Product Description

Midnight Marquee Press, Inc. is pleased to introduce this volume that begins the "second phase" of Midnight Marquee Press’ acclaimed Actors Series. Having shone the spotlight on those titans of Golden and Silver Age horror (all American by birth or naturalization)—Lugosi, Karloff, Chaney, Jr., Price, and Lorre—Midnight Marquee now ventures into the Iron Age of Hammer (and British horror) with a collection examining the work of Peter Cushing.

Cushing has been the subject of other books (and his own autobiographies, reprinted in one volume by Midnight Marquee Press, 1999), so one might question the need for yet another work. The answer, I think, lies in the essays that make up this volume, which put the emphasis squarely on the performer himself (as befits an Actors Series). Not only do Midnight Marquee’s stable of reliables and newcomers analyze 56 of Cushing’s performances in depth, but the annotated filmography offers capsule comments about most of his other roles. Anyone interested in the enormous contributions to horror film and film in general by the "Gentle Man of Horror"—arguably the most accomplished actor ever to become a horror star—will find a great deal of insight and intelligence within these pages.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #790658 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 282 pages

Customer Reviews

Biased but honest
Though one of the authors who contributed to the book and thus taking the risk of having the following dismissed, I would still like to opine in print that I consider this to be a very fine tome--perhaps the best in the MIDNIGHT MARQUEE ACTOR SERIES thus far. Along with excellent pieces by Jonathan Lampley, Mark Clark, Steve Thornton and a host of big guns in the Horror Historian field, the true kudos must be given to the fine editorial work by Anthony Ambrogio. Far too much of what passes for Film history/criticism is really just dishonest agenda driven political boilerplate and far too many editors engage in "grey" censorship--not publishing or altering the text of pieces based not on quality but their own external agendas. And no doubt Mr Ambrogio could have done the above, was tempted to do so and would have highly praised for doing so. Yet he did not indicating a rare and probable career killing integrity. What results is a marvelous book that, besides the usual, required and expected material, also contains much..very very much that the reader would not encounter anywhere else. Thus making this a unigue work--one that serves as filmography, biography, film critigue and trailblazer--providing rare insights and examining previous neglected aspects of the life and career of a great actor. In my opinion, this is one of the best books written about Peter Cushing and, professionally speaking, this is a valid reference purchase for any serious Library. Ah but I contributed to the book and cannot be trusted, can I? Fine. Read the book and decide for yourself. You will be, I am sure, well persuaded.
In this case, you CAN be far too trusting.