Saturday 18 March 2023

Alternate Best Actor 1961: Peter Cushing in Cash on Demand

Peter Cushing did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Harry Fordyce in Cash on Demand. 

Cash on Demand is a slight but effective thriller about a bank robber forcing a bank manager to comply with his robbery.

With the Christmas setting and the lead being a money lender, this film is in a strange way kind of reworking of the Scrooge story with Peter Cushing getting his chance to play Ebenezer Scrooge in a roundabout way as the then-modern bank manager Harry Fordyce. Peter Cushing is known best for his role in Star Wars or in various horror films, where he plays on some variation of chilling, kindly, or chilling while being kind. This is a completely different kind of performance from him as Harry Fordyce is just a man, and gives Cushing the chance to very much accentuate different aspects of his screen personality than one often sees from him. Even in the opening of the film where we see Fordyce go about his duties, it is notable that while this could've been the note for a classic cold Cushing note, Cushing actually makes much more of a variation here than that. His performance is actually almost entirely dissimilar, despite being quite effective with that known Cushing chill, this is a much more human depiction of a cold man.

And what that really means is that Cushing very much wants us to meet the manager Fordyce as a particular man but also in many ways a normal man as he comes into the bank. He has an uncaring expression about him, however an uncaring expression of a man who just doesn't care about anything other than doing his job. Cushing stare isn't penetrating rather it is just uncaring and focused upon his position. His delivery toward everyone in the bank is with a careless disregard and just a focus on business. Cushing modulates his work effectively though in portraying a man truly distant yet not nefarious in a traditional sense, just more bluntly kind of a jerk who isn't affectionate towards anyone. When an action leaves some cash missing in the bank by an employee, despite that employee having enough of a reason in his explanation, Cushing has no reaction other than uncaring disregard. His delivery is that of the bank official cutting down any notions of humanity as he is a man fixed just on keeping towards his task with the teller just being in his way. Cushing's performance though doesn't play it as overtly evil, as he certainly could've, but rather just the callousness of a man who puts the profits over people. 

Things change though as our plot begins with the entrance of a man Gore (André Morell) who claims to be there for the security of the bank yet instead is there in fact to rob the bank which he privately reveals to Fordyce. Cushing's performance is terrific even just the introduction of the man we see the coldness becomes alleviated as the man is a technical superior seemingly in the positioning around the bank and Cushing delivers a natural slight insecurity as Fordyce tries to impress the man. When the turn happens though that is even more of a switch as the hectoring Gore reveals he has Fordyce's family held captive, and they will be tortured if he doesn't comply with Gore's demands for cash. Cushing is excellent in showing the man completely and instantly thrown from his cold comfort as he becomes filled with tension and anxiety from the situation. And here is where really his setup was so important because Cushing never showed Fordyce as truly inhuman just very cold, and we see the man forced out of that cold authority with just a scared man beneath it all. Cushing is wholly genuine in reflecting the private man within the professional as his concern for his wife and child is immediate with an authentic immediate sense of real desperation. 

Gore has a complicated plan of robbing the safe which he needs Fordyce to follow every step of the way, and this is where the film becomes a two-hander of Gore purposefully pestering and mentally torturing Fordyce while Fordyce has no choice but to comply in order to save his family. Cushing really makes the movie, though Morell is quite a bit of fun in portraying just how much joy Gore gets out of this act, by creating the essential tension of a thriller of this sort. Every step of the process Cushing is 100 percent dialed in and you get the sense of the man making these split seconds decisions and the extreme nerves of the man every time they come close to failure. Cushing's performance is fascinating because, within this sense of desperation, he also begins to reveal an actual greater warmth beneath all the man. Every moment they come close to it, Cushing shows in his physical performance and with every line delivery how much the man tremendously does care about his family and is truly in pain within every moment of it. The man loses any of that cold control we saw before and just shows the very real fear of a father and husband needing to make sure his family will be safe. Cushing in every turn of the plot is exceptional in showing just how dialed in he is into the situation, making every moment far more tension-filled because within it all you see how much meaning this all has. Combine that with his reactions towards so many of Gore's pestering remarks, Cushing is rather moving even in showing the gradual sense of reflection in the man and sort of this intimate opening up of the man to having a greater sense for others around him. When he eventually pleads to note his family is all he has, Cushing is honestly powerful because in every word the sense of real love for the family but also the desperate loneliness of the man separated by that is remarkably performed. He manages to really play every scene with more than one layer in creating the sense of the immediate concern of "helping" Gore while also seeing that ever-constant anxiety combined with real a man seeing the faults he has in clear view. Cushing successfully brings you into the mind of such a cold man, in the beginning, to create some genuine empathy particularly later on when every one of his pleas is so deeply felt within Cushing's delivery. He even manages to create a convincing change of heart as at the end of the ordeal his greater sympathy to his workers, Cushing makes convincing because he's shown throughout the way the situation has broken down his reserve and forced a better man to come out of it despite it being a terrible situation. It is a terrific performance from Peter Cushing that shows he was very capable even outside of the types of performances he is most known for. 

