PRESENTING:PETER CUSHING, THE GENTLEMAN OF CINEMA
From the (Winter '99 & 2000) issues of
REALM OF THE VAMPIRE and
NIGHTSHADE:
INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN
HOLLAND,
SECRETARY of the PETER CUSHING ASSOCIATION
conducted by Lucinda MacGregor & Rose
Dalton
Q) When was the Peter Cushing Association founded and what are its goals?
The Peter Cushing Association was founded in September 1996 by myself and really came about as a result of the publication of The Cushing Courier magazine, which I had started back in June 1995. At the time that I started the magazine I had no thoughts about establishing a "fan club" or such for Peter--I just wanted to publish something in celebration of a great actor and gentleman who had given so many folk such enjoyment over the years--but many fans and admirers of the great man, both in the U.K. and abroad, approached me asking if this would be possible. The feeling seemed to be that it would be nice to have something "official" once again in memory of Mr. Cushing, and so in view of this I discussed the matter with Joyce, Cushing's secretary. There was no way that I was going to consider this unless she thought it appropriate. However, Joyce had no objections to this and also very generously agreed to be Honorary President, and so the Association was established from there.
The aim of the Association is very simple really--a celebration of the life and career of Peter Cushing, where like-minded fans and admirers can get together on an informal basis in the spirit of friendship and support, which were so much a part of the man himself. Obviously not everyone will want to join the Association as such, which is understandable, and the magazine is available to nonmembers, too.
Q) How did you become involved with the Association?
I suppose that because I had been publishing the magazine, it was a logical step to go on and set up the Association, too. It was very much a "one-man show" in those days, with me doing just about everything. What I would like to point out is that right from the start we have never had any financial backing from anyone at anytime and have managed entirely on the support of fans through sales of the magazine--along with help at times from my credit card! Fortunately these days the sales of The Cushing Courier are sufficient to cover our costs--with any small profit being donated to The Pilgrims Hospice in Kent, England.
Q) What functions have the Association hosted? (Such as meetings, parties, banquets, auctions, etc.)
So far the Association has not hosted any conventions, meetings or such, although many of our friends in the States got together at the recent Monster Rally in August this year and prior to that there was the Bray Studios Gala in June over here in the U.K. At the moment we are trying to arrange our first get-together in May 2000, as it is something that many friends have suggested, and the only reason its not happened before now has been due to the cost of organizing such an event. It's still in the planning stage at the moment, but I do hope that we can get this finalized.
Q) We understand that the auction held after Mr. Cushing's passing was quite successful. Will you please tell us about it?
Following Mr. Cushing's death there were two auctions of some of his personal items in London and another held in Canterbury, quite near to where he lived. The reason for the first two was that Joyce and her family had to find somewhere in the region of £65,000 to pay death duties following Peter's death which is unfortunately a common occurrence in this country, due to our tax laws!
The London Auctions were held in July 1996 and attracted buyers from all over the world and some of Mr. Cushing's water-colour paintings, his collection of cigarette- cards, his model theatres, books and similar were all sold for high prices, with many items going abroad. There were over 100 items in total, but I think it's true to say that prices were generally much too high for ordinary fans such as ourselves to be able to afford in the main.
However, the Canterbury Auction was different again and this was an opportunity for ordinary fans to be able to purchase items belonging to Mr. Cushing, and I know that Joyce wanted this. This was held on July 30th, 1996, and there were 155 items available, such as some of his paintings, books, ties, gloves, jackets, writing desk and similar items. It was a great success with virtually everyone who attended being able to acquire at least something that had once belonged to the great man himself.
Q) How does one acquire membership in the Association?
Membership of the Association is available to any fans or admirers of Mr. Cushing and is a one-time payment of £7 ($20 U.S. dollars--Cash Only from the States Please), which does not have to be renewed. Members receive badges, membership card and a complimentary copy of the magazine.
At the moment we are hoping to put together some merchandise such as T-shirts and similar items.
Our postal address is:
TRELAWNEY HOUSE
WARBSTOW CROSS
WARBSTOW
LAUNCESTON
CORNWALL PL15 8UP
ENGLAND
Or, you can email for details on: cushing@bjholl.globalnet.co.uk
Q) What can you tell us about the Association's publication, The Cushing Courier?
The Cushing Courier magazine was started in June 1995 and is now in its 10th issue. It can be ordered direct from the address given previously and costs $23 U.S. dollars, inclusive of airmail and packaging. At the moment it is running to about 72 pages per issue, and includes tributes to Mr. Cushing from many of his fellow professionals such as Veronica Carlson, Sir Peter Ustinov, etc., along with film and book reviews, analysis of aspects of Peter's life and career, festival reports, art work, readers' favorites, poems, and letters along with items for sale and such. Basically everything and anything associated with Mr. Cushing is covered.
This latest issue contains an article by Joyce on her 35 years working for Peter as his secretary, but perhaps the most important point of all is that our pages are available for all fans to contribute whatever they might wish, so long as it is not offensive.
The other thing that I'd just like to add is that since the very first issue we have donated any small profit from the sale of the magazine, after our expenses in actually producing this, to The Pilgrims Hospice in Kent, England. This is a cancer care hospice that looks after the terminally ill and they actually cared for Mr. Cushing during the final months or so.
