ON SEEING these rare and unpublished photographs for the first time, it
isn't obvious who the man in the pics actually could be. A neat and trim
moustache, the absence of a hair piece and several pounds of body
weight along with clothing that wasn't the usual attire familiar to the
thousands of cinema goers, who had watched him on the big screen and tv
over the past three decades. 1971 was a year that changed Peter
Cushing's life forever. The loss of his wife, Helen in February
after many years of fighting her illness, set Cushing on a path of
work, that would have psychically and emotionally exhausted many others.
THE GRIEF AND LOSS effected everything in Cushing's life, except as he saw,
his one distraction away from the loneliness and pain. Work. These
unpublished stills were taken in December 1971, as part of a Radio Times
magazine feature, promoting a BBC radio programme Peter had recorded
earlier on July 27th -29th July 1971 at his home in Whitstable. The
programme 'Nature Spectacular' focused on the wildlife and birds of
which Peter was very familiar and loved around his beach front home. I
am sure you have seen the many watercolour's and sketches that Peter
produced over the years, here on PCASUK. He was a lover of nature. The
photo session produced quite a few unique captures of Peter, that we
will be sharing over the next three weeks. . .
THIS LOOK INTO Peter's home study, gives us a peep into the things that
surrounded his day, the photo portrate of his late wife, the paperwork,
the delicate bird figures he made and his desk, which I am very proud to
be sat at, while writing this. Just a few weeks before these
photographs were taken, Cushing had began his journey, in 'keeping busy'
in March until April, he returned in his first film just weeks after
Helen passed, Hammer films 'Twins of Evil', September he filmed his
award winning performance as Arthur Grimsdyke in Amicus films, 'Tales
from the Crypt' at Shepperton studios, work on Hammer's Dracula AD 1972'
as Van Helsing with Christopher Lee as the Count, kept him busy from
September 27th until November 5th along with several radio appearances
from September 30th until early November. He brought the year to an end,
with shooting Hammer films, 'Fear In The Night' with Ralph Bates and
Judy Geeson' .... hence the little moustache, of his character
headmaster, Michael Carmichael. Cushing was allergic to spirit gum that
would hold on a false tash, so he grew his facial hair when roles
required it! A busy time, indeed.
