Showing posts with label michael gwynn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label michael gwynn. Show all posts

Friday 28 April 2017

#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY: HUMAN MUNCHIES AT HAMMER

#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY: Hammer films first step into their Frankenstein franchise was The Curse of Frankenstein in 1957. This was quickly followed, after it's huge commercial success by The Revenge of Frankenstein the following year. As with Curse, it's success is no small part because of Cushing's stellar return and performance, as the Baron who cheated death. But for me, there has always been more than one act of cheating in this particular return. . . . 



FRANCIS MATTHEWS is terrific and believable as the good doctor's assistant, Hans. Eunice Gayson as Margret, struggles but does well with what she has been given by scriptwriter Jimmy Sangster, who had an annoying habit of giving his female characters a one dimensional, very shallow filed to plough, when it came to any of his written women. And the supporting cast were top too. I love Michael Gwynn's work, but not in this one. This is not because he was weak, like with Gayson's lot. No, Gwynn was working with a very weak concept...a man who turns Cannibal! Sangster went on record as saying, he did struggle with coming up with an angle, a 'thing' ..part of what that latest Frankenstein abomination did, that was above murder and creating chaos. This creation should repulse and make audiences shriek with terror once again. He thought long and hard, and eventually came up with, cannibalism. Well, I don't buy it. I never have, never will. 



YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ON THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN PLUS EYE OUR LOVELY GALLERY OF RARE PICS AT OUR FEATURE : HERE! 


THE WHOLE PREMISE that supports the reason why poor ol Karl has the human munchies, in the framework of this Gothic horror, sticks out as desperate, ill conceived, heavy handed and over the top. I would have been quite happy with another round of, just murder, unhappy monster and leave it at that. The Hammer Frankenstein's were most entertaining when they focused on 'The Baron'.. how bad, how manipulative, cruel and relentless HE could be. It's interesting that the most popular and financially successful films of the series, Curse and Destroyed, had Baron Frankenstein at the center of the story. On the whole, I think the Frankenstein audience went to see Peter Cushing, and were quite informed about how they liked their Gothic horror menu served up...intelligent, imaginative and with some class and taste. To me, if you throw cannibalism into the recipe, it's just too rich, one spice too many. Cannibalism...In other words, just doesn't taste that good... 😉 What do you think? Agree? disagree? - Marcus




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Tuesday 5 July 2016

ANDREW RAY AND CUSHING : BBC ' THE BROWNING VERSION' TOO COOL TUESDAY


HERE'S A RARE photograph of Peter Cushing and a young Andrew Ray during the rehearsing of the BBC production of Terence Rattigan's 'The Browning Version' broadcast on July 12th 1955. Cushing played school teacher, Andrew Crocker-Harris, Ray - John Taplow.


CUSHING WAS ALSO joined by Michael Gwynn who would play the 'horror interest' in Hammer films, 'The Revenge of Frankenstein' in 1958. Actor George Curzon also appeared in this BBC production... Curzon was best known for the films 'Jamaica Inn' and 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' with Peter Lorre. I wonder if anyone out there knows if George Curzon was related to Cushing's co star in 'Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 AD ' Jill Curzon?.Now wouldn't that be too cool too?


TRIVIA: All In The Family: Andrew Ray was son of UK comedian Ted Ray, his brother was actor and writer, Robin Ray...and he was brother in law to Susan Stranks...she of ITV children's programme of the 1970's, 'Magpie'. Andrew Ray died on August 20, 2003.


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Friday 20 June 2014

#FRANKENSTEIN FRIDAY : CREATION MEETS CREATOR


#frankensteinfriday Peter Cushing and Michael Gwynn: Creation meets Creator! Michael Gwynn's fine performance as the pitiful Karl Immelmann tends to get over looked in the long list of #hammerfilm Frankenstein creations. He one of my personal favorites. How do you rate Gwynn's performance?

CAST:
Peter Cushing (Dr Victor Frankenstein/Stein), Francis Matthews (Hans Kleve), Michael Gwynn (Karl), Eunice Gayson (Margaret Conrad), Oscar Quitak (Dwarf Karl)

PRODUCTION:
Director – Terence Fisher, Screenplay – Jimmy Sangster, Additional Dialogue – H. Hurford Janes, Producer – Anthony Hinds, Photography – Jack Asher, Music – Leonard Salzedo, Makeup – Phil Leakey, Production Design – Bernard Robinson. Production Company – Hammer Films UK. 1958.

SYNOPSIS:
With the help of Karl, the crippled dwarf hangman, whom he promises a new body, Frankenstein escapes the gallows and they hang the officiating priest instead. Under the name Stein, Frankenstein sets up practice in the town of Karlsbruck, alternating between volunteer work at the poor hospital, which is a goldmine of parts to build up Karl’s new body, and private practice where his courtly charms draw him the devotion of the upper-classes. He is recognised by eager young Hans Kleve who forces Frankenstein to take him on as an assistant. Together they transplant Karl’s brain into the new patchwork body. The operation is successful but soon the body’s limbs return to their old crippled positions. Karl escapes and brings shame down on Frankenstein when he bursts in on a society function, crying “Frankenstein help me.”.
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