Peter asked in his will that any donations that folk wanted to send be sent to the Hospice and so we have done the same. So long as we can cover our expenses in actually producing the magazine, then we are not here to be making money for ourselves and any profit has been donated in this way. The receipt from the Hospice for the donation is printed in each issue, so fans can see exactly what has been sent. It's never a fantastic amount, but I suppose every little helps, and I like to think that Mr. Cushing would approve of this.
Q) What can you tell us about Mr. Cushing's early background as well as how he became involved in theatre and film?
There is a lot of information regarding Mr. Cushing's early background and struggles to get into the theatre in his autobiography, which as you know has just been republished.
As Peter, himself, described, at school he was only really interested in athletics, rugby, art classes and, of course, school plays. With the help of his physics teacher, who was also interested in the theatre, the young Cushing eventually found his way into the school plays and his very first appearance was in 1929 as Sir Anthony Absolute in "The Rivals," with other parts to follow, until he left school in 1933, age 19.
Initially working in the Surveyors Department of the local town council, Peter knew that the theatre was where he really wanted to work and he used to go along to see performances in London whenever he could afford them. He appeared in some local amateur productions at the church hall and would regularly write to the various theatre companies up and down the country asking for work--all of which were either ignored or returned saying no thanks!
He decided then that it would be best to try and enroll in a drama school and eventually was accepted at the Guildhall School of Drama and Music, where he learnt the basics of the theatre.
By 1935, he decided that it was time to try and get some work with one of the many theatre repertory companies that were about at the time and wrote to one in particular-- the Connaught Theatre in Worthing--every three weeks for six months! Eventually he received a reply asking him to call to the theatre, which he assumed meant that they were going to give him a job. In view of this he gave up his job at the Council offices and went along to the theatre--only to be told that they had asked him to call in just to ask him personally to stop writing to them! Terribly upset by this, the young Cushing was taken pity on by the theatre director, who gave him a very small part in that evening's performance. Thus on Saturday June 6th, 1936, Peter made his professional debut at The Connaught Theatre, Worthing, in "Cornelius" by J. B. Priestly.
There were many more struggles to follow, of course, a period spent in America where he appeared alongside Laurel & Hardy, Deborah Kerr and others, and then on his return to the U.K. more theatre work, followed by a breakthrough into British television in the 1950's. It was his television work in Britain that led to him being offered the role by Hammer Films in their remake of Frankenstein--and the rest, as they say, is history!
Q) What about Mr. Cushing's important theatre and film roles? And, what were some of his favorite stage and film roles?
Mr. Cushing never had the opportunity to appear in what he considered his favorite play, which was "Journey's End" by R. C. Sherriff, but when asked about his theatre and film work always replied that he had enjoyed them all. He appeared alongside the likes of Laurence Olivier in both the stage and film version of "Hamlet," was a regular member of The Old Vic Theatre Company, going on tour to Australia with them in 1948 and appearing in the Festival of Britain celebration in 1951. As well as his role in "Hamlet," he also appeared in "Richard III," "The Skin of our Teeth," "War and Peace" and many other classics.
The theatre was very much his first love and at the time his aspirations were confined to this--television was a thing of the future and film work a distant dream. However, once he had made the breakthrough into British television in 1951 he became a "regular" and was really this country's first "tv star" as such, appearing in dozens of plays for the BBC during the 1950's.
This led onto the film work with Hammer in such classics as "Horror of Dracula" and "The Mummy," along with many others. Peter always said that he enjoyed all these films and he made many of these characters his own, giving a definitive performance in the role. As Van Helsing, the fearless vampire hunter, he played the character in his own way, as distinct from the description contained in the book, and really brought this to life. The same is true of all his screen performances--be it as the heroic Van Helsing, the obsessed Baron Frankenstein, the meticulous Holmes or any other of his characters.
And perhaps this is the secret to his acting success--how he was able to switch back and forth between heroes and villains so effectively. He played both of them, hero and villain, as complete persons. His heroes were not untarnished and his villains weren't completely despicable. Peter gives us the whole person in his characterizations, and we can identify with that wholeness. His heroes are not wooden but exciting, and his villains are not shallow but complicated. In short, he always gave whatever character he was playing a depth, which makes them unforgettable. In 1973, Peter said of his work: "I don't mind at all that people may refer to me as a ‘horror actor' because, in this unpredictable profession, for an actor to be associated with a form of success like Hammer Films I think is absolutely wonderful. In short, I love it . . . "
Q) What can you tell us about Cushing became involved with the role of Van Helsing? Also, did he enjoy it or not? (And, any other interesting tidbits of information about the role that you might care to include.)
Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of Peter Cushing's film career was the way he could switch back and forth between hero and villain so often, and so easily. Without doubt the two characters that illustrate this most are his portrayals of Dr. Van Helsing and Baron Frankenstein, both of which he made his own.
Although Peter was first given a glimpse of international stardom with his appearance in "The Curse of Frankenstein," there is no doubt at all that his continuing role as Van Helsing in the "Dracula" films were the ones that really had cinema audiences on the edge of their seats!
During the first twenty minutes or so of "Horror of Dracula" (1957), Christopher Lee terrifies the audience with his violent and shocking portrayal of the Count, it's that scary a performance. But it was the casting of Peter as Van Helsing that proved to be the most inspiring of all, because here was a performer who could be even more aggressive and dynamic than his adversary! It is interesting to note that the very first time that the two actually get to confront each other, in the Homewood cellar, it is Dracula who retreats!
