Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow

Four months after the first show was aired, 'The Tomorrow People' truly arrived when it was awarded a crappy spin off cartoon strip in all conquering comic / TV Times for kids 'Look In'. The strip lasted for five years, eventually running out of steam just before the show did.

The mastheads tell the story of the homo superior's slightly chaotic recruitment policy, especially in the crowded team photo prior to the sacking of Stephen and Tyso in favour of Mike Holloway. Latecomer Andrew is not featured, as no-one could be bothered by that point.

Derren Nesbitt, Actor

Derren Nesbitt as the dastardly Netchideff in 'The Sporting Chance', a 1963 episode of 'The Saint'.

Is That You, Doctor?

Valerie Leon, Urban Mermaid

Valerie Leon gets wet as 'Bath Girl' in 1970 smutmanteau 'This, That and The Other'.

Faces Of The Sweeney

New feature! Tony Caunter.

Vampire Coquette

Martita Hunt keeps us guessing in 'Brides of Dracula' (1960). Thanks to Dolly Dolly for the Gif(t).

Incidentally, I've had some quibbly fiddly issue with Blogger which means that I haven't been able to respond to any of your comments of late, so I just thought I'd let you know I'm not ignoring you and I do appreciate what you have to say, honest.

If you have any questions about anything, or just want to get in touch please do so via my e-mail address: unmann-wittering@talktalk.net.

Thanks,

Paul

Vampire or Virgin?

In my experience (a couple of ginger kids at Uni; 'Goodbye, Gemini') there is always at least one evil twin. It's a tried and tested horror formula, of course, and some bright spark at Hammer had the idea of reviving it using the double charms of the Collinson twins, Madeleine and Mary (or is it the other way around?) Collinson, who had recently made their parents proud by being the first identical twin Playmates in history.

The third in Hammer's 'Karnstein' trilogy, the action in 'Twins Of Evil' actually takes place before 'The Vampire Lovers' and 'Lust For A Vampire', so is technically a prequel although, as you might expect, the continuity is all over the place.

Unsurprisingly, the twins flash a fair bit of flesh, are dubbed, and prove something of a handful for their upright guardian, Peter Cushing, a Puritan and Witch Hunter. It's a good role for Peter, and he makes the best of it, as does ex-Powell & Pressburger star Kathleen Byron as his equally messed about wife. Set your expectations to 'reasonable' and be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. 

Twins of Evil

Ghoulish, Gory, Ghastly

'Lust For A Vampire' was the second film in Hammer's 'Karnstein' trilogy, and was released in 1971. Whereas the first film, 'The Vampire Lovers', had been bloody and sexy enough to bother the censors, 'Lust', despite it's racier title, is much tamer and almost completely excises the lesbianism of both the literary source material and its predecessor. If it's any compensation, it is, however, much, much funnier.

The star is Danish actress Yutte Stensgaard, who is very pretty but not much of an actress, and Michael Johnson, who resembles a clean shaven Peter Wyngarde but without his presence and sense of humour. There are also parts for Suzanna Leigh and Ralph Bates, as well as an outing for ex-DJ and aspiring horror ham, Mike Raven. Raven looks the part, but was dubbed because his performance was so poor.

In an interesting aside, Yutte Stensgaard auditioned for the role of Jo Grant in 'Doctor Who' but lost out, of course, to Katy Manning. Katy had the right idea and did things in the right order: kids show first, then nudity.   

Love Is Insane

Here's my very own copy of the single from 'Lust For A Vampire', 'Strange Love' by Tracy (as heard below). It's a considerably different take to the version used on film in the preposterous sex scene, but not much better. So why do I own it? Because I'm mental.

Love Is Strange

Lust for a Vampire

Blood Nymphs

Eager to reinvigorate their slowly failing business, Hammer Studios embarked upon a new cycle of vampire films, 'The Karnstein Trilogy', i.e. films that ripped off Sheridan Le Fanu rather than Bram Stoker. 'The Vampire Lovers' was the first, and most popular, although it is rather slow moving and less sensational that its synopsis (and fantastic poster) might suggest.

Ingrid Pitt plays Carmilla, a mysterious young woman who infiltrates Peter Cushing's household and systematically begins to seduce or kill (sometimes one after the other) everyone in biting distance. The men, of course, need little encouragement, but the women, including Kate O'Mara and Madeline Smith, require some hair stroking and topless high jinks before they succumb. Cushing is soon on the case, however, and it can only end one way, with Ingrid's pretty head detached from her pretty body, her Dorian Gray style portrait decaying to show a horrible skeleton with massive teeth.

A big success at the time, it was the first Hammer film made with American finance, specifically money from American International Pictures. Strangely, the production seems cheaper than ever, but it makes good use of real locations and chucks in enough atmosphere, blood and bosoms to keep the eye on the action.

The Vampire Lovers