From Hammer to Star Wars - memories of Peter Cushing

1973 also saw me conduct my first official star interview, which meant a trip to Shepperton Studios and the set of an awful film called The Beast Must Die - and the movie certainly did at the box office. My interviewee was the wonderful Peter Cushing, whom I had watched on screen in those wonderful Hammer films. Peter was the perfect gentleman. He chain smoked but wore a glove so there would be no nicotine on his fingers. He explained: "It is a bad habit and stains would be an insult to filmgoers when they shoot a close up of my hands when I am cutting up somebody."

Peter Cushing as Van Helsing in the Hammer horror film Brides of Dracula

I have never met anybody in what is often a bitchy profession who had a bad word about Peter and he put so much into every role, albeit some were not worthy of him. Many actors don't like having to handle hand props when speaking dialogue in a movie because it is a lot easier not to bother. Peter revelled in it and was a master of his craft. Of course it is not easy for continuity. For instance if you are smoking in a scene but require several retakes, the cigarette must have the same amount of ash each time to match.

This may sound like a love letter and in a way it is my salute to him. He was a sad character after the loss of his lovely wife in 1971 and just wanted to work rather than be at home as they had no children. At the time he would often only get, say, £6,000 to star in a film but he just did not care. Indeed I am told he was only paid £1,000 a week for his guest star role in Star Wars whilst Alec Guinness, albeit in a bigger part, ended up becoming a millionaire despite later growing to hate the way that film dwarfed his wonderful versatile career.

Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars. Photo: Lucasfilm

Sadly Peter suffered in his last years with a broken hip and then cancer, which eventually took his life. Thousands turned out in his home town of Whitstable to line the streets as his hearse passed by. I bought several items from his estate to have a memory. However, I still treasure the letter he wrote to me during the long campaign to save Elstree Studios, which in part read "Dear Paul, I am held together by Sellotape and not in the best of health but if you want somebody to join you in front of the bulldozers then I am your man!"

Peter Cushing in Hammer's Revenge of Frankenstein

After he died I insisted we created a plaque of honour for him, which is now part of the plaque heritage trail in the main road from the railway station to the Studio and beyond. I asked his frequent co-star Christopher Lee to do the unveiling. Now Christopher was a different kettle of fish, although I am not sure what a kettle of fish means. To be honest whenever he phoned me I felt I was being lectured and he was not the most modest fellow I ever met but a great cinema name. Years later I arranged a plaque ceremony honouring him with guest unveilers old Hammer stars Barbara Shelley and Francis Matthews. He refused to have any Hammer film mentioned on his plaque but the behind the scenes story is for another day. Until next time, stay safe and happy.

• Paul Welsh MBE is a Borehamwood writer and historian of Elstree Studios