daughter, Victoria with pet pug, Puffle!
 

CHRISTOPHER LEE, his daughter Christina and wife, Gitte!

Sunday 17 May 2020

#VINCENTPRICE TALKS THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE AND HINT OF THE 107TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION TO COME!


A LITTLE TREAT for SUNDAY over at FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! It's a little seen interview with #VINCENTPRICE speaking about his latest role as 'the voice' of prime villain Professor Ratigan in the Disney cartoon 'Basil The Great Mouse Detective'. This interview was broadcast in 1986 by the UK ITV children's programme 'Splash'. You can see it . .


HERE ARE THREE interesting and rare publicity photographs, that could give you a CLUE as to what I have in line for a #PCASUK #Competition to mark the 107th celebration of Peter Cushing's Birthday this month! I think we are going to have us some fun


TODAY I'VE ALSO PLANTED this very rare and interesting publicity photograph of Peter Cushing at the Fan Page. IF you can recognise the character Cushing is playing here and name the film in which it appeared, you have a CLUE to an element that will be part of a COMPETITION I'll be launching during the PCASUK celebration of 107th  anniversary of Peter Cushing's birthday this month! I think we are going to be having some fun that day! Please stay SAFE and look after yourselves 😊😉 - Marcus




Friday 8 May 2020

ON SET 1974 BEHIND THE SCENES ON AMICIS FILMS / INDICATOR'S BLU RAY 'THE BEAST MUST DIE'



#MAKINGAWEREWOLF was a 'Dawg Gone Problem!', in 1974 . . that's for sure. And as we will probably learn from some of the 'extras' 'interviews' included on the soon to be released BLU Ray from #Indicatorfilms of Amicus films, 'The Beast Must Die'.. it was quite a job! Here are some photographs from the on set shooting days on the film, where 'The Beast' was needed and in residence. The 'experts on hand from Ted Samuels, make up Paul Rabiger and John Hilling from wardrobe, all appear to have had a hand in coming up with a solution. I am not expert and no nothing about dogs, I have a dribbling, furry log, who looks wild boar, that passes himself off as a pedigree PUG called Barney, and I believe him! 😮😃What breed of dog they are using here, I have no idea! Maybe you do? But with some added fur, teeth and attitude, they pull it off I think... just about 😊




FANS APPEAR to be as torn as a pair of 'postman's ravaged pants', on this film. Which I find odd. It's Amicus they did their own thing, only one Gothic film, mostly contemporary settings. Milton and Max left the tradition horror films to Hammer, who had more cash to bash a horror film. Amicus did different and took risks too!

 


ANYWAY, here are some more pics from the #PCASUK clutter for you to have a look at. I think it's worth noting that #INDICATOR / #POWERHOUSE has started to really build itself a sterling and quite trusted reliable reputation for BLU RAY and BOX SETS of considerable quality and content! SEVERAL of their #HAMMERFILMS collections have treated fans and collectors alike to very interesting titles supported with quite a stash of surprising extras (The recent Indicator Hammer Box Set 'FACES OF FEAR' VOLUME FOUR' included an impressive 4k remastering of 'The Revenge of Frankenstein' with the inclusion of some very rarely seen 'On Set' and Behind the scenes trims and footage of the #Braystudio floor during shooting with #PeterCushing, Francis Matthews, Eunice Gayson and Oscar Quitak) As, hoped, the '#THEBEASTMUSTDIE' blu ray also comes with its own bank of extras and goodies! It's open for pre-orders of it's LIMITED release right now 😉 - Marcus





