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Peter Cushing
Television performances

"...Cushing was one of Britain's first real television stars....Whatever he was in would empty all the pubs and bring people home to their TV sets." – Anthony Hinds, producer

This is an attempt to list all of Peter Cushing's television appearances as a performer only, so chat shows and interviews aren't included, as a rule.

As so much of Cushing's work in the field happened in the 1950s, a short digression into television's "golden age" is in order. Like the U.S., TV in Britain was dominated by the dramatic play, broadcast live, often unrecorded (even on kinescope, before the advent of videotape), and so usually never repeated. Coupled with the British Broadcasting Corporation's effective monopoly over the medium, and the comparitively short number of broadcast hours each week, every showing of original programming became something of a special event compared to today's endless run of hundreds of channels showing prerecorded events 24 hours a day.

Given the climate of the time, it's not difficult to see that someone could become a real TV star without even having a regular series. Indeed, the concept of a regular series with recurring characters was uncommon in those days, particularly in Britain.

It is known that, at one point, Cushing played twenty leads for the BBC in a space of only twenty months, so it's safe to assume that the vast bulk of his early appearance are in truly starring roles – though I only so designate those few for which I have confirmation.

As Cushing was one of the U.K.'s first well-known actors for the small screen, it's truly sad that so few of these early plays were recorded and fewer still preserved. Most of these performances are forever lost.

TV movies, specials, plays and series episode titles are all listed in regular typeface. Series titles (or Supertitles) are provided in ALL CAPS. As usual, whenever a TV movie or series appears listed in the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) I have provided the link for more information.

 


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Eden End (December 1951)

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When We Are Married (Christmas season, 1951)

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Pride and Prejudice (began February 2, 1952, six-part serial)

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Bird in Hand (1952)

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If This Be Error (1952)

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The Silver Swan (1952)

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Asmodee (1952)

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Number Three (1953)

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Epitath for a Spy (began March 14, 1953, six-part serial)

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A Social Success (1953)

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Rookery Nook (1953)
Probably a starring role for Cushing.
"...If I were offered two plays at the same time and one was Macbeth and the other Rookery Nook, I'd do Rookery Nook because I believe it has more attraction for the general public." – Peter Cushing
(Great. But what the hell is Rookery Nook?)

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The Road (June 21, 1953)

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Anastasia (July 12, 1953)

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The Noble Spaniard (1953)

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Portrait by Peko (1953)

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Tovarich (1954)

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The Face of Love (1954)

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Beau Brummell (March 12, 1954)
Cushing plays the title role.

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1984 (Dec. 10, 1954)
Starring Cushing and based on the novel by George Orwell. A real turning point for the actor, as it marked his first association with the horror / science fiction genres, and captured the attention of Hammer studios, who sought the actor out for his first major motion picture roles.
"...A riveting portrayal...outstanding performance...would make Cushing's name a household word in England...." – Deborah Del Vecchio and Tom Johnson

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Richard of Bordeaux (1955)

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The Browning Version (1955)

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The Moment of Truth (1955)

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The Creature (1955)
Staring Cushing. Later remade for cinemas as The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas with Cushing reprising his role (see filmography). Incidentally, the book Peter Cushing: The Gentle Man of Horror and His 91 Films mentions that Cushing was in nine television plays during the 1954-55 period, but only specifically cites the previous eight listed. They also mention a total of 23 TV plays during the entire period 1951-1956, and this number does jibe with the number of titles they give. It is likely that the assertion of nine plays instead of eight in two years is just a slip of the pen.
"...He portrays dedicated intelligence better on screen than any other actor I can think of." – Bill Warren

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Home at Seven (1957)

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Gaslight (1957)

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The Winslow Boy (1958)

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Uncle Harry's Balloon(1958)

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Peace with Terror (1962)

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COMEDY PLAYHOUSE: The Plan (1963)

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STORY PARADE: The Caves of Steel (June 5, 1964)
Starring Cushing and based on the novel by Isaac Asimov.

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THE SPREAD OF THE EAGLE: Julius Caesar (1964)

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THE BERNARD CRIBBINS SHOW: (episode unknown) (ca. 1965)

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Monica (1965)

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(untitled commercial)
For the Milk Markething Board, filmed on the set of Dr. Who and the Daleks (see filmography).

