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Thursday 10 August 2017

BREAKING NEWS: INDICATOR RELEASE TITLES OF NEW HAMMER AND AMICUS VOLUME ONE BLU RAY TITLES IN REGION FREE RELEASE : PACKED WITH NEW EXTRAS!

BREAKING NEWS: PRE-ORDER NOW: THIS ITEM WILL BE RELEASED ON 16 OCTOBER 2017, BUT YOU CAN PRE-ORDER IT NOW TO BE GUARANTEED A COPY. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY, AND THE ITEM WILL SHIP JUST BEFORE THE RELEASE DATE.

MANIAC (Michael Carreras, 1963) THE GORGON (Terence Fisher, 1964)
THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB (Michael Carreras, 1964) FANATIC (Silvio Narizzano, 1965) Release date: 16 October 2017 Limited Blu-ray Edition (UK Blu-ray premieres)

FOUR CLASSICS from #HammerFilms, each presented on Blu-ray for the very first time in the UK. Whether it's a mad man brandishing a welding torch, a mythical monster who's looks can kill, an ancient royal with diabolical powers, or a mad woman wielding a pair of scissors, this set has something to unease everybody. Containing a wealth of new and exclusive extra features – including title-specific documentaries, cast and crew interviews, expert appreciations, introductions and more – this stunning Blu-ray-only Limited Edition box set is published in a horribly limited, numbered edition of 4,000 units.

INDICATOR LIMITED BLU-RAY EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES:
• HD restorations of all four films
• Original Mono audio
• All-new documentaries exploring aspects of each film
• The Gorgon audio commentary with Daughters of Darkness’ Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger
• The Gorgon introduction by actor and filmmaker Matthew Holness
• New interviews with actors Barbara Shelley and Mike McStay
• New interviews with cameramen Michael Reed and Douglas Milsome
• Playwright Matthew Lombardo on Tallulah Bankhead and Fanatic
• Hammer’s Women – an exclusive series of filmed appreciations of Nadia Gray, Barbara Shelley, Jeanne Roland and Tallulah Bankhead
• Original trailers and promotional films
• Promotional and on-set photography, poster art and archive materials
• Four box set exclusive booklets with new essays, contemporary reviews, historic articles, and full film credits
• UK premieres on Blu-ray
• Limited edition box set of 4,000 copies
...AND MORE!

#PHILTD054
BBFC cert: 15
REGION FREE
EAN: 5037899071274

PLACE YOU ORDER HERE!

AND THERE'S MORE . . .

Also ANNOUNCED TORTURE GARDEN (Freddie Francis, 1967) Release date: 24 October 2017 Limited Blu-ray Edition (UK Blu-ray premiere)

From Hammer-rival Amicus Productions comes this horror anthology penned by Robert Bloch (author of Psycho) and directed by the great British cinematographer Freddie Francis. Genre legend Peter Cushing stars alongside Jack Palance and Burgess Meredith in an omnibus of chilling and gruesome stories, inspired by E.C. Comics' Tales from the Crypt comic-book series of the 1950s.

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES:
• High Definition remaster
• Original mono audio
• Ramsey Campbell on Robert Bloch (2017, tbc mins)
• Interview with Fiona Subotsky (2017, tbc mins)
• Interview with actor Barbara Ewing (2017, tbc mins) TBC
• Hannah Gordon on husband DoP Norman Warwick (2017, tbc mins) TBC

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

Wednesday 9 August 2017

#SILENTBUTDEADLY! : RAZOR BLADES GUNS AND TONGUES GIFS!

#SILENTBUTDEADLYWEDNESDAY! WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Anyone who is a fan of the Amicus portmanteau films, or has been watching the uploads I have been making over the last four weeks of #DonaldFearney's 'Amicus Vault Of Horrors' #documentary, will know, every one of those Amicus movies contain two things, a so-so story and a really fantastic story . . . or maybe two fantastic tales! In the case of 'From Beyond The Grave' their last multiple story movie, seemed to crack the formula, where every story was a winner....sadly this happened just as they packed up shop, and Amicus were no more! This #GIF is from one of the more popular stories, from the film 'Tales from the Crypt' and it's a story with frightening moral, called 'Blind Alleys'. I won't give anyway any plot spoilers, to anyone who hasn't caught this film yet but, those of you who HAVE seen the film, will probably recognize the shot in the #GIF. If you were faced with the same dilemma as Major William Rogers ... BLADES or DOG? Which one would you choose?