#PCASUK NEWS FEATURE THAT WAS POSTED HERE A FEW DAYS AGO : SOME GREAT NEWS FOR PETER CUSHING AND AMICUS FILMS FANS FOR JUNE 2020!!The last of Amicus’ famed horror productions, 'The Beast Must Die' (1974) makes it's UK PREMIERE on BLU RAY in the UK on JUNE 29th 2020!  
  • Audio commentary with director Paul Annett with writer Jonathan Sothcott (2003)
  • Interview with Max J Rosenberg (2000): archival audio recording of the famed producer in conversation with Sothcott
  • The BEHP Interview with Jack Hildyard (1988): an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the Oscar-winning cinematography in conversation with Alan Lawson
  • The BEHP Interview with Peter Tanner – Part Two, 1939–1987 (1987): an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the acclaimed editor in conversation with Roy Fowler and Taffy Haines
  • Introduction by Stephen Laws (2020): appreciation by the acclaimed horror author
  • Directing the Beast (2003): archival interview with Annett
  • Super 8 version: cut-down home cinema presentation
  • Image gallery: publicity and promotional material
  • Original theatrical trailer
  • Kim Newman and David Flint trailer commentary (2017): short critical appreciation
  • New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
  • Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Neil Young, an archival article on Amicus Productions, a look at the James Blish short story which inspired the film’s screenplay, an extract from the press-book profiling actor Calvin Lockhart, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
  • UK premiere on Blu-ray
  • Limited edition of 3,000 copies
  • BBFC cert: 15
    REGION B
INDICATOR'S 'THE BEAST MUST DIE' is a LIMITED EDITION and is now available for PRE ORDER RIGHT NOW from POWERHOUSE RIGHT HERE!

Thursday 7 May 2020

INDICATOR RELEASES THE BEAST IN THE UK! AMICUS FILMS 'THE BEAST MUST DIE' ROARS ONTO ON BLU RAY!


NEWS: SOME GREAT NEWS FOR PETER CUSHING AND AMICUS FILMS FANS FOR JUNE 2020!!The last of Amicus’ famed horror productions, 'The Beast Must Die' (1974) makes it's UK PREMIERE on BLU RAY in the UK on JUNE 29th 2020!


#INDICATOR / #POWERHOUSE HAS STARTED to really build itself a sterling and quite trusted reliable reputation for BLU RAY and BOX SETS of considerable quality and content! SEVERAL of their HAMMER FILM collections have treated fans and collectors alike with very interesting titles supported with quite a stash of surprising extras (The recent Indicator Hammer Box Set 'FACES OF FEAR' VOLUME FOUR'  included an impressive 4k remastering of 'The Revenge of Frankenstein' with the inclusion of some very rarely seen 'On Set' and Behind the scenes trims and footage of the Bray studio floor during shooting with Peter Cushing, Francis Matthews, Eunice Gayson and Oscar Quitak) As, hoped, the 'THE BEAST MUST DIE' blu ray also comes with its own bank of extras and goodies! JUST SEE BELOW 😃


'THE BEAST MUST DIE' INDICATOR BLU RAY High Definition REMASTER:  Calvin Lockhart (A Dandy in Aspic) and Marlene Clark (Ganja & Hess) have invited a disparate group of guests, including Peter Cushing (Corruption), Michael Gambon (The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover) and Charles Gray (The Legacy), to their mansion in the English countryside. He believes one of them is a werewolf… and, before the weekend is out, he’ll find out who it is! The last of Amicus’ famed horror productions, 'The Beast Must Die' combines the country-house whodunnit with the werewolf shocker and adds a dash of blaxploitation for good measure.