Thanks to Mr. Cushing's performance, there is an edge to the character which transformed Van Helsing into a hero for fantasy fans that lasted for generations, even to the present day. And as for the conclusion of the film--which is probably one of the most memorable in horror film history--this sequence was suggested by Peter himself and more than adequately illustrates his athleticism as he dashes across the table, leaps at the curtains to let in the sunlight, grabs the candlesticks and forces Dracula back into the sunlight.
Peter had this so say about the scene:
"In the original script Van Helsing was sort of like a salesman of crucifixes--he was pulling them out of every pocket! At the end of the film he pulled out another one …. I suggested the run along the refectory table to jump into the curtains and hit Dracula square in the face with the sunlight. Then I could come along like the hero, grab the two candlesticks and make the cross with them in his face. I think it was quite an effective ending to that picture."
Indeed it was, and remember that in many of the other action scenes in the film, where Van Helsing is charging around the house and castle in pursuit of the Count, that there were no stunt men here--it's Peter Cushing doing the leaping and jumping! There were a number of sequences where the film's director, Terence Fisher, was concerned that his star shouldn't perform such potentially dangerous stunts. But to his credit, Peter would have none of it and continued all the same--just two examples being when he leaps the bannister rail in Homewood's house after learning of the coffin in the cellar, and the coach scenes where he is pursuing Dracula back to the castle.
Three years later and Peter was back in his role of Van Helsing in "Brides of Dracula" (1960), this time with David Peel as the Count. Generally accepted as another superb film from Hammer, and indeed a firm favorite amongst many of Peter's fans, there are many outstanding scenes throughout. The locks falling from the coffin in the stable and the vampire, Gina, pushing her way out of the earth on her rise from the dead--in a scene which subsequently influenced everyone from George Romero's "Dead" films to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"!
But perhaps the most famous of all was the scene in the windmill where the Count actually bites Van Helsing! The Dr. then uses a red-hot poker to burn the bite from his neck, splashing it with Holy Water, completely healing himself of the vampire's disease.
Although some folk were upset that Christopher Lee was not back as the Count, David Peel did an excellent job in a performance which contained just the right amount of evil and menace, whilst at the same time retaining the outer persona of a charming aristocrat! It's a pity that he decided to retire from the movie business after this film, and actually died in 1982 at the age of 62. All in all this was a really classic film!
It was 12 years later before Mr. Cushing was back in the role alongside his good friend Christopher Lee in "Dracula A.D. 72" and this appears to be one of those films that fans either love or loathe. Personally, I`ve always enjoyed the film and I think that it has a good plot and it is always a joy to see Peter and Chris on film together, which continued with the 1972 production, "The Satanic Rites of Dracula." Mr.Cushing's last performance in the role was in "The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires" made in 1973 and set in China. This last Dracula film from Hammer featured John Forbes- Robertson in the title role, who was no Christopher Lee, but nonetheless did an admirable job in the role.
Although there are many opinions regarding these series of films, from the positive reactions to the first couple to the dismay at some of the latter productions, there is one thing that remains constant throughout, and that is Peter Cushing's performance. Whatever feelings you might have toward the films overall--and in my humble opinion most of them were classics--there is no doubting the research and commitment that Peter put into the role, as he did with all his characters. And this in turn made them all the more believable.
Q) We viewed some of Mr. Cushing's paintings on the Association's website. He was obviously an extremely gifted artist. What inspired his paintings? And, we also understand that he was a model-maker. What can you tell us about it?
Mr. Cushing had cherished a love of nature itself and all aspects of the natural world since his boyhood days, and this stayed with him throughout his life. He was a great admirer of the artist Edward Seago, who was also his friend and mentor, and as well as being an accomplished artist had a love of model-making, animals (particularly birds), toy soldiers and collecting stamps, books and cigarette-cards.
This talent for painting and model-making just developed from his boyhood days and although Peter was never convinced that his paintings were particularly good, everyone else thought otherwise! His inspiration was nature itself and the changing seasons. He was quite a prolific artist and would spend many hours at this each week when he was able, coupled with his model-making and other collections. His model theaters were just exquisite in every detail--everything to the correct scale with fully working lights and scenery and following his death, some of these were sold for many tens of thousands of pounds. I gather that a couple of these are now part of a large collection in Germany.
Likewise, his paintings are now recognized as being of the highest standard and the few that were made available at the auctions went for very high prices indeed. As you can see, he was a man of many talents--far more complex than just the "horror star" as he is sometimes referred as.
Q) Some of the photographs of Mr. Cushing's hometown of Whitstable in Kent are lovely. We understand that he loved the place and the people. What can you tell us about his life there?
For many years both Peter and his wife lived in London, as it was convenient for his film work and all those necessary contacts required in the profession. However, his wife, Helen, had not been in very good health for some years and by the late 1960's it was necessary for her to try and spend as much time as she could by the seaside in order that the clear air could help the emphysema that she had developed. They spent some time looking for a place by the coast and eventually found a quaint cottage in the seaside town of Whitstable, Kent.
Both Peter and Helen loved the place and the people, who accepted them as just another friendly couple living in the town, and it was an idyllic home for them both. Although it was necessary for Mr. Cushing to be away filming for short periods, he always insisted on returning to Whitstable whenever he could and the sea air was very beneficial for his wife. It was also an ideal place for his painting, and he spent many hours recording scenes in the local harbor and surrounding area.
When Helen died in 1971, she was buried at the local church at Seasalter and Peter continued to live at their cottage in the town. Indeed, Mr. Cushing always referred to the place being more like a village, because it had the quiet, serene atmosphere that one usually associates with such places. The people of the town were extremely friendly and even protective toward their famous neighbor, but always treated him just the same as everyone else, and for this he was always grateful.
Peter had many favorite spots within the town, his favorite place being an area near the sea wall which was later named as "Cushing's View" in his honor. Peter donated the garden seat used by himself and Helen in their garden to the spot, when it was named in 1990, and this is now a permanent fixture at the site, for others to enjoy. Other favorite places were The Tudor Tea Rooms Restaurant where Mr.Cushing would have his lunch each day at 12:00 noon, Pirie and Cavender Bookshop in the high street and the Whitstable Museum. The town and its people took Peter and Helen to their hearts and it was always a love and respect that was mutual. For anyone who has ever had the good fortune to visit Whitstable, then it is a lovely place and it is quite easy to see the attraction that it held for Peter and his wife. Although his cottage home is now sold, the house is still there of course.
Q) What is the "Cushing Corner" at the Whitstable Museum?
Within the Museum at Whitstable there is a separate area set aside which is now known as the "Cushing Corner," and here on display are various items of furniture and some personal belongings of Peter's from his home in the town. These are on permanent display.
The reason how this came about was that in July 1995 the Museum featured an exhibition on the life and work of Mr. Cushing, entitled "Peter Cushing--A Celebration." This ran from July 22nd to September 16th, 1995 and I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Opening of this on the evening of July 21st, which included many of Peter's professional colleagues and friends.
It really was a superb event and collected together for probably the first and last time were most of Peter's water-colour paintings, film posters, model theaters, his collection of model soldiers, film awards, film props, personal items such as one of his lab coats from the Frankenstein films, items that he had made for Helen such as bracelets, earrings and silk scarves, plus an array of many other items. It was a dazzling spectacular and needless to say attracted tens of thousands of visitors not only from this country but from the USA, Canada, Italy, Greece and even Japan. There was plenty of coverage of this on the media and can I just mention that although there was no "official" film made of the event, the Association does hold some film of this, which we are more than happy to share with any fans who might be interested.
After the Exhibition was over, the Museum decided to create a permanent
area devoted to Peter Cushing, his life and career, and this has continued
to the present date. Should any readers ever be in the U.K. on vacation,
then do take the time to visit Whitstable and the surrounding area, as it
is a fascinating place, and well worth a look.
Q) How did Mr. Cushing become
involved with the founding of the Chatham Theatre Royal? And what funds
were raised to support the Theatre by the sales at the auction held after
Mr. Cushing passed away?
Because of his love for the theatre in general, Peter was always concerned that wherever possible it received the support that it deserved. It was in the theatre that he and many other stars had "learnt their trade" so to speak, and in the middle 1980's a campaign was launched to try and renovate and restore to its former glory, The Chatham Theatre Royal, in Kent, England.
This is quite an outstanding theatre, both in its history and architecture, but over the years like so many others, had fallen into disrepair and had long since been closed. Indeed, it had almost become forgotten altogether, but when plans were announced to develop the site into a shopping arcade or something similar, a few folk started a campaign not only to try and stop this, but to renovate the Theatre to its former glory.
Mr. Cushing heard about this and from the start lent his enthusiastic support. He donated his trusty bicycle to raise funds for the campaign, became a Founder Patron of this, and tried to help in any way that he could in the few years that he was involved up to his death in August 1994. "Help us to reawaken this Sleeping Beauty!" was how he described the campaign on one occasion.
Following his death on August 11th, 1994, his Secretary Joyce has continued to support the campaign in many ways, not least by donating many personal items such as some of Peter's ties, gloves, jackets and similar to auctions to raise funds for this. These Auctions have likewise been supported by a vast number of other British and international stars of both theatre, film, television, sport and politics for that matter and have raised thousands of pounds. Needless to say that the Association also actively supports the campaign, which has now managed to stop the redevelopment of the site and is now trying to refurbish and reopen the Theatre again. For full details on this, the Theatre has its own website at: http://www.theatreroyal.clara.net
Q) We understand that Mr. Cushing's two autobiographies have recently been released in one volume, can you give us the details?
That's right! It is tremendous news to see that Mr. Cushing's two volumes of Autobiography have now been reprinted into a single combined volume, as these have been out of print for far too long. I know that I'm naturally biased, but they really are superb and give an insight into both the man himself and of course all his classic films.
The new combined volume also includes more than 150 photographs and stills, many of which have come from Joyce's own collection and have never been seen before.
The book is entitled Peter Cushing--An Autobiography and Past Forgetting and is available in the USA from: Midnight Marquee Press, 9721 Britinay Lane, Baltimore, MD 21234. Price $23.
For fans in the U.K. or Europe then they can order it from: Pirie & Cavender Booksellers, High Street, Whitstable, Kent, England. Tel: 01227 – 273491. Price £15.