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THE AVENGERS: Return of the Cybernauts (September 30, 1967)

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SHERLOCK HOLMES(1968-1969)
The book Peter Cushing by Deborah Del Vecchio and Tom Johnson of course devotes space to this 16-episode series starring Cushing, but only specifically titles The Hound of the Baskervilles (2-part episode, July 7 and 14, 1968), a film version of which had already starred Cushing some nine years earlier (see filmography). Although the series has never been well known in the U.S., in Britain it got Cushing's name as associated with the role as he was with Frankenstein and Van Helsing. Cushing did not, however, feature in the premiere of this series, but was the replacement for Douglas Wilmer, who left the show when the producers shortened the rehearsal schedule.
"...We do want the series to be right....That character is, I think, an answer to most actors' dreams." – Peter Cushing
"...[Later] I asked him how he had enjoyed doing the Holmes series. He replied tersely to the effect that he would rather sweep Paddington Station for a living than go through the experience again. He had my sympathies!" – Douglas Wilmer, Cushing's predecessor in the series
 

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THE MORECAMBE AND WISE SHOW: (episodes untitled) (1969, 1970, 1973)
Britain's well-remembered comedy-variety show hosted by the beloved Eric and Ernie featured Cushing in several guest spots over the years.

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Wild Life Spectacular(1971)
narrator

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(untitled commercial) (1973)
For the Milk Marketing Board, filmed on the set of From Beyond the Grave (see filmography).

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THE ZOO GANG: The Counterfeit Trap (1973)

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ORSON WELLES GREAT MYSTERIES: La Grande Bretèche (November 23, 1973)

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(untitled commercial) (1974)
For Cushing's favorite sponsor, the Milk Marketing Board, filmed on the set of Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (see filmography).

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Haunted (ca. 1975)
Narrated by Cushing.

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SPACE: 1999: Missing Link (February 27, 1976)

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THE NEW AGENGERS: The Eagle's Nest (ca. 1976)

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The Great Houdinis (1976)
Cushing showed up in a small part in this TV-movie which is of some interest in that he portrays Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes. This likely makes Cushing the only actor in history to portray both Doyle and his most famous creation.

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A Tale of Two Cities (1980)
supporting part
Buy or rent it at Reel Video or Videoflicks

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THE HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR: The Silent Scream (1980)
Cushing's last work for the studio which launched his international stardom. By this time however, Hammer, under new management and seeking refuge in television, bore little resemblance to the aggressive and inventive little company that first joined forces with Cushing nearly a quarter-century earlier.
Check availability at Reel Video or Videoflicks

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The Vorpal Blade (1982)

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Helen Keller: The Miracle Continues (1983)
supporting part

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The Masks of Death (1984)
Starring Cushing as Sherlock Holmes. The 68-year-old actor could well afford to settle down by this point in his career. He had seven years previously climaxed his lucrative and prolific fantasy film career with Star Wars (see filmography), but he'd had few truly starring roles during the last decade. So, one last time, he reprised the character he's played onscreen more times even than Victor Frankenstein. This time, he plays the detective as an aging, retired gentleman, and although many find his interpretation of Holmes to be ideal, I find him to be much too petulant and irritable to be the aloof Holmes I have always imagined (apologists say that he's the first actor to take into account Holmes' drug addiction). Nonetheless, it is always good to see Cushing hold center stage, especially as this would turn out to be his final lead performance in any dramatic production. A sequel, The Abbott's Cry, was planned but canceled due to Cushing's ailing health (see near misses section). His final association with Sherlockiana (if that's a word) was a lapel pin he designed for a Sherlock Holmes society in 1987 (see fine arts / odd & ends section).
"...Not the pleasantest of characters....It's a very difficult part to play...he goes up and down like a yo-yo. You've got to be awfully careful when you play a part like that that it doesn't become annoying to the audience."– Peter Cushing
Check availability at Reel Video or Videoflicks

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THE HUMAN FACTOR: (episode unknown)(1990)
Although this is an interview program, which would normally fall outside the scope of this list, during Cushing's interview they also showed samples of his artwork, some of which may have never before been publicly seen.
"...Magnificent artwork..." – Deborah Del Vecchio and Tom Johnson

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Flesh and Blood – The Hammer Heritage of Horror (1994)
A two-part documentary with narration by Cushing and Christopher Lee. Is this Cushing's last professional job? If so, it would be hard to imagine a more appropriate close to a distinguished career than a tribute to the studio that made it possible.

Peter Cushing – The Gentle Man of Horror and His 91 Films (1992) by Deborah Del Vecchio and Tom Johnson

Hammer's House of Horror [Magazine], No. 19 (April 1978)

Sherlock Holmes on the Screen (1977) by Robert W. Pohle Jr. and Douglas C. Hart

Isaac Asimov FAQ, Part 4 by Ed Seiler

The Avengers Titles and Air Dates Guide by Alan Morton

Space: 1999 Titles and Episode Guide by Alan Morton

HammerHorror.com NEWSHOUND
 
 

Original text copyright 1998 by Michael Hoaglin.
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