HAPPY BIRTHDAY CILLA!

Today in 1943 in Liverpool. 60's singing star and TV legend and one of Joan's good friends Cilla Black was born. Apart from lighting up our TV screens over the years with hit shows such as "Blind Date" and "Surprise Surprise" as well as her own hit variety, Cilla is also a legendary chart topper with classics such as "Alfie", "Your My World" and "Step Inside Love". Cilla always the life of any party, has spent many an evening in the company of Joan and here are a few shots. Happy Birthday Cilla..

FILM FLASHBACK : HEIRONYMUS MERKIN 1969

This still features Joan as Polyester Poontang! in the zany musical "Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget  Mercy Humpee and Find True Happiness?" which also starred Anthony Newley, who also wrote and directed this unusual film. The film also featured Bruce Forsyth, Milton Berle, George Jessel, Patricia Hayes and Tara and Sacha Newley. More on this masterpiece soon!!

VIDEO FLASHBACK : DARK PLACES 1973

This video cover from the 1980's (not sure of exact year), is for the HNP release of Joan's 1973 thriller "Dark Places", which also starred Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom. Robert Hardy, Jane Birkin and Jean Marsh.  Will feature more on "Dark Places" in a future post....

FILM FLASHBACK : L'AMORE BREVE ( STATE OF SIEGE) 1969

This still features Joan as Roberta with Mathieu Carriere in the little seen Italian drama "L'amore Breve" which is Aka.."Stage Of Siege" and directed by Romano Scavolini, who is more know today for his horror opus "Nightmare in a Damaged Brain". This film also starred 50's starlet Faith Domergue with Massimo Serato, Antonio Centa  andFrank Wolff.

ON THE COVER : LET'S TALK JUNE 2004

This UK magazine published in the East Anglia region features Joan on the cover as she celebrated her 70th birthday. This popular long running magazine features a mix of readers contributions as in letters, short stories, puzzles and celebrity interviews.

FILM FLASHBACK : SUBTERFUGE 1968

This still features Joan as Anne Langley along with Gene Barry in the thriller "Subterfuge".. This British potboiler also featured Richard Todd, Suzanna Leigh, Tom Adams, Michael Rennie and Marius Goring. More on "Subterfuge" in a future post..

VIDEO FLASHBACK : REVENGE .... 1971

This 1982 video cover is for the USA video release of Joan's 1971 thriller "Revenge", issued by Blay Video Michigan. At least this release features the original artwork on the cover and importantly the original title, as this film has been labeled with such awful titles for the American market. Titles include "Terror From Under The House", "After Jenny Died" and "Inn of The Frightened People". The film also starred James Booth, Ray Barrett, Sinead Cusack and Kenneth Griffith. This release is one of the best as the film as appeared on numerous video labels with diabolical prints. Thankfully the film is available on DVD in the UK.

FILM FLASHBACK : WARNING SHOT! 1967

This still features Joan as Joanie Valens in the 1967 crime thriller "Warning Shot", which had a great cast including David Jansssen, Stefanie Powers, Lilian Gish, Eleanor Parker, George Sanders, Walter Pidgeon, Steve Allen and Ed Begley among others. Will feature more on "Warning Shot" in a future post..

ON THE COVER : TV CHOICE JANUARY 1983

This cover shows Joan in Alexis mode for the cover of  this weekly 80's TV mag - "TV CHOICE". This issue was one of the last published, as the short lived magazine only launched in 1982 was shelved in 1983, but at that time ITV and BBC had a monopoly on their listings and only TV TIMES for ITV and RADIO TIMES for BBC, could publish the TV schedules.But this magazine had to cease publication as it breached a high court action in printing the schedules of the two main channels.  How times have changed as now there are no shortage of magazines and supplements printing such material..

VIDEO FLASHBACK : TALES FROM THE CRYPT 1972

As a prelude to the upcoming UK DVD release of Joan's classic 1972 terror film "Tales From The Crypt", here is the sleeve for the 1998 video release from 20TH Century Fox Home Entertainment. This film also starred Peter Cushing, Sir Ralph Richardson, Ian Hendry, Richard Greene, Barbara Murray and Nigel Patrick. Joan played Joanne Clayton, whose Christmas gift to her husband is a poker over the head! But soon after she receives a visit from Santa Claus, but Joanne has been very naughty and Santa is not very nice!!