50 comments:

Bryan L. said...

1. Nakadai
2. Finch
3. Sordi
4. Cushing
5. Citti

Shaggy Rogers said...

Hey guys!
Tell us your ranks of 1961 nominees in each category:

Song
1. "Moon River" - Breakfast at Tiffany's
2. "Pocketful of Miracles" - Pocketful of Miracles
3. "Love Theme from El Cid (The Falcon and the Dove)" - El Cid
4. "Town Without Pity" - Town Without Pity
5. "Bachelor in Paradise" - Bachelor in Paradise

Score (Musical)
1. West Side Story
2. Paris Blues
3. Khovanshchina
4. Babes in Toyland
5. Flower Drum Song

Score (Drama or Comedy)
1. Breakfast at Tiffany's
2. The Guns of Navarone
3. El Cid
4. Summer and Smoke
5. Fanny

Sound Mixing
1. The Guns of Navarone
2. The Parent Trap
3. West Side Story
4. The Children's Hour
5. Flower Drum Song

Editing
1. The Guns of Navarone
2. West Side Story
3. Judgment at Nuremberg
4. The Parent Trap
5. Fanny

Special Visual Effects
1. The Guns of Navarone
2. The Absent-Minded Professor

Costume (B&W)
1. La Dolce Vita
2. Yojimbo
3. Claudelle Inglish
4. Judgment at Nuremberg
5. The Children's Hour

Costume (Color)
1. Babes in Toyland
2. Pocketful of Miracles
3. Flower Drum Song
4. West Side Story
5. Back Street

Production Design (B&W)
1. Judgment at Nuremberg
2. The Hustler
3. La Dolce Vita
4. The Children's Hour
5. The Absent-Minded Professor

Production Design (Color)
1. West Side Story
2. El Cid
3. Breakfast at Tiffany's
4. Flower Drum Song
5. Summer and Smoke

Cinematography (B&W)
1. The Hustler
2. Judgment at Nuremberg
3. One, Two, Three
4. The Children's Hour
5. The Absent-Minded Professor

Cinematography (Color)
1. One-Eyed Jacks
2. West Side Story
3. Fanny
4. Flower Drum Song
5. A Majority of One

International Feature Film
1. Through a Glass Darkly (Sweden)
2. Immortal Love (Japan)
3. Harry and the Butler (Denmark)
4. Plácido (Spain)
5. The Important Man (Mexico)

Adapted Screenplay
1. Judgment at Nuremberg
2. The Guns of Navarone
3. The Hustler
4. Breakfast at Tiffany's
5. West Side Story

Original Screenplay
1. Ballad of a Soldier
2. General Della Rovere
3. Splendor in the Grass
4. La Dolce Vita
5. Lover Come Back

Supporting Actress
1. Judy Garland
2. Fay Bainter
3. Rita Moreno
4. Una Merkel
5. Lotte Lenya

Supporting Actor
1. Montgomery Clift
2. Jackie Gleason
3. George C. Scott
4. Peter Falk
5. George Chakiris

Lead Actress
1. Sophia Loren
2. Natalie Wood
3. Audrey Hepburn
4. Piper Laurie
5. Geraldine Page

Lead Actor
1. Paul Newman
2. Stuart Whitman
3. Maximilian Schell
4. Spencer Tracy
5. Charles Boyer

Director
1. Robert Rossen
2. J. Lee Thompson
3. Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins
4. Stanley Kramer
5. Federico Fellini

Picture
1. The Hustler
2. Judgment at Nuremberg
3. The Guns of Navarone
4. West Side Story
5. Fanny

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Oh yeah, almost forgot:

1. Nakadai
2. Sordi
3. Cushing
4. Finch
5. Citti

8000S said...

