Top 10 Peter Cushing Movies
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Top 10 Peter Cushing Movies

Star Wars, Hound of the Baskervilles and more movies that starred legendary actor Peter Cushing.

1186
Top 10 Peter Cushing Movies
Wookieepedia

You may not have heard of actor Peter Cushing.

Some know him as one of the bad guys in "Star Wars," while others know him for his horror roles.

Film critic Roger Ebert once described Cushing as "the one in all those British horror films, standing between Vincent Price and Christopher Lee."

While Cushing never got the same celebrity as his good friends Price and Lee, he was just as talented.

Lee said Cushing was "the only actor who can read the Times, drink his whiskey and soda, light his pipe and deliver his dialogue all at the same time."

"Sherlock" co-creator Mark Gatiss described Cushing as "one of the most underrated of British screen actors."

Here's a look at some of Cushing's best films, from classics to cult favorites.

Scream and Scream Again (1970)


Sometimes a movie has such a cool concept you appreciate it even though it's not perfect.

Here Cushing plays Benedek, a general in an unnamed European dictatorship.

He runs afoul of a colleague who has superhuman strength.

Meanwhile, a scientist (played by Vincent Price) gets involved in a hunt for a serial killer.

Elsewhere, in what's apparently a hospital, a man's limbs are amputated one by one.

These stories don't fully connect until the end, but each one is handled very well.

Once the stories do connect, they create some very unique and creepy.

This film was the first to star Cushing, Vincent Price and Christopher Lee together.

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)

This movie was the first of many times Cushing played Sherlock Holmes.

Many people consider him one of the best Holmes ever.

As in the book, Holmes and Watson must help an aristocrat whose uncle died in strange circumstances.

As they investigate, they must also figure out if a legendary hound haunts the aristocrat's family.

Hammer Productions produced this movie and gave it a truly scary feel, especially in the introduction.

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

This movie started the best-known part of Cushing's career.

It began his work playing (as he put it ) "a monster-maker or a monster-destroyer" in Hammer Production's horror films.

In this film, Cushing plays Baron Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who decides to prove his intelligence by creating life itself.

What follows is a classic film that changed horror cinema.

Filmmaker John Carpenter said this film had a strong influence on his career.

Daleks – Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D (1966)

Based on the TV show "Doctor Who," this film casts Cushing as the Doctor, a time-traveler with a knack for saving the world.

This time, the Doctor and his companions visit London in the year 2150 AD.

The Daleks, the Doctor's oldest adversaries, have reduced most of Earth to rubble.

The Doctor will need lots of help, bravery and luck to stop them.

Cushing's portrayal may not be canonical with the TV show, but he does a great job.

His version, sillier than the First Doctor, may have influenced later actors, creating the character fans know today.

Dracula (1958)


Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

If "The Curse of Frankenstein" started Cushing's association with Hammer, this movie (also called "The Horror of Dracula") cemented it.

Here Cushing plays Van Helsing, a vampire hunter who's discovered a certain Eastern European count.

When his friend Jonathon Harker fails to defeat Dracula, Van Helsing has to finish the job.

This movie made Christopher Lee a star and showed Cushing's ability to play multifaceted characters.

His Van Helsing is both a scholar who can outwit evil and an action hero who can do a great fight scene.

Cash on Demand (1961)


What happens when you place Ebenezer Scrooge in a crime noir thriller?

That essentially describes "Cash on Demand."

Here Cushing plays Harry Fordyce, a bank manager whose perfectionist ways make him unpopular with his staff.

When a man threatens to kill Fordyce's family unless he helps him rob the bank, Fordyce loses his cool.

What follows is a story filled with psychological thrills, wit and fascinating characters.

André Morell, who played Watson in "The Hound of the Baskervilles," plays the burglar.

The Mummy (1959)

Basically, this film is about blasphemy.

Cushing plays an archeologist working with his father and uncle to excavate an Egyptian tomb.

The father and uncle ignore warnings to avoid the tomb, breaking a holy seal on the tomb and entering it.

What follows is a series of dark consequences, which even Cushing's character can barely escape.

