---

The Flesh and the Fiends (February 1960)
Starring Cushing, Donald Pleasance and George Rose. Starring for the first time in a feature not made by Hammer films, Cushing gives a fine, complex performance as the aloof Dr. Knox in this marvelous, gritty, black and white film. Tremendously underrated. Ignore the dated and salacious title. Also known as Mania, The Fiendish Ghouls, and, as shown by this French poster, L'Impasse aux Violences (which may translate as A Dead End With Violence. Some help here?).
"Peter Cushing, Billie Whitelaw, Donald Pleasence and George Rose were the stars in my picture and I don't think I have ever worked with a finer cast." – John Gilling, director
Check availability at Reel Video or Videoflicks
If unavailable, try Mania at this source (unauthorized)
But first, read MY DISCLAIMER


---

Suspect (1960)
Cushing is 3rd billed in this black and white espionage thriller. Also known as The Risk, though this is one of those few Cushing pictures which isn't really known as much of anything these days, as it's rarely shown on TV and cannot be found on video.
"...Excellent cast...Cushing was convincingly professor-like...a refreshing change of pace [that] allowed Cushing to display more range than his recent roles had permitted." – Del Vecchio and Johnson


---

The Brides of Dracula (September 1960)
Starring Cushing and Yvonne Monlaur. Cushing returned to the Hammer fold reprising his Van Helsing character from Dracula (1958) in this deceptively-titled sequel; deceptive because the Count himself never actually makes an appearance in the story. But the film is generally worthwhile despite such cheap tricks, and Cushing's performance, typically cool and assured, is remarkably athletic. It's interesting that Hammer seemed to be content to continue their successful movies with sequels featuring the character not immediately obvious to continue the saga. Here, as in Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), we see them buck a Universal Studios trend, this time by focusing the show on Van Helsing, rather than Dracula. It appeared that the plan would be for Cushing to have the rare distinction of starring in two successful movie series, running concurrently. However, Hammer's lack of commitment to the intriguing idea is reflected not only in this film's crass title, but by the fact that they did finally woo Christopher Lee back to continue the series a few years later without Cushing. Shown here is the Italian version of the poster.
"...The real task of the fantasy film director is to bring integrity of intention to his film making. I always ask for a similar response from my actors and I rarely fail to get it, especially from Peter Cushing." – Terence Fisher, director
Buy or rent it at Reel Video or Videoflicks


---

Trouble in the Sky (1960)
Cushing gets second billing, but whether it's a true starring role or not is difficult to evaluate, as the film seems to have become quite unavailable for viewing since its limited release nearly 40 years ago. Also known as Cone of Silence.
"...It is only logical to expect an admirable underplayed performance...Andre Morell as the airline boss and Peter Cushing as a backseat flier comport themselves with commendable reserve." – Eugene Archer, New York Times


---

The Sword of Sherwood Forest (1961)
supporting part

---

The Hellfire Club (March 1961)
supporting part
Check availability at Reel Video or Videoflicks

---

Fury at Smuggler's Bay (April 1961)
Starring Cushing. Another period piece for the actor, but something of an anomaly in that, for once, it is not a horror film in any way.
"...[It's] a sort of English cowboy picture set in the nineteenth century. The scenario contained all the traditional ingredients: lots of shootin', the inevitable brawl in a saloon, a High Noon confrontation between duelists...and the cavalry charging to the rescue in the nick of time." – Peter Cushing
(it should be noted, that, despite this description, it is not a western. The "cowboy picture" feel and pace were transplanted to England.)

---

The Naked Edge (July 1961)
supporting part
Buy or rent it at Reel Video or Videoflicks


on to part five

 
Original text copyright 1998 by Michael Hoaglin.
All images copyrighted by their respective copyright holders. No rights given or implied.

Questions or comments? Email me at: mhoaglin@earthlink.net

Your current location is:
http://home.earthlink.net/~mhoaglin/sfilm/artists/petercushing/filmography04.html