Reviews of movies with Peter Cushing.
Thursday, March 6th 2008
Grade: C+
Synopsis: In 18th century England, a band of troops intent on investigating reports of smuggling arrives in a small coastal town led by the local vicar (Peter Cushing) only to discover that nothing is what it seems.
Captain Clegg (Night Creatures in the USA) is a well-done historical mystery from the Hammer Film production company.
Granted, the script by Hammer producer Anthony Hinds (credited to his pseudonym John Elder) operates on a plot that would be right at home in an episode of Scooby-Doo, but it also crafts a very entertaining anti-hero in Peter Cushing’s Reverend Doctor Blyss. Rather than paint the characters in black and white, Hinds uses shades of gray, and the film is better for it. MORE »
Posted at 3:11 PM in Movie Reviews, Hammer Film and Peter Cushing.
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Tuesday, January 29th 2008
Grade: D+
Synopsis: After suffering a nervous breakdown, an actor (Vincent Price) reluctantly revives his Dr. Death character at the urging of his screenwriter friend (Peter Cushing) and producer (Robert Quarry).
Madhouse is a campy horror in the vein of Price’s earlier The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) and Theater of Blood (1973). Unfortunately, Madhouse has neither the stylish design of the former, nor the over-the-top absurdity of the later, and, as a result, is disappointing, especially given the cast.
Vincent Price is fine as the lead, though the script by Ken Levison and Greg Morrison does little to tailor the role. A few more asides and in-jokes (aside from the clips of Price’s earlier American International pictures) would have gone a long way. MORE »
Posted at 3:28 PM in Movie Reviews, Peter Cushing and Vincent Price.
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Thursday, December 27th 2007
Grade: C+
Synopsis: A fictionalized biography of stunted artist Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (José Ferrer).
Moulin Rouge is an engaging bio-drama from director John Huston.
Huston does a fabulous job recreating Toulouse-Lautrec’s late 19th century Paris, a vibrant cauldron of art and life, full of inspiration and frustration. This is Paris, perhaps not how it was, but rather, how it was through Toulouse-Lautrec’s eyes, and the Oscar winning art direction and costume design bring it to life. From the recreation of the titular nightclub, to the city’s carriage laden streets, Moulin Rouge is a feast for the eyes.
For his part, José Ferrer embodies Toulouse-Lautrec character completely. While Ferrer could easily have overplayed the part, he instead brings a quiet dignity reflective of his character’s upbringing. Through Ferrer’s performance we come to know a flawed man, struggling to make the best of the hand life has dealt him, though at the same time resentful of it. Though the film runs almost two hours, it never drags. Huston’s screenplay moves the story along well, and Ferrer’s performance remains captivating the entire time. MORE »
Posted at 4:22 PM in Movie Reviews, Christopher Lee, John Huston and Peter Cushing.
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Monday, October 29th 2007
Grade: D
Synopsis: An ancient mummy stalks the men who violated its tomb.
The Mummy’s Shroud needs more mummy and less shroud.
The script is similar to the disappointing The Curse of the Werewolf, also written by Hammer Film producer Anthony Hinds; both include lengthy and unnecessary prologues (The Mummy’s Shroud is narrated by an uncredited Peter Cushing), and both take ages to get the titular character on screen. Granted, The Mummy’s Shroud isn’t quite the disappointment that The Curse of the Werewolf was, but that’s only because it has less potential to start with.
The cast is serviceable, with the always solid André Morell and Elizabeth Sellars as the only standouts in parts that are criminally underwritten. MORE »
Posted at 4:48 PM in Movie Reviews, Hammer Film and Peter Cushing.
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Wednesday, October 17th 2007
Grade: D+
Synopsis: A medieval blacksmith (Alan Ladd) masquerades as a knight in order to win the hand of a lady and thwart a Saracen (Peter Cushing!).
The Black Knight has some odd casting. First, there’s Peter Cushing playing an Arab, complete with tan makeup and a full mop of black hair. Surprisingly, he’s pretty good as the baddie, even if his accent waivers with almost every line. On the other end of the spectrum however, there’s Alan Ladd, who is totally miscast and absolutely doesn’t work as a young knight in King Arthur’s court. Putting aside his lack of a British accent (it’s probably better he didn’t try), Ladd is simply too soft and, at 41, too old for the part. The Ladd casting debacle aside, the rest of the cast is workable, with André Morell a particular standout as Ladd’s mentor. MORE »
Posted at 5:18 PM in Movie Reviews and Peter Cushing.
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