FILM FLASHBACK : LA CONGUINTURA 1965

This still features Joan as Jane with Vittorio Gassman in the Italian comedy "La Congiuntura" which also starred Jacques Bergerac and Hilda Barry. The film was called "Hard Time For Princes" in the USA. More on this film in a future post..

PROMO FLASHBACK : PACIFIC PALISADES ... 1997

This promo ad features a stunning shot of Joan as Christina Hobson in the short-lived series "Pacific Palisades". This was Joan big return to prime time American television at the request of the late great Aaron Spelling. Joan looked sensational in the series which also starred Finola Hughes, who previously appeared with Joan in the 1982 British film "Nutcracker". The series also featured Greg Evigan and Kimberley Davies. Will feature more on this series in a future post...

FILM FLASHBACK : ROAD TO HONG KONG.. 1962

This still features Joan as Diane along with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby from the MGM release "Road To Hong Kong". This comedy caper also starred Dorothy Lamour, Robert Morley, with appearances by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Peter Sellers and David Niven. Will feature more on this in a future post!

VIDEO FLASHBACK : SECRETS OF FITENESS & BEAUTY AUSTRALIAN

This sleeve is for the 1994 Australian video release on the CEL Video label of Joan's fitness tape. "Secrets of Fitness and Beauty". This production was filmed in Barbados and produced by Christopher Biggins. Will feature more on this in future posts..

FILM FLASHBACK : ESTHER & THE KING ... 1960

This portrait photo features a stunning shot of Joan as the biblical character Esther in the Seven Arts Release "Esther & The King" also starring Richard Egan and Denis O'Dea. More on this release in a future post..

PROMO FLASHBACK : MY FAB YEARS!

Although not directly associated with Joan, I thought I would feature this flyer as it does have an image of Joan on it. Legendary cult TV creator, producer Sylvia Anderson had intended touring the UK with a show all about her career. She created "Thunderbirds" "Joe 90" "Stingray" and "Space 1999" to name a few along with her then husband Gerry Anderson and was the legendary voice of Lady Penelope in the "Thunderbirds" series. I spoke to Sylvia recently and she said due to snow in various parts of the UK, they had to cancel dates and they decided rather than do a few here and there, to cancel the whole tour until maybe the autumn. Joan appeared in "Space 1999" which is reason for her inclusion on the flyer, which also is the cover of Sylvia's fascinating autobiography which I have a signed copy of. Here also is a photo of myself with Sylvia. Hopefully the tour will happen later in the year, well worth a visit!

VIDEO FLASHBACK : TALES THAT WITNESS MADNESS GERMAN

This sleeve issued by Thorn Emi Germany features Joan's 1973 terror film "Tales That Witness Madness", titled as "Geschichten, Die Zum Wahnsinn Fuhren". This compendium film features 4 stories with an all star cast including Kim Novak, Donald Pleasence, Georgia Brown, Jack Hawkins, Suzy Kendall and Michael Jayston.  As always was the case with Joan's films released in the 80's, they use a totally out of context image, focusing on her Alexis image, rather than that of her character in the film.  This video was released in 1986.

FILM FLASHBACK : SEVEN THIEVES 1960

Continuing a daily thread featuring stills/photo's from all of Joan's films,this still features Joan as exotic dancer Melanie along with Rod Steiger in the excellent crime caper "Seven Thieves" which also starred  Edward G Robinson and Eli Wallach. More on "Seven Thieves" in a future post.

VIDEO FLASHBACK : MONTE CARLO .. GREEK..

This video cover is for the Greek release of Joan's 1986 mini-series "Monte Carlo", on the Zodiac label. This dramatic series also starred George Hamilton..Malcolm McDowell .... Lauren Hutton .. Lisa Eilbacher,,, Robert Carradine.. and Leslie Phillips.. Will feature more on this in a future post..

FILM FLASHBACK : RALLY ROUND THE FLAG BOYS! 1958

This image is from a vintage movie program and shows scenes from Joan's 1958 Fox comedy "Rally Round The Flag Boys!" which she co-starred with good friends Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. This is one of Joan's favourite films and she discussed this recently at the B.F.I in London.  The film also featured Jack Carson, Gale Gordon and Tuesday Weld.  A full article on this film will feature in a future post..