Louis: I know that they're bad movies and all, but how do you think Brendan Fraser would have fared as Reed Richards in the 2000's Fantastic Four movies? Some sources say he was considered for the part.

Also, who would have been your personal choices for the FF in those movies?

Tim said...

1) Nakadai
2) Finch
3) Cushing
4) Sordi
5) Citti

Matt Mustin said...

1. Nakadai
2. Sordi
3. Finch
4. Cushing
5. Citti

RatedRStar said...

So after winning a request I chose Peter Finch, I was curious about Michael McCarthys comments because I agree that Finch is good in a fine but not great film, I was very interested in seeing Citti because of his opinion that he wasn't sure of him.

Too be honest I am not sure either lol.

RatedRStar said...

I was expecting Accattone to be a directors film, but it really isn't, it feels more like a minimalist melancholic film.

Luke Higham said...

1. Nakadai
2. Sordi
3. Cushing
4. Finch
5. Citti

RatedRStar said...

I would probably give Citti a 4, I do think he is good in certain scenes, like his reaction to the dead bodies, and his final scene, its tricky because his character is so aimless but I won't say he is bad because he clearly isn't.

RatedRStar said...

I had a feeling that Cushings film would be a case of a great performance in a just Ok film.

RatedRStar said...

1. Nakadai
2. Sordi
3. Cushing
4. Finch
5. Citti

It feels weird placing my winning request in 4th place but this is a good lineup, I was originally worried from his first scenes that Citti would be Lou Castel from Fists in the Pocket but I think he was better as the film went on.

8000S said...

1. Nakadai
2. Sordi
3. Cushing
4. Finch
5. Citti

Ytrewq Wertyq said...

1.Nakadai
2.Sordi
3.Cushing
4.Finch
5.Citti

Louis Morgan said...

8000's:

I think anyone would've struggled with that material, which is pretty abysmal. Fraser to me would've read maybe slightly too young to me at that time, as the character should emphasize the dad (though I could very much see him as The Thing), as the series should focus, which every adaptation has FAILED to do so far, on the four being a family superhero team. In that sense I do always think, skip the origin, get to what makes them unique which is that aspect.

So I wouldn't want to condemn anyone to that version but for a good version:

Reed Richards: Linus Roache
Sue Richard: Diane Lane
Ben Grimm: James Gandolfini
Johnny Storm: Chris Pine (Though I think you can keep Chris Evans, better direction/script I think would get a better performance from him.)

Oliver Menard said...

1. Nakadai
2. Sordi
3. Cushing
4. Finch
5. Citti

8000S said...

Louis: Kind of an odd question, but who are some of your favorite comic book couples?

Calvin Law said...

I'll change my predictions slightly

1. Nakadai
2. Sordi
3. Cushing
4. Finch
5. Citti

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Could you watch Luis Buñuel's The Young One (1961).

Mitchell Murray said...

Question for everyone here: Does anybody watch the youtube channel "Cinematic Therapy"?

I came across their content in the last 2-3 days, and have really enjoyed their takes on certain films. I particular like their videos on "Good Will Hunting" and the "Rocky" franchise.

Tim said...

yeah, i've followed them for some months now. Their premise alone is very unique and almost always taken full advantage off. They show well how their approaches to watching films is actually not all that different and have really fun chemistry with each other.

I think in some episodes Alan seems sidelined a bit and they can sometimes spout a lot of virtue signaling SJW shite, but other than that i enjoy them a lot.

I highly recommend the episodes on the Twilight movies

Ytrewq Wertyq said...

Everyone: Apparently Glenn Ficarra and John Requa were about to make a Vince McMahon biopic called Pandemonium, before the project was shelved after intervention of Vinnie Mac himself. Since some of you here are well acquainted with professional wrestling, what would be everybody's opinion on this proposed cast of said movie?

