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Peter Cushing
Filmography

"...One of the best screen actors."
– Sir Laurence Olivier On Acting

This is an attempt to list all theatrical films, both feature-length and short, in which Peter Cushing appears. Hint: there are more than you think.

My sources have included the ubiquitous and invaluable Internet Movie Database (IMDb), to which I have added a link on each title (whenever possible) for more information about each film's cast and crew.

Another useful source has been one issue of the late-1970s magazine Hammer's House of Horror (No. 19), which featured the most comprehensive listing of film, television and stage work for Peter Cushing than any other publication up until then. Sadly, the compilers of this humble two-page article are not credited, but according to author and Cushing fan extraordinaire Jonathon Sothcott, it was the work of horror film scholars Alan Frank and Gary Parfitt.

Much of my other source material comes from various internet sites and, of course, from watching the films themselves.

And finally, if you enjoy this lightly annotated listing, interested readers are strongly urged to check out the definitive book on the subject, Peter Cushing: The Gentle Man of Horror and His 91 Films by Deborah Del Vecchio and Tom Johnson. This listing leans very heavily on that remarkable book, which goes into great detail on (nearly) every title mentioned below. I might dispute the figure "91" films (it depends on what you count), but not the authors' dedication and accuracy. As I quote often from that book, each credit will simply read "Del Vecchio and Johnson". You know what book it's from. It's the one you'll buy once you're done here.

Other sources are attributed at the end of the filmography.
 
 

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The Man in the Iron Mask (released July 13, 1939)
Cushing's first film appearance, though it very nearly wasn't. Recently arrived in Hollywood after only modest success in English theater, and with absolutely no film experience, Cushing was somehow hired for a motion picture literally within ten days of arriving in the country. But this job had a catch; Cushing was hired, essentially, as a stand-in, because the film's star, Louis Hayward, portrays twins in the movie. Cushing's role was to always be the "other" Louis Hayward, to be split-screened out of the shot later and optically replaced with Hayward. So impressed with Cushing's acting abilities was the film's director, however, that the would-be stand-in was eventually awarded a small part in the movie.
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If unavailable, check for a used copy at Video Oyster
But first, read MY DISCLAIMER

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A Chump at Oxford (February 16, 1940)
A very recognizable (though extremely young) Cushing has a bit part in this Laurel and Hardy picture, of all things. It seems that the film was originally released as a 42 minute featurette, and was only expanded to the more familiar feature-length version upon its release in the U.K. (this is the version available today on video). I don't know if any of the additional footage involves Cushing or not.
Buy or rent it at Reel Video or Videoflicks

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Vigil in the Night (March 8, 1940)
In another early example of a director being so impressed with Cushing that he gives the actor more than he was originally hired to do, George Stevens, Vigil's director, had Cushing's character expanded as filming progressed. This became his first sizeable supporting part in a movie.

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Laddie(1940)
supporting part

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The Howards of Virginia (1940)
uncredited supporting part
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Women in War (1940)
supporting part

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The Hidden Master (April 20, 1940)
A short in the John Nesbitt's Passing Parade series, which has been described as a series of glorified screen tests for up-and-coming actors being groomed by MGM for stardom. Cushing portrayed Clive of India in what was probably a featured performance. This has also been called Your Hidden Master.
"...His performance was a success and he was poised for a breakthrough. Then – on the brink of stardom – he left Hollywood." – Del Vecchio and Johnson
(What happened? England got pulled into a little thing called World War II and Cushing, ineligible for military duty due to health reasons, still felt the need to return home and help any way he could.)

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Dreams(November 16, 1940)
Another short in the John Nesbitt's Passing Parade series.

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The New Teacher (194?)
A film listed only in the House of Horrors list, with no other credits, or even an indication of length (so I'm suspecting it's a short). A pity there's no further information, as Cushing appears to play the title role

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It Might Be You (194?)
Another elusive credit that only House of Horror carries, directed by American director Michael Gordon. Not listed in the Internet Movie Database, so it's quite probably another short.

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They Dare Not Love (1941)
supporting part

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Forty-Ninth Parallel (November 24, 1941)
Cushing worked on this British film in Canada (still working his way east trying to find passage back to England), not as an actor, but in the art department (and likely without screen credit). The film co-stars Laurence Olivier, who was to be so instrumental in the success of Cushing's stage career several years later, but it seems unlikely that the two actors even met on this production.
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Return From Nowhere (October 28, 1944)
A short in the John Nesbitt's Passing Parade series. The release date is a bit odd on this one, as it was during a time when Cushing was long gone from the U.S. (where these shorts were shot). I suspect that this may only be a reissue of the earlier Dreams, or contain Cushing only in stock footage from that production, as the House of Horrors filmography credits him with the role of "Dreamer" in both.

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Hamlet(May 1948)
An important supporting part for Cushing, his first real film role in England – in a Laurence Olivier production, no less. A scarf designed by Cushing for the premiere of the film was presented to the queen (see the Fine Arts / Odds & Ends section).
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Moulin Rouge (December 1952)
supporting part
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The Black Knight (September 1954)
supporting part

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The End of the Affair (February 1955)
supporting part

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Magic Fire (April 1956)
supporting part

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Alexander the Great (May 1956)
supporting part
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Time Without Pity (May 1956)
supporting part
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Violent Playground (April 1957)
supporting part
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The Curse of Frankenstein (May 2, 1957)
Starring Cushing and Robert Urquhart. This was Cushing's first starring role in a feature film. His success in television caught the attention of an up-and-coming production studio called Hammer, enjoying some small success with movie adaptations of TV serials, mostly in the s.f.-fantasy genre. It was natural then that they should turn to another well-proven property and remake Frankenstein, this time in color. This would set a trend for gothic thrillers for many years to come, and literally made international stars of Cushing, co-star Christopher Lee, director Terence Fisher and Hammer Studios itself.
"...Frankenstein is not evil, but a man obsessed by what he is trying to achieve by any means that will justify the ends." – Peter Cushing
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The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas (November 1957)
Starring Cushing and Forrest Tucker. A remake of the 1955 TV play The Creature, (see the television section), with Cushing reprising his role for the big screen, again for Hammer.
"...Peter Cushing is a great, great actor and a good personal friend. Sadly, that was the only picture I've ever worked with him on...." – Val Guest, director
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If unavailable, try this source (unauthorized)
But first, read MY DISCLAIMER

on to part two

Original text copyright 1998 by Michael Hoaglin.
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