Q) We noticed it is mentioned on the Association's website that Mr. Cushing received the Award of the O.B.E. We don't have anything like it in America. Will you please explain?
The O.B.E. is an Award bestowed upon certain individuals by the Queen, for any achievement that is considered noteworthy. It is given to actors and actresses, sportsmen and really anyone whom the Queen feels has achieved something exceptional. Usually there are two Awards given each year to different groups of people.
In Mr. Cushing's case he was awarded this in 1989 for the pleasure and enjoyment that his work had given to people over the past 40 years. He was thrilled to receive this, but was unable to collect this at the time as the day previous he had fallen off his bicycle whilst riding around Whitstable and broken his hip!
However, some months later he attended Buckingham Palace for the Award and made the following comment:
"I love this country of ours so very much, and its people, and I feel that by receiving this Award I have at least done something for it and for them."
Personally I feel that this sums up the humility of the man. He was an internationally renowned star, in every sense of the word, and yet he never lost the common touch.
Q) Mr. Cushing had a reputation for being a man of integrity and also that he had a wonderful and long relationship with his wife, Helen. Are there any comments you would care to make?
It is well known that Peter and his wife had a long and wonderful relationship and her death was probably the very worst thing that could have happened for him. For not only was Helen his wife, but a constant support and encouragement to him throughout his career. Peter was extremely unsure of himself, especially in his early days (which might surprise some people) and it was only with Helen's guidance that he managed to overcome this and fulfill the potential that was there. As an example of this, in 1967 Peter had the following to say:
"Nerves were the worst thing and they became particularly bad with television. When I did tv it was laughingly called ‘live' and that was absolutely terrifying! I did that for three or four years solid and that's why I'm still a nervous wreck today. I don't think I ever got over it. Several actors--well-known actors --gave up during that period because they couldn't take it. They didn't have someone like Helen to help them through . . . "
Peter was also known as a man of integrity, something that is borne out constantly by the recollections of many of his professional colleagues and friends--many of whom have shared their special memories of the great man with us over the past 10 issues of our magazine.
Some of those who have contributed to our pages include: Veronica Carlson, Sir Peter Ustinov, Patrick MacNee, David McCallum, Joanna Lumley, Caroline Munro and many others. Without fail, they have explained how Mr. Cushing always displayed humility, friendship and warmth toward everyone he met and was unfailingly kind and courteous.
As just one example, here is a quote from Barbara Shelley:
"Peter was an extraordinary person--quite unique. He was quiet, full of humor and generous towards his fellow actors in a truly rare and warmhearted way. Most lunch times he would disappear into his dressing room with a bottle of milk for himself and a loaf of bread for the birds, which congregated in positive flocks on the roof outside his window . . . Stimulating and fun to work with, gentle, amusing and always the perfect gentleman. Peter Cushing--a joy to work with, a privilege to know--a fund of happy memories!"
I don't think that I need say anymore, do you.
Q) Who were some of Mr. Cushing's lifelong friends?
Peter had many friends both within and outside of the industry and from all walks of life.
Many famous names spring to mind such as Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, John Carradine, and many, many others, along with ordinary folk whom he came to know in Whitstable and elsewhere.
Naturally Christopher Lee was a great friend and companion over many years, sharing many fond moments on their work together and likewise in their private lives. They knew each other socially as well as on the film set and would often ring each other on a regular basis to have a chat about various projects and similar. Here are a few quotes that give a small insight into the admiration and respect they had for each other:
Peter Cushing: "I have letters saying ‘Please will you send us a photograph of yourself with Christopher Lee.' I think they think he and I live together in a cave down at Whitstable, which is sweet. So I have to write back and say I'll send you mine, but you'll have to write to his agent for his . . . "
Christopher Lee: "Peter was much loved, not least by me. I've lost a wonderful friend. I shall miss his wisdom. I shall miss him . . . "
Vincent Price: "Peter is one of the strongest men I ever knew in my life--I had to do several fight scenes with him! He's a very realistic and very serious minded actor and I am very, very fond of him. A real friend."
And from one of the townsfolk in Whitstable: "Peter Cushing
was a gentleman. It didn't matter if you were the refuse collector
or the Queen, he would still treat you
with the same respect and humility and he always had time to listen to you--never
going on about himself, like some folk. As I say, a gentleman--one
of the last! He was an example to us all."
Q) What did Mr. Cushing think about his fans and about his enormous popularity?
I think that one of the most positive things about Mr. Cushing (and there are many!) was the fact that he always had time for his fans, whoever they were and wherever they were from. He was never discourteous and would always give an autograph when asked, even staying on at venues to ensure that everyone had obtained their own important signature.
How different this is to so many so-called stars of today.
Peter enjoyed his popularity and was always the first to appreciate the interest and support from the folk who in his own words "have allowed me to achieve what I have to date." He recognized the interest that was there from fans worldwide and tried his best to "repay this in some way." He was as much a gentleman towards his fans as he was to his professional colleagues and friends, and every letter that arrived for him he made sure that he replied to! Now that was some task, in view of the colossal amount of mail he received, but I can assure you that it was the case. There are many fans out there, myself included, who wrote to Peter in the vain hope that we might possibly get a reply, who were subsequently delighted some months later to receive a personally signed letter, postcard, still--or all of these!--from the man himself.