Evan Peters as Vince McMahon (young)
Billy Bob Thornton as Vince McMahon (old)
Sarah Paulson as Linda McMahon
Chris Hemsworth as Hulk Hogan
Jack Perry as Shawn Michaels
Milo Ventimiglia as Bret Hart
Cole Hauser as Randy Savage
Christian Bale as The Ultimate Warrior
Tom Hanks as Ted Turner
Adam Devine as Jim Cornette
Jason Momoa as Jimmy Snuka
Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso as The Wild Samoans

Omar Franini said...

1. Nakadai
2. Sordi
3. Cushing
4. Finch
5. Citti

Shaggy Rogers said...

I finished watching them all and I'm going to change the rank:

1. Nakadai
2. Cushing
3. Sordi
4. Finch
5. Citti

Emi Grant said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michael McCarthy said...

Has anyone here seen The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse? I managed to a while back and Tom Hollander’s and Idris Elba’s performances have stayed with VERY well. God, what a great year for voice acting in film.

Emi Grant said...

Ytrewq Wertyq: I heard those news. Quite the disappointing thing, 'cause the sheer lunacy of the backstage antics of WWE between the 80s and Vince's "retirement" are the stuff that could give you like, 12 seasons of Succession.

Out of your picks, Paulson and Devine are inspired choices. One I'd add (which I've seen people suggest before) is Paul Giamatti as Paul Heyman. I'd also stick to the producers' rumoured pick of Bradley Cooper as Vince himself.

I think a key-factor for playing Vince is someone with a fair bit of bulk to his physique, and Cooper has proven apt for roles with different voices. Furthermore, I think his turn on Licorice Pizza might be enough proof he can play the quite over the top personality of McMahon.

I also think Bale might be a little too old for playing Warrior, but I'm really blanking at alternate choices for that cast. Momoa and the Usos could work fine, though.

Emi Grant said...

I reposted my last comment because it got copied and pasted like 3 times. Yuck.

Michael: I thought they were easily the saving grace of that short alongside its animation, because otherwise it was by far the weakest out of the Animated Short nominees.

Mitchell Murray said...

Btw everyone...finally caught up with "Aftersun" and aside from the strobe light scenes, I found it quite affecting. I'm a little worried that with all it's press (even post oscars), a lot of people might watch the film and go "I don't get the hype". Well, all I can say is I do get the hype; I understand the film's intentions, and I largely found it to be an authentic and intimate portrayal of depression.

As for Mescal...yah, his nomination is quite unorthodox, and his performance is really quite different from many nominated turns. It 100% works for me, though, as very much a non-acting performance that never screams for your attention, yet is compelling in how much he holds back.

Tony Kim said...

Been holding off on doing the predictions due to my lack of familiarity with the films (outside of Human Condition), but having now done some research I'll take a crack at it:

1. Nakadai
2. Sordi
3. Cushing
4. Citti
5. Finch

Louis: Do you have any plans to see any of the following recent shows?

The White Lotus
The Bear
Hacks
Daisy Jones & the Six

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Loved the latest Ted Lasso. Goldstein MVP as expected, but Lance, Waddingham and Sudeikis were also very good.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your top 10 patrick fabian acting moments

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Watched Not as a Stranger. Solid premise, but the direction and casting holds it back. Haven't fully decided on the cast rankings yet but...

Robert Mitchum (2.5/3)
Frank Sinatra (3/3.5)
Olivia de Havilland (3.5/4)
Gloria Grahame (3.5)
Broderick Crawford (3.5)
Charles Bickford (3.5)
Lee Marvin (3)

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Do you think SAG being the last precursor awards before final Oscar voting this time contributed the most to Curtis and Fraser's wins? While I think Yeoh and Quan would have eventually won regardless, I could see Condon and Butler winning if they got that final push later on.

Louis Morgan said...

8000's:

Don't have any one's beyond the obvious ones I think.

Luke:

Maybe.

Tony:

I'm not against watching any of those, but I don't have any exact plans at the moment.

Anonymous:

Top five feels more appropriate:

1. Howard's End
2. Not giving Jimmy the job
3. After Chuck's death
4. Trying to fight it out
5. Failing a confrontation

Tahmeed:

In part I think EEAO was just that loved, but yes I do think that helped secure the wins. I imagine Actor, and Supporting Actress were probably pretty close regardless, so last minute momentum secured the win. And it is pretty fascinating that Elvis which did nearly as well as it could've with nominations did so much worse than the Whale which technically unperformed with nominations. It just shows that really momentum was in flux all season. I also do think Blanchett and Yeoh would've been closer, if Blanchett's speeches were basically saying "you don't need to give me the win".