Once again, Christopher Lee is the monster and Cushing the monster-slayer.

However, this is a different monster-slayer than Van Helsing.

This hero doesn't know anything about the supernatural, he only has his wits.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Image Source: Tom Simpson


This is easily Cushing's most famous film.

Here he plays Grand Moff Tarkin, an Imperial official who controls the Death Star.

As Luke Skywalker and company break into the Death Star, Tarkin tries to regain control and keep a leash on Death Vader.

Vader's the best-known villain in this movie, but Tarkin brings a different kind of evil to the story.

He's a villain who looks human but can be just as scary in his own way.

Nineteen Eighty-Four (1954)


Some people found this BBC production of "1984" controversial for its "subversive content."

Something ironic in that.

Here Cushing plays Winston Smith, a member of a dystopian state who doubts the administration.

When he commits an unthinkable crime - falling in love - he starts to rebel.

This adaptation tells a great story and gives Cushing a chance to show his nice guy side.

Other roles showed Cushing playing a paternal hero, which is generally a side character.

This film showed he could also play a more innocent hero, the nice guy the story focuses on.

André Morell, Cushing's co-star in "Cash on Demand" and "The Hound of the Baskervilles," plays O'Brien.

Rogue One (2016)

Cushing wasn't the first actor whose likeness was used on film after his death.

That was Laurence Olivier, who directed Cushing in "Hamlet."

However, this movie got considerable attention for using Cushing's likeness and will probably be remembered for a long time.

In this prequel to "A New Hope," viewers see Tarkin trying to stop the Rebellion from getting plans to the Death Star.

Whether you think using an actor's posthumous likeness is right or not, the film uses it in a way that honors Cushing.

Audiences get to see Tarkin's devious side, something Cushing would have been great at playing.


Note: All images used are either public domain photos or screenshots taken for review purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

Marching Through March

Some appreciation for the month of March.

400
Pexels

I love the entire year. Well, for the most part. I'm not a big fan of Winter, but even then, every month has something that's pretty great. November? Thanksgiving. December? Winter Holidays. January? New Year's. February? Valentine's and Single Awareness Day. May? Existential dread during finals. But for me, March has always been my favorite month of the year, and for good reason.

Keep Reading... Show less
Content Inspiration

Top 3 Response Articles of This Week

See what's trending in our creator community!

1929
Top 3 Response Articles of This Week
gouletballet.files.wordpress.com

Welcome to post-spring break week on Odyssey! Our creators have a fresh batch of articles to inspire you as you hit the books again. Here are the top three response articles of last week:

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

5 high paying jobs don't need a college degree

Trade School Graduates Make Lucrative Careers Without College Debt

4802
5 high paying jobs don't need a college degree

The common belief that a college degree is a prerequisite for a high-paying job is no longer as accurate as it once was. In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving world, many lucrative career opportunities do not require a traditional four-year degree. As an expert in career development and workforce trends.

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

The Enduring Legacy of Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon

Its the 50 year anniversary

4771
The Enduring Legacy of Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon

Since its release on March, 1973, Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" has stood the test of time as one of the most iconic and influential albums in the history of rock music. Combining thought-provoking lyrics, innovative production techniques, and a captivating album cover, it captured the imagination of millions of listeners and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of fans worldwide. In this article, we delve into the making, themes, and enduring influence of this groundbreaking album.

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

Dear Los Angeles...With Love,

After packing two oversized suitcases and two carryons with all the boho chic clothes I thought I needed to travel across the country for my dream internship, I quickly realized that although I may look like I belong out in the entertainment capital of the world there was a lot more to it than Free People dresses and fanny packs.

3656
Dear Los Angeles...With Love,
September: Los Angeles

Ever since I was younger I dreamed of moving out to California. There was something so amusing about being in the hub of it all that bursts with passion and artistry wherever you look. After a trip to LA when I was a sophomore in high school for dance, I fell even more in love with this utopia of a city and from that moment on, Los Angeles was that light at the end of the tunnel.

Keep Reading... Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments