Book Review: Peter Cushing – A life in Film / Author: David Miller / Publisher: Titan Books / Release Date: Out Now
You may be aware that 2013 would have been Peter Cushing’s 100 birthday, and as such there are several events and releases to commemorate this. Miller’s book is the first out the hatch.
It’s extensively and meticulously researched – the chronology at the back of the book even contains transmission dates of TV programmes and theatre runs – which could only be expected from the author, who has already penned two Cushing reference books (now long out of print) and who previously wrote for Starburst and TV Zone. Taking in Cushing’s life as a boy and early film work before moving onto his success with the Hammer films and beyond, this is an absorbing and fascinating read. As well as the text there are hundreds of photographs, many of which have not been widely seen and are brilliantly reproduced, including two colour sections. Focusing as much as possible on his professional life (as the title suggests it’s about his life in film more than a straight biography), it obviously takes into account the tragic loss of his wife in 1971, an event which any Cushing fan knows he never got over. Miller has taken hundreds of interviews and articles about Peter and collated them into an easily digested read.
This is a stunning, concise yet packed overview of his career, and a worthy, affordable, addition to any fan’s collection. Be aware Amazon have the page count listed at a whopping 1928, when it is in fact 192, but don’t let that put you off, it’s the quality not the quantity that matters.