#SILENTBUTDEADLYWEDNESDAY! : WHEN PETER CUSHING announced in a 1971 interview that he was currently working with AMICUS FILMS in the role of a certain MR SMITH, he made the role sound quite uninteresting and quite pedestrian. Anyone who has watched Cushing play Mr Smith will agree...the role is anything but usual or uninteresting. ASYLUM would be the first in quite a few characters that Amicus would press on Cushing to play men who suffered great personal loss, of family or...wife. Watching Cushing emotionally dissolve while clutching his revolver is a strange experience to watch, and would wobble even the stiffest lip . . .

#SILENTBUTDEADLYWEDNESDAY! : Peter Cushing as Baron Frankenstein resetting the 'evil meter'! 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' presented us with a Frankenstein that reminded us that, it wasn't for nothing that Cushing's portrayal made the Frankenstein franchise one of the more profitable series in the Hammer film portfolio.

#SILENTBUTDEADLYWEDNESDAY! THE FAMOUS TONGUE cutting shot in Hammer films, 'The Mummy' must have had audiences twitching and cringing back in 1959, in much the same way as it does now on blu ray and late night screenings on tv. IMAGINE what the 'CONTINENTAL' audiences felt, when they were treated to the full-on, bloodied 'tongue in the tongs' version?? It was hoped when Lionsgate and Hammer launched their restoration project, to bring the THREE Cushing / Lee Classic Hammer marquee titles up to scratch, scratch-less, uncensored and complete, and in this case including the Kharis offending Lingua! Despite searches that did turn up the magnificent missing 'Dracula Death' shot, wandering eyeballs in a jar and teeth clenching artery shots from 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell', and a few other once snipped out pieces, that were thought far too upsetting for the delicate tastes of the European audiences. The Kharis Tongue sadly, remains allusive . . .

NEWS: NEW HAMMER AND AMICUS TITLES FOR UK BLU RAY COMING SOON!

NEWS: Prepare for SIX new BLU RAY titles to be released in the UK very soon from Indicator . Rumors floating of Amicus films, Torture Garden and Hammer films, Cash on Demand, Curse of the Mummy's Tomb, Revenge of Frankenstein and The Gorgon are thought to be the favorites.... I'll have confirmation of the titles early tomorrow morning GMT... so STAY TUNED!

Tuesday 8 August 2017

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY! UNEDITED AND CLASSIC!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY!: Remains cool. No pun intended... If the planned future Anolis Entertainment Blu Ray release is to add anything to this*, that would be wonderful.... 🙂 Requested J Pullman. *Japanese Footage...

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY! BLU RAY DRAC IN A BOX WITH CLASP AND JAPANESE HAMMER FILM POSTER ART

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY!: JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT they couldn't think another way to tempt the lolly out of our wallet... along comes this. The Lionsgate restored print of Hammer films 1958 DRACULA starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee on blu ray, in a black lacquered wooden box including Mediabook and a replica of the cloak clasp from 'Taste the Blood of Dracula' (1970) Hmm. It comes from Pretz Media, and will be available for order from December 31st 2017... and will set you back 74.99 Euros! That's twenty pence short of £68 British pounds or $88 US dollars, 45 cents.

UPDATE AND DETAILS ON BLU RAY FROM ANOLIS ENTERTAINEMENT: Anolis Entertainment sent me this info just a few minutes ago about the Blu Ray contained in this merchandise: ' Marcus: It is not the same Blu-ray (as the UK release) but we are using the same master. Still, we might re-insert one scene from the Japanese footage that for some reason was restored but never used in Hammers 2012 restoration.' - (Anolis Entertainment , 08-08-2017 )

LINK HERE!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY!: WE HAVE OFTEN praised the artwork and promotion cinema posters attached to Peter Cushing's Hammer studio movies, from Hong Kong and the Asian territories. 'Frankenstein Created Woman' (1967) and Amicus films, ''From Beyond The Grave' (1974) were distributed in those parts of the world with some very fine and imaginative poster artwork. But the poster

artwork below, uses much of the same 'photo-montage' technique, but also adds a little hand tinting, and because it was produced to promote a Hammer films festival, they could pull some great stills to push the chosen films that would be featured . . . Tuesday Cool? Or Not?

#NOTSOCOOLTUESDAY!: FINALLY, HERE'S A CUSHING FILM film poster that doesn't know WHERE OR WHO it's pitching! We know the late Christopher Lee appeared in over 200 films, but Tigon films, 'THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR' (1968) wasn't one of them. Neither did his Dracula arrive twenty minutes in, to liven things up, with a titanic set to with Cushing's Van Helsing! The Italians sure have promoted, what could have been quite an interesting movie . . .!

Monday 7 August 2017

#MONSTERMONDAY: LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF : DANISH TRAILER

#MONSTERMONDAY: Before we announce the WINNER of our Peter Cushing 'The Ghoul Autograph' Competition...here's another example of Peter's work with Tyburn films, 'The Legend of the Werewolf', a quite rare trailer, with Danish subtitles! I am sure you can guess who that is doing the voice over on this? We'll be announcing our LUCKY WINNER next, here and at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE!

WATCH THE MASKS OF DEATH : HERE & LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF : HERE

Our REVIEW FEATURE and RARE STILLS GALLERY on 'LEGEND OF
THE WEREWOLF' HERE!

WATCH: THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR : PETER CUSHING VENTHAM AND ROBERT FLEMYING

#GETTHECUSHIONSUNDAY! It's up on our PCAS YOUTUBE, it's taken a lot of flack over the years, it holds a damning branding that Cushing actually bestowed on it of....'The worst film I have ever appeared in..!' upon it's fluffy head.! Yup I did say fluffy. You'll see. For me, I actually like this film MORE every time I see it. Yes, it does run out of steam, because it ran out of MONEY! But, despite Cushing knocking it, I am guess he made that statement BEFORE he had made Tender Dracula, Devil's Men, Hitler's Son etc...

IT'S ANOTHER CUSHING film of MOMENTS. Yup, I know isolated moments do not make a whole film, but... there are plenty of more MOTH HOLES ..see what I did there 😉 .... in some of his Hammer film outings, and Amicus too, that I feel we can put this one in the, 'could do better' box. Who knows, if Rathborne hadn't died before his slated appearance in this film, it might have attracted more lolly from the suits and then maybe produced with a realistic budget. So, give it a chance, hide the moth-balls, your best suit and it might not be 'curtains' for this movie... let me know what you think?

TRIVIA: The MORGUE KEEPER is played by actor comedian ROY HUDD who narrates the 'Amicus Vault Of Horrors' documentary that we have posted here over the last four weeks..The Blood Beast Terror was released in the US under the title: 'The Vampire-Beast Craves Blood' AND was directed by Vernon Sewell who directed Peter Cushing in the little seen thriller, 'Some May Live' 1967: Cushing's co star Vanessa Howard went on to star as Sybil Vane in Shane Briant's 'Picture Of Dorian Grey' film in in 1973 and in PANTO with Cliff Richard and Arthur Askey....She also stared as the dizzy 'pottage' party girl, with Cushing in 'Corruption' in 1968.

Sunday 6 August 2017

THE FINAL PART : PART FOUR THE AMICUS VAULT OF HORROR DOCUMENTARY

#GETTHECUSHIONSUNDAY! AND SO THE FINAL PART of our 'Amicus Vault Of Horrors' documentary, in which we learn about the final days of the company and the disintegration of a friendship and highly successful business partnership, that was founded on a handshake! Many thanks for all your comments and very positive feedback. It's great to hear so many of you enjoyed this documentary and I hope you'll enjoy the final episode too!

LONG SHADOWS COMPETITION : CHRISTOPHER LEE AND THE LITTLE WITCH VIDEO

#CHRISTOPHERLEESATURDAY! Ok as time runs out on our Peter Cushing Ghoul Autograph Competition TOMORROW.... Here is ANOTHER competition courtesy of Kevin and the Team at Paper Dragon Productions... Here is your chance to WIN a copy of the House of Long Shadows Screenplay by Michael Armstrong in a very neat book... ANSWER the competition QUESTION CORRECTLY, then SEND us your answer to the email on the banner above! The first TWO correct answers pulled out of the hat NEXT SUNDAY will be declared the winners! If you would like to purchase your very own copy, it's easy to order, CLICK the LINK HERE!

#CHRISTIOPHERLEESATURDAY: Like Peter Cushing's recording of 'No White Peaks' Dance House version...Christopher Lee too has a few recordings that fall into the 'it was a good idea, at the time' though this admittedly, isn't as bad as Peter's Dance-House single... 'Little Witch' by Kathy Joe Daylor, was released in the 1980s, during the height of Italo- Disco craze. Lee provided some spoken vocals and as you can see, and popped up in one or two music tv show promotions... 'Thriller' it ain't, but perfect for some Impro-Dad-dancing for sure...