The Peter Cushing Centennial Blogathon : Day Three

Peter Cushing has been gone now for almost 19 years, yet he is still featured regularly on magazine covers, attesting to his enduring appeal. Here, the current issue of Rue Morgue, devoted to British horror films, shows The Baron glaring back at us. The issue carries a fine portrait of Cushing on the occasion of his centenary and the publication of Peter Cushing: The Complete Memoirs, edited by Marcus Hearn.

We’ve only two days worth of posts up, but I’m sure you’ll agree that the diversity and the quality of the contributions to date is way off the scale. Cushing is truly a beloved man and a superior actor, and the respect and admiration given him — still strong after all these years — is a wonderful thing to behold. 

Now, on to The Peter Cushing Centennial Blogathon, Day Three!

It’s Maniacal Movie Poster Monday over at Let’s Get Out of Here! and Craig Edwards pulls out all the stops sharing a fantastic, referential collection of 20 movie posters, one for every film Peter Cushing film made between 1939 and 1959! Feast your eyes!

Brittney-Jade Colangelo covers horror in contemporary films and pop culture on her Day of the Woman blog. I’m delighted to see review an older film, deploying her unique approach and sharp, highly opinionated commentary on the offbeat Frankenstein Created Woman of 1967.

As our reviewer observes, rightfully, this entry was not about Cushing’s Baron at all. He is indeed peripheral to the action, yet Brittney-Jade doesn’t fail to note the great sincerity and honesty — her words — he brings to the part. Go and read Playing God Against Her Will: Frankenstein Created Woman.

And thank you, Brittney-Jade!

Plenty of Cushing photos here, and tons more to come, so let’s look at Ursula Andress instead. Besides, the image suits David Cairns title best. In a piece called State of Andress, David takes a magnanimous look at Hammer’s expensive if kitschy exotic adventure, She (1965), featuring Cushing, Christopher Lee, and assorted others orbiting Ms Andress’ ice-cold presence.

David holds forth on Shadowplay and you should make it a regular stop if you are partial to insightful and often funny online film reading.

Blogger RayRay is not fooling around. Today, at WeirdFlix, he undertakes a weeklong task of analyzing all six Hammer Frankenstein films and plotting Peter Cushing’s evolution in the part. First up, natch, is The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), the linchpin movie for Cushing, Lee, Terence Fisher, Jimmy Sangster and Hammer Films. The review is called Appetite for Resurrection. 

We’ll be keeping up and posting a link to every installment as they appear. Meanwhile, Please Try Not To Faint!

A coincidental companion piece to the previous post, artist Zombie Rust offers a portrait of The Baron, Victor Frankenstein, all cheekbones and starched collar in charcoal.

Are you on Facebook? Then by all means join The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society –— founded way back in 1956! There are tons of photos there you haven’t seen before, and information about Cushing you can’t find anywhere else. The Society also operates a first-rate blog.

If you’re a Peter Cushing fan, you need to make the PCAS your first stop on the web!