  • Audio commentary with director Paul Annett with writer Jonathan Sothcott (2003)
  • Interview with Max J Rosenberg (2000): archival audio recording of the famed producer in conversation with Sothcott
  • The BEHP Interview with Jack Hildyard (1988): an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the Oscar-winning cinematography in conversation with Alan Lawson
  • The BEHP Interview with Peter Tanner – Part Two, 1939–1987 (1987): an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the acclaimed editor in conversation with Roy Fowler and Taffy Haines
  • Introduction by Stephen Laws (2020): appreciation by the acclaimed horror author
  • Directing the Beast (2003): archival interview with Annett
  • Super 8 version: cut-down home cinema presentation
  • Image gallery: publicity and promotional material
  • Original theatrical trailer
  • Kim Newman and David Flint trailer commentary (2017): short critical appreciation
  • New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
  • Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Neil Young, an archival article on Amicus Productions, a look at the James Blish short story which inspired the film’s screenplay, an extract from the press-book profiling actor Calvin Lockhart, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
  • UK premiere on Blu-ray
  • Limited edition of 3,000 copies
  • BBFC cert: 15
    REGION B
INDICATOR'S 'THE BEAST MUST DIE' is a LIMITED EDITION and is now available for PRE-ORDER RIGHT NOW from POWERHOUSE RIGHT HERE! 


ABOVE: The Dogs Dinner! The make job on actor Anton Diffring by make artist, Paul Rabiger in #TheBeastMustDie on blu ray for the first time in the UK in June AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW from INDICATOR / POWERHOUSE FILMS! 

 

FIND OUT MORE about the story and history of Amicus films, 'THE BEAST MUST DIE' at the PCASUK FEATURE written by TROY HOWARTH complete with STILLS GALLERY RIGHT HERE!

Thursday 23 April 2020

ST GEORGE'S DAY: OBE THANKS TO SCOONESY SFX AND NOW THE SCREAMNGS STARTS!


TODAY'S #WATCHWITHCUSHING #FACEBOOKWATCHPARTY feature is the 1973 Amicus film, ''AND NOW, THE SCREAMING STARTS!' CLICK the blue link and JOIN and ENJOY the party, which will be LIVE from 10.00pm GMT today! 

IT WAS THE ONLY time when Hammer films, main competitor, Amicus, stepped into the same domain and era . . gothic and ghost story. Producers Subotsky and Rosenberg knew the way to save money that would easily be one of their main money pits, was keep the sets and locations, contemporary. Hammer were very good at recycling their sets and props, wizard set designer Bernard Robinson found a way to present what was an impressive studio lot structure as Caste Dracula one day . . and as a 1910 boat harbour in down town Hong Kong in the next! Amicus based their films in simple close contemporary settings. So close that, the seating was often still warm from the cast and crew who had commissioned and worked on that set. In the green room the coffee in the pot, was also still warm! Amicus were, cheap. Cheap as chips in fact. 


SYNOPSIS!
'This creepy, atmospheric horror film from England's Amicus Productions dispenses with much of the tongue-in-cheek presentation of their popular '70s horror anthologies (such as Asylum and Dr. Terror's House of Horrors) in favor of a more adult-oriented approach. The story begins in the 18th century, as a young stable hand tries to prevent nobleman Fengriffen (Herbert Lom) from raping a young servant girl -- who happens to be the stable hand's wife -- and for this transgression has his hand lopped off. Flash forward to the present, where Fengriffen's ancestor (Ian Ogilvy) and his wife (Stephanie Beacham), now living on the ancestral estate, are haunted by the servant's vengeful spirit, as well as the severed hand itself, which roams the gloomy corridors of the mansion.'


DIRECTOR FREDDIE FRANCIS often went on record stating he didn't know which was more lacking foundations or structure, the sets or the scripts! But, somehow, it more often than not, worked.. and worked very well. 'AND NOW, THE SCREAMINGS STARTS!'' released in 1973, directed by Roy ward Baker and starring Peter Cushing, Stephanie Beacham and Ian Ogily looks better then than your average Amicus film. all the exteriors were shot on location at . . Hammer's 'Brides of Dracula' and many others. . Oakley Court in Windsor, interiors at Shepperton studios, where for one time, they actually built their OWN set. Much camera time is spent mind you, showing it off!







I VERY MUCH LIKE this film, I love the Amicus 'wandering hand' featured in at least three other of their films, it worked for its keep! I love Peter's hair too, which was also made to earn it's rental turning up in two other Cushing projects, 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell', 'Orson Wells Great Mysteries' . . I have no idea why or how Cushing managed to get Subotsky to pay for it... and again on the subject of wonga, the screen time of the top-billed stars Peter Cushing, Herbert Lom and Patrick Magee does not exceed 28, 11 and five minutes, respectively. Subotsky was a master tailor and certainly cut the cloth, even though sometimes he 'passed on the buttons'  . .


HAPPY ST GEORGE'S DAY! Saint George is the patron saint of England noted and celebrated with legendary stories of his slaying a dragon and saving a distressed maiden.... Peter Cushing loved history, collected books, made model knights, created 'little wars' gaming props, pageantry figures, reproducing the flags and anything connected with connections or reference this era. He adored this whole time period, with chivalry, knights and medieval castles. He loved appearing in films set in these times too and always very much looked the part! Peter made reference to St George when he was awarded with his 'Order Of the British Empire' medal (OBE) back in 1989. Many at the time, thought he deserved more, Christopher Lee made a point of saying, 'It was too little, too late', he too should have been awarded a knighthood!' Maybe? But for Peter Cushing it was one of his most proudest moments. ..


Footnote: The whole process of the awards and honours takes years . . it often starts with an OBE and travels up, if you have been very active in charity work and / or good deeds. Lee was right, it was too late, but Peter's humbleness could sometimes be his undoing, he often challenged such ideas as 'too much fuss'. You have to be 'officially suggested' for such honours, and it always surprises me, who in fact kick started Peter's OBE application. Not a close friend, a well connected individual, business person or perosn in 'the know'.... it was Ian Scoones, special effects guy for Hammer films, worked on Dr Who, Blake's Seven and many many others films and tv shows uncredited . . living in French at the time. Back in the late 50's /1960's Peter had helped get him a job at Bray studios, he was a young lad and learnt his skills at trade with Les Bowie, who managed the SFX company who delivered most of the FX's for Hammer and other British companies. Ian stuck at it and pushed for the application and without him, Peter would not have been awarded anything . .



TO MANY IAN SCOONES is a name that would be associated with film and television special effects, working with the LES BOWIE Special Effects team and at the BBC. TV shows like the Hammer House of Horror show, Dr Who. Films like 1984, Thunderbirds working for Hammer films Bray studios, many films in which Peter Cushing appeared like, Frankenstein Created Woman, She, Night Creatures. Ian graduated from the Medway College of Art in 1960 and finding himself without employment, made some inquiries to Peter Cushing, who he had been a fan of, since he was a child. Cushing, in turn after meeting Ian, was instrumental in helping him gain employment with Les Bowie . . and the rest as they say, is history.


IT WAS SOMETHING THAT IAN NEVER FORGOT, that had Peter not helped him on his way, he may never have got a foot in the door, let alone employment, in such a competitive area. It was Ian's idea to sponsor the application, for Peter to be award an OBE, an 'Order of the British Empire' Medal, awarded by the Queen and government of the day, for services to the entertainment industry . . . Here for the first time on this page, is the actual letter that Ian received from the Prime Minister's office, telling him, that Peter Cushing was to be award the OBE . . . quite an achievement! Peter Cushing was extremely surprised and very humbled to receive the news of his award and Ian Scoones made all that possible! From 1994, Ian lived in retirement, first in Spain, then in Bulgaria, where he died on January 20th 2010, aged of 69.


TRIVIA: St George is also mentioned in Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula ' In the first chapter, the ill-fated Jonathan Harker is on his way to Count Dracula’s home, and has arrived in Romania on a very auspicious day. “Do you know what day it is?” asks the landlady at Bistritz. “It is the eve of St George’s Day. Tonight, when the clock strikes midnight, all evil things in the world will have full sway.” Needless to say, things didn't really get much better for Jonathan, from there onwards! 😄  Happy St George's Day! Please Stay Safe Everyone! - Marcus



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