Ok, with the sequel to Sherlock Holmes coming out, I am reminded of this post that I wrote for another blog in 2009. I decided to share my thoughts again. This is not a review of the film so much as an opportunity to gush about Peter Cushing.
Where is Peter Cushing When You Need Him?
As I was watching the latest Sherlock Holmes film, I found myself profoundly disappointed for many reasons. The production design was over the top and lacked realism, the new face of Holmes, as a tormented genius, got my hopes up but was over played, and the story was weak and too weird for my taste.
Perhaps my standards are too high. Sherlock Holmes is one of my favourite fictional characters of all time and having lived in the UK for many years, I think I felt a little disappointed that so many Americans were used in the film to play English characters, including Holmes himself.
Having worked in London frequently, I remember using the Baker Street tube station where some of the architecture is still Victorian and the platform walls sport tiled silhouettes of the great detective with his signature hat and pipe. Thinking back I always thought of that silhouette as being that of one actor who played Holmes better than anyone in history, Peter Cushing.
Most Americans have seen his work in Star Wars but don’t know his name. Every time I direct a character who is evil, I make Star Wars required homework and I ask my actor to pay special attention to Cushing.
What makes Cushing so great? His use of emotion, or lack thereof. Evil feels but does not emote. Hatred emotes, hatred is warped love, based in actually caring about the object of one’s hatred. Evil is the enjoyment of indifference.
Watch the clip below to see how Cushing delivers the line ‘Charming to the last.’ And even when his character, Tarkin, becomes frustrated and angry, this emotion is held behind a mask of indifference, emotional control, and anticipation of the suffering of others. Also note Cushing’s awareness of his lighting.
That clip shows what I believe to be the pest performance of all time by the best actor who ever lived. Every screen actor should study this performance. (since writing this in 2009 I learned that during this scene Cushing was wearing fuzzy slippers because the boots made for his costume were too small. And he still managed to play evil this convincingly)
Sadly Cushing died in 1994 and there will never be another actor quite like him. As proof that this performance comes from a unique mix of talent and hard work born out of professionalism, take a look at the real Peter Cushing, unlike Tarkin, Cushing was a cute and cuddly old man who emotes genuine kindness. One can hardly believe this is the same person.
Also, in this clip notice his awareness of the needs of the studio cameramen as he only partially stands to shake hands with Terry Wogan. Cushing is the kind of actor directors dream of.