THE 1940 RKO FILM 'VIGIL IN THE NIGHT' IS A VERY EARLY ENTRY IN PETER'S LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER. STARRING CAROLE LOMBARD, ANNE SHIRLEYAND BRIAN AHERNE, PETER, IN WHAT WAS ONLY HIS FOURTH FILM APPEARANCE PLAYS JOE SHAND. A ROLE THAT HAD HE NOT RETURNED TO THE UK, MAY HAVE PAVED THE WAY TO THE POTENTIAL OF A VERY DIFFERENT CAREER IN HOLLYWOOD.
'ONE SCENE DOES NOT MAKE A SCREEN STAR, BUT MORE THAN ONE HOLLYWOOD LUMINARY RECEIVED HIS FIRST IMPETUS TOWARD STARDOM BY A SINGLE STARKLY DRAMATIC SEQUENCE.
SUCH A SCENE AS THAT.... MAY WELL LAUNCH ENGLISH NEWCOMER PETER CUSHING ON A TOP FLIGHT CAREER. CUSHING, WHO LANDED IN HOLLYWOOD WITH LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR IN HIS JEANS, PLAYS ANNE SHIRLEY'S HUSBAND IN THE STORY. SO HIGHLY DID THE PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR GEORGE STEVENS REGARD PETER' WORK IN THE EARLY SCENES THAT HE HAD A SEQUENCE WRITTEN INTO THE SCRIPT WHICH GIVES CUSHING THE CHANCE EVERY ASPIRING YOUNG ACTOR DREAMS ABOUT. IT IS THE SCENE WITH THE YOUNG ACTOR RANTING AND RAVING AT CAROLE LOMBARD AS A NURSE AND BRIAN AHERNE AS THE DOCTOR.
MORE THAN ONE MALE STAR HAS HIT HIS STRIDE WITH JUST SUCH HIGH KEYED HISTRIONICS!'
PRESS RELEASE RKO PRESS BOOK. 1940
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