In 1975, Peter Cushing went over to America for The Famous Monsters Convention, and here is what none other than Forrest J. Ackerman had to say about Peter and his fans:
"I was alone with Peter in an elevator after fans had delayed his departure and made him late for his next appointment. I thought--here's my chance to see the REAL Peter Cushing.
"Always so gracious in public. Now I'll find out if he has a dark side. I expected him to say, ‘Those damn fans keeping me here so late!' But no. All Peter could say was, ‘I hope my fans are not disappointed that I had to leave.' And you know, the next day, he stayed even longer, making sure he had signed each and every autograph for each and every fan who waited in line to see him!"
There is one other detail that I would like to mention, too, which will illustrate what we have been talking about. Toward the end, when Peter was very ill, he arranged to have a number of printed memos prepared which bore the title: "Peter Cushing OBE. May God's blessing be with you always. In all sincerity. Peter Cushing." This was the normal way that Peter signed his letters, as you know.
Having got these printed, Mr. Cushing then signed them all personally so that when he was too ill to do so, his Secretary, Joyce, would still be able to send these out to fans who wrote in and in that way they would not be disappointed.
I think that this gesture speaks volumes about the man, that he should still be thinking about his fans in this way even when he was so ill. Doesn't this just say it all?
Q) We noticed that you mentioned on the Association's website something regarding Mr. Cushing's comment about "all life is sharing." Could you please explain?
The comment that Peter made about "all life is sharing" was made when he approached the BBC programme, "Jim'll Fix It," to see if they could arrange for a rose to be named after his beloved wife, Helen.
The programme is usually for children to send in their requests for favorite things that they would like to do, but as Peter had longed to have a perfumed rose named after his wife, Helen, he wrote to the programme quite independently to see if they could possibly arrange this.
And they did! Mr. Cushing subsequently appeared on the programme and the film of him selecting a new strain of rose to be named after his wife was broadcast. After the film there was a chat in the studio for a few minutes between Peter and a couple of the show's presenters, and one of them mentioned that other people also would be able to enjoy this new rose, too.
To this, Peter made his reply about "all life is sharing" and continued that it was important for everyone to be able to help others in whatever way they could, and that if other people got enjoyment from this new rose, then that was so much the better. It was a remark which once more reflected the humility and warmth of the man, where so often he would put others before himself, and is something that so many of his friends and professional colleagues have commented on.
Q) We are impressed with the news articles that were published upon Mr. Cushing's passing. It is nice that you included the articles on the Association's website. Can you tell us a bit about why so many people from all over attended Mr. Cushing's funeral?
Peter had left details with Joyce that after his death he would prefer a quiet funeral, but when Joyce discussed this with the undertakers it became clear that there were countless folk not only in Whitstable and throughout the U.K., but also from abroad who wished to pay their respects in some way to the man himself. Because of this, it was agreed that the hearse and accompanying cars would do a brief journey around Whitstable before continuing to the crematorium for a private service.
And how right they were, because on that day the town came to a standstill and the streets were packed with thousands of folk who had come to say their own goodbyes to the man who had meant so much to them. Fans and admirers of Mr. Cushing from Whitstable and throughout the U.K., as well as from the USA, Germany, France, Spain and even Australia came along to Whitstable to say farewell. It was an incredibly moving event as Peter took his last tour around the town he loved so much.
And why you might ask did so many folk want to attend? For most of us had never had the good fortune to have met Peter Cushing--and yet, in a way, we felt as if somehow we did know him. For myself, he had been the hero of my youth, someone I had grown up with in a sense, and over the years this had matured into a deep respect and admiration for a man who was not just a superb actor, but also a real gentleman. And it is amazing how many fans say exactly the same, be they newcomers to the genre or rather longer in the tooth like myself!
Personally I think it's because in all those roles that he played, Peter always managed to include something of himself which made them living, breathing characters and not wooden.
Very difficult, if not impossible to adequately explain, but I'm sure that many folk will know what I mean.
This was summed up much better than I can by one fan who said: "With the death of Peter Cushing, film fans lost more than one of their stars--we lost a friend and a friend of the genre. Even more, someone like a parent, with whom we felt reassured, someone we respected many years."
Wise words indeed!
Q) The Association's website covers a large array of information regarding Mr. Cushing's life and career. Anything you want to add in particular about it?
The only thing that I would like to add about the website is that it is there as a celebration of the life and career of a gentleman about whom so many folk thought the world about. It is an honor to be able to bring details about the life and career of Peter Cushing to a potentially wider audience, because there is just so much more to the man than just "the horror actor," as he is sometimes described. I hope that any folk who take a look will find it of interest and if there is anyway that you think that we might be able to be of help concerning any aspect of Peter and his career, then please let me know.
I'd also like to thank Lucinda and her colleagues for giving me the chance to talk about Peter Cushing and the Association, and wish you all the very best for the future. And finally I'd like to thank all our good friends in the States, and elsewhere, for all their help and support--without which, I'd have probably ended up a nervous wreck by now!
Q) What are the future plans of the Association?
As for the future--well I definitely want to see our first convention arranged next year and beyond that to expand and develop the Association and the magazine further. To let other fans of Mr. Cushing know that we are here, because it's surprising how many folk feel isolated in a sense, and to continue our celebration of Peter and his career. To improve our links with other groups within the genre and just try to be of help--as well as hopefully persuading the "powers that be to finally release some of Mr. Cushing's classic performances so that fans can have the opportunity to see them at last!
