How Hammer Films gave Peter Cushing's career a new life
Cushing was considering leaving the acting business altogether when he was offered the opportunity of a lifetime.
Though today we see him as one of the most talented actors in the horror genre, there was a time when Peter Cushing’s career stalled to a near halt.
Previously, the actor had starred in programs like The Man in the Iron Mask (1939) and Hamlet (1948). But later in his career, he found his acting roles few and far between.
During an interview, Cushing confessed that it had done a number on his self-esteem, and for a period of time, he considered giving up the craft altogether.
“I was forty and a failure,” Cushing said during an interview with the Sunday Mirror. “I was about to give up acting and design scarves for a living. My wife was reduced to taking in laundry. Then Hammer Films approached me after seeing me on television.”
Cushing starred in various Hammer films like The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) and Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell (1974). Additionally, he also starred in Hammer’s Dracula adaptation, appearing in films like Dracula (1958).
Cushing credited Hammer Productions as the saving grace of his career, and said that he would star in these movies “till I drop.”
Hammer provided a much-needed facelift to some of our favorite classic horror icons, giving audiences new reasons to fear creatures like Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster.
“We try to create an authentic atmosphere, to make the impossible credible,” said frequent Hammer director Terence Fisher. “The actors approach horror films with the seriousness of playing Hamlet.”
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