marcus brooks

SilverWook said:

The Starlog interview I remember from the 80's seemed pretty positive about the movie. I think there was even a little regret Tarkin couldn't be in the sequels.

I really need to dig out my old magazines and reread them sometime. Although I wish whoever owns the rights to Starlog would issue the whole run on a DVD-ROM or something.

What I'd really like to know is, why the heck didn't Kenner make a Tarkin figure back in the day? My Death Star playset collapsed into chaos without him! ;)

 I think the reason behind no Tarkin figure may have had something to do with the drive to market the 'sell-able and sustainable action figures' characters. Action being the word. You have Vader, Luke, Han etc... because back then, they were the characters that they hoped would appeal to the 'young' audience and who would buy the merchandise. It's an odd way of thinking, especially when you look at the marketing behind the cinema posters, publicity campaign and the actual casting. Peter is fourth in the billing....and above AG!

As for Peter's thoughts on Star Wars, he always said that he enjoyed the experience. Through out his career he always expressed a desire to 'appear in films, that my audience would like to see me appear in'. He said that this had always been his rule of thumb. 'No one wants to see me in Shakespeare, but many want to see me as Baron Frankenstein...So that is the film I make!'

For Peter, Star Wars was exposure to a new audience of young people and children, who parents and grandparents also knew him from the BBC 50's television work (He won several major awards for his work during the mid 1950's) and 60's Hammer Films. Around this time he also appeared in  other movies aimed at family entertainment audience: Arabian Adventure, At The Earth's Core.

Unfortunately, publicity in the press around the time of Star Wars, centered on the tragic story of Peter losing his wife, Helen. It was a trend that would seep into any interview from 1974 on wards. The 1978 WEEKEND UK magazine has a great full colour cover with Peter as Tarkin, with the headline 'I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY WIFE': The Life-Force Id Draining Out Of Me!' in bright yellow. I think he was very proud of his work in Star Wars and very happy to reach a new audience.. 'When having seen some of my earlier work from the 1950's...then having seen Star Wars...youngsters come up to me now and ask 'Are you Peter Cushing's Father?', I tell them 'No, I am his Grandfather!'

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I really do think it's a great shame that Peter isn't around to enjoy the potential of the roles he could have played so well. Still, he couldn't wait to go! But I guess you all know that story....Yes, he did play DR WHO...or at least a 'version' of the character. I love the old WHO movies. They have a charm that is very much missing in the TV series of today. mind you, I though Tennant who superb.

Halloween? Yes, he was considered. I think it was more to do with the fact that Peter, as he got older, was looking for work that would keep him busy and at home in the UK.  But, like you..I think he would have been perfect. Old Donald fills the shoes rather well though..

That's an interesting opinion....I wonder how many would agree with that?

Well, I remember when STAR WARS first was released and the run up to it's opening in the UK. For me, it was 'Great a new Cushing film!' I had seen a little of the publicity that Peter had sent on to the club, but it was a little confusing as to what the film actually was about. Peter too, I remember wasn't quite sure, but said it was a good experience. What a surprise we had when we saw it! The last few films that Peter had appeared in up to that time were so-so...but this was something quite different. I was hooked, but I had to wait a further another 14 years, until my son was born to have a valid excuse to REALLY indulge. And boy, did we!

Peter's Moff Tarkin has all the qualities that made his villains so great. The 'You may fire when ready...' is delivered so cool.

He is one very cool dude:)

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Thank you for the welcome, chaps!

I saw your link on google and thought I'd drop you a line. There is a PETER CUSHING GROUP on FACEBOOK PAGES called The UK Peter Cushing Appreciation Society. The club has was established way back in 1956...I've managed it since 1978 it has been on the net as petercushing.org for the last three years and FB for just under a year. Would be very happy to see any fans of Peter, Moff and Stars Wars in our ranks. Do drop by and give us a click, you'd be made most welcome

Great forum and site, by the way!

Marcus

theblackboxclub.blogspot.com