There are Peter Cushing fans who are not even born yet, so I hope that I will still be writing something similar in another 15 years or so!
The Peter Cushing Association can be visited
at
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~bjholl/
In closing, we would like to thank you for your time and sharing
with us your memories and knowledge regarding the life and times of someone
known as the "kind and courteous gentle man of horror"
(The Kent Advisor). He was a man of
true integrity and that is certainly a rare breed for the times we live in.
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Peter
Cushing Association has been disbanded and a new organization started known
as the Peter Cushing Museum. It's located on the Internet at
http://PeterCushingMuseum.com/
PRESENTING:
PETER CUSHING, THE GENTLEMAN OF CINEMA
Here we include Peter Cushing's filmography. We will also add his
theatre and television credits soon.
FILMS:
(1939) "The Man in the Iron Mask"
"A Chump at Oxford"
"Vigil in the Night"
(1940) "Laddie"
"Woman in War"
"The Harvards of Virgina"
(aka "The Tree of Liberty") (not credited)
"Dreams"
(1941) "They Dare Not Love"
"Your Hidden Master" (aka
"Clive of India")
(1942) "Return from Nowhere" (not credited)
(1944) Woman in the House" (not credited)
(1948) "Hamlet"
(1953) "Moulin Rouge"
(1954) "The Black Knight"
"The End of the Affair"
(1955) "Alexander the Great"
(1956) "Magic Fire"
"Time Without Pity"
(1957) "The Curse of Frankenstein"
"The Abominable Snowman"
(aka "The Snow Creature" & "The Abominable Snowman of the
Himalayas")
"Violent Playground"
(1958) "Horror of Dracula" (aka "Dracula" & "Dracula 1958")
"The Revenge of
Frankenstein"
(1959) "John Paul Jones"
"The Flesh and the Fiends"
(aka "The Fiendish Ghouls" & "Mania" & "Psycho Killers")
"The Hound of the
Baskervilles"
"The Mummy"
(1960) "The Brides of Dracula"
"Cone of Silence" (aka "Trouble
in the Sky")
"Sword of Sherwood Forest"
"Suspect" (aka "The Risk")
"The Hellfire Club"
(1961) "The Naked Edge"
"Fury at Smuggler's Bay"
"Cash on Demand"
(1962) "Night Creatures" (aka "Captain Clegg")
"The Man Who Finally Died"
"The Devil's Agent"
(1963) "The Evil of Frankenstein"
(1964) "The Gorgon"
"Dr. Terror's House of Horrors"
(aka "The Blood Suckers")
(1965) "She"
"Dr. Who and the Daleks"
"The Skull"
(1966) "Island of Terror" (aka "The Creepers" & "Night of the
Silicates" & "The Night the Silicates Came" & "The Night the Creatures
Came")
"Daleks Invasion Earth 2150
A.D." (aka "Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D." & "Dr. Who:
Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.")
"Dracula: Prince of
Darkness" (aka "The Bloody Sream of Dracula" & "Disciple of Dracula"
&
"Dracula 3" & "Revenge of Dracula")
(1967) "Frankenstein Created Woman" (aka "Frankenstein Made Woman")
"Some May Live"
"Island of the Burning Doomed"
(aka "Island of the Burning Damned" & "Night of the Big Heat")
"Torture Garden"
"The Mummy's Shroud"
(narrator)
(1968) "Blood Beast Terror" (aka "Blood Beast from Hell" & "The
Deathshead Vampire" & "The
Vampire-Beast Craves
Blood")
"Corruption" (aka "Carnage"
& "Laser Killer")
(1969) "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed"
"Doctors Wear Scarlet" (aka
"Incense for the Damned" & "Bloodsuckers" & "Freedom Seekers"
& "Incense of the
Damned")
"Scream and Scream Again"
(aka "Screamer")
"One More Time" (not
credited)
(1970) "The House That Dripped Blood"
"The Vampire Lovers"
"I, Monster"
(1971) "Twins of Evil" (aka "The Gemini Twins" & "Twins of
Dracula")
"Tales from the Crypt"
"Fear in the Night" (aka
"Dynasty of Fear" & "Honeymoon of Fear")
"Dr. Phibes Rises Again"
(1971/ "Horror Express" (aka "Panic in the Trans-Siberian Train")
1972)
(1972) "The Creeping Flesh"
"Asylum"
"Nothing But the Night"
(aka "The Devil's Undead" & "The Resurrection Syndicate")
"Bride of Fengriffen" (aka
"Fengriffen" & "And Now the Screaming Starts" & "I Have No Mouth
But I Must Scream")
"Dracula A.D. 1972"
(aka "Dracula Today")
"Frankenstein and the Monster
from Hell"
"The Satanic Rites of Dracula"
(aka "Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride" & "Dracula Is Alive
and Well and Living in London"
& "Dracula Is Dead . . . and Werll and Living in London" & "Rites
of Dracula")
(1973) "The Revenge of Dr. Death" (aka "Madhouse" & "Deathday"
& "The Madhouse of Dr. Fear")
"From Beyond the Grave"
(aka "Creatures from Beyond the Grave" & "Tales from Beyond the
Grave" &
"Tales from the Beyond" & "The Undead")
"The Beast Must Die" (aka
"Black Werewolf")
"Dracula and the Legend
of the Seven Golden Vampires" (aka "The Legend of the 7 Golden
Vampires" & "7 Brothers Versus Dracula" & "7 Brothers and a Sister
Meet Dracula" & "7
Brothers of Dracula" &
"7 Golden Vampires" & "Dracula and the Seven Golden Vampires" &
"The
Last Warning" & "Seven Golden Vampires: The Last Warning"
& "The Seven Brothers
Meet Dracula")
"Shatter" (aka "Call Him
Mr. Shatter")
(1974) "Tender Dracula" (aka "Blood Drinker")
"The Ghoul" (aka "Night
of the Ghoul" & "The Thing in the Attic")
(1975) "Legend of the Werewolf" (aka "Plague of the Werewolves")
"Death Corps" ("Almost Human"
& "Shock Waves")
"Trial by Combat" (aka "A
Choice of Arms" or "Choice of Weapons")
(1976) "At Earth's Core" (aka "Edgar Rice Burrough's At Earth's
Core")
"Star Wars"
"Battle Flag" (aka "The
Standard")
"The Uncanny"
"Land of the Minotaur" (aka
"The Devil's Men")
(1977) "Son of Hitler" (aka "Hilter's Son")
"Shock Waves" (aka
"Almost Human" & "Death Corps")
(1978) "Touch of the Sun" (aka "No Secrets")
"Arabian Adventure"
(1980) "Monster Island" (aka "Mystery on Monster Island" &
"Jules Verne's Mystery on Monster
Island")
(1981) "Black Jack"
(1982) "House of Long Shadows" (aka "House of the Long Shadows")
"Sword of the Valiant" (aka
"The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" & "Sword of the
Valiant:
The Legend of Gawain and the Green Knight")
(1983) "Top Secret!"
(1985) "Biggles" (aka "Biggles: Adventures in Time")
BOOK REVIEW -- Spotlight on Peter Cushing
by Lucinda MacGregor
Past Forgetting -- Memoirs of the Hammer Years
by Peter Cushing
Isis Large Print Mainstream Press & Clio Press
(by arrangement with George Weidenfield & Nicolson Ltd.)
55 Thomas Street
Oxford, England OX1 1JG
1988
Hardcover
First published by George Weidenfield & Nicolson Ltd. (also published
the first volume, An Autobiography)
91 Chapham High Street
London SW4 7TA
(Past Forgetting is also published in the same volume with the first
part, An Autobiography, by Midnight Marquee Press, Baltimore, MD in
2001.)
Past Forgetting is the second part of British actor Peter Cushing's
autobiography. The first part, An Autobiography, was
published in 1987. In the first book Cushing devoted much of it to
his life with his wife, Helen. Since Cushing's fans clamored for more
about his Hammer years, he decided to write the second book.
Cushing was a British gentleman of the old school. They do not make them like him anymore. He had a dignity and strength of character that belonged to a time long passed. Most notable about Cushing's character was his character trait of never speaking ill of anyone. He always had something good to say about someone. He looked for the good qualities in a person's character. It is obvious the man had a noble nature. He was exceptionally kind and compassionate toward his fellow humans. This is revealed not only in Cushing's autobiography but has been stated many times over both by people who knew him well and those only acquainted with him. He treated everyone he encountered with equal respect and courtesy. Cushing was also known for his deep appreciation of his fans. According to Forrest Ackerman, noted horror publisher, he went out of his way to spend many extra hours signing autographs for fans. He did not like to leave until everyone who requested an autograph received one.
In Past Forgetting, Cushing included some interesting sections about his stage career, his hobbies (he was a gifted painter and builder of various kinds of models), but much of the book is devoted to his years spent working for Hammer Films. He had much praise for Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Sammy Davis Jr., and Peter Ustinov as well as others not mentioned here. Cushing's great and abiding love for his wife, Helen, stayed with him all of his life (she passed away in 1971).
Past Forgetting, as well as Cushing's first book, are enough to
satisfy any devoted fan. Both books are worth going back to and reading
again and again. Cushing captured the time he lived in and those were
indeed simpler times than what we have today. He cherished his life
and the time spent with his wife, friends, associates, and fans. He
had a fine appreciation of the good things in his life. He realized
that life should be enjoyed to the fullest and he did not squander it with
a bad attitude or mean-spiritedness.
Anyone could learn much from reading his books and understanding his approach
to life. Cushing was without a doubt an exceptional human being, a
man of true nobility of character.
Other Peter Cushing Books:
An Actor , and a Rare One: Peter Cushing As Sherlock Holmes
by Tony Earnshaw
Scarecrow Press
2001
Hardcover
Peter Cushing: The Gentle Man of Horror and His 91 Films
by Deborah Del Vecchio
McFarland & Company
1992
Hardcover
Peter Cushing Companion
by David Miller
Reynolds & Hearn
2002
Paperback
Peter Cushing's Horror Movies
by Peter Haining
Robert Hale Ltd.
1994
Hardback
Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing and Horror Cinema:
A Filmography of Their 22 Collaborations
by Mark A. Miller
McFarland & Company
1994
Hardcover
MORE TO COME!
To go back to
Nightshade To go back to
Baker Street Gazette
To go back to Hollywood
Nostalgia