Marcus said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Brian Cox's latest remarks about method acting and Jeremy Strong?

Louis Morgan said...

Marcus:

Sounds like Brian Cox's rendition of Olivier to Hoffman. Which hey Cox is definitely someone who has earned his opinion when it comes to acting, and that bluntness just seems to be his personality. And really he's super blunt, but it doesn't seem like anyone who works with him gets offended by it, including Strong, so why should we?

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

I personally blame Jared Leto's antics for so many people associating method acting with being a terrible person, which could not be further from the truth.

Tim said...

Tahmeed: On the SAG thing; i would say yes for Curtis, but it was a pretty obvious win for Fraser. I knew he would win the Oscar when the first picture of him in that role was released more than a year ago

Matt Mustin said...

Did anyone watch Odenkirk's new show Lucky Hank? I'm wondering if it's any good?

8000S said...

I'm curious, who here requested Ross Martin in Experiment in Terror?

Marcus said...

Louis: Your thoughts on these two anime openings?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8CFuZ9MseQ&ab_channel=CrunchyrollDubs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcobx_yh50&ab_channel=Anicrad

Tony Kim said...

Louis: Had Michelle Williams campaigned in Supporting for The Fabelmans, do you think she would've won? Also, have you previously given your thoughts on which category you feel she should've been placed in?


BTW, your thoughts on Farrell and Condon's acting in this scene? https://twitter.com/OscarRunnerUp/status/1628123383077502976


Matt Mustin said...

Tony: She's unquestionably a supporting role.

Anonymous said...

Tony: I see two reasons for the change of categories of Williams:
After 4 nominations, the certainty of victory already seemed to be guaranteed; and
After Spielberg awarded Day Lewis, Rylance and DeBose, the only thing missing is lead actress. They were probably thinking "why not try it on the lead, right?"

8000S said...

Louis: Also for this year, watch this little unknown film, just for Mitchum.

https://ok.ru/video/283293911715

Shaggy Rogers said...

Hey Louis
Say your rankings of the past 10 Oscars winners of best: Picture, Director, Screenplays (Adapted and Original), International Film and Animated Film?

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Shaggy: Louis gave his Best Picture ranking of the last 10 years on the previous post.

Louis Morgan said...


Tony:

She's 100% supporting to me,

Winning-wise, I do think she would've won, as Williams had the narrative of being "overdue", the performance many lauded, and the type of role that traditionally wins. Bassett (MCU smallish part), Condon (Character actress in a non-traditional type of winning role), Curtis (Small, weird part), all were put into contention because Williams left that gap open I think.

Marcus:

I kind of like the first one's song has a nice step to it, the actual animation I didn't think was terribly interesting, particularly the progression of people standing still.

Contrasting that is some high frame rate animation, and is striking with that alone. Found the song less interesting though, fine though just falls into the general "uptempo not entirely unpleasant noise".

Tony:

Beautifully acted by both, and Condon is fantastic in showing the real extent of her sadness and really having to escape the madness that the island represents. Meanwhile, Farrell shows someone who hasn't quite come to grips with how far gone his friend is in regard. What you also get though is together the immediate sense of the sibling love that does exist in the embrace even as they are very much of two minds in the moment.

Shaggy:

Director:

1. Bong Joon-ho
2. AGI (Birdman)
3. Damien Chazelle
4. Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity)
5. Chloe Zhao
6. The Daniels
7. AGI (The Revenant)
8. Guillermo Del Toro
9. Alfonso Cuaron (Roma)
10. Jane Campion

Adapted Screenplay:

1. The Father
2. Jojo Rabbit
3. Moonlight
4. Blackkklansman
5. Call Me By Your Name
6. 12 Years a Slave
7. The Imitation Game
8. Women Talking
9. CODA
10. The Big Short

Original Screenplay:

1. Parasite
2. Birdman
3. Promising Young Woman
4. Get Out
5. Everything Everywhere All At Once
6. Her
7. Spotlight
8. Manchester By the Sea
9. Belfast
10. Green Book

International Film:

1. Parasite
2. Another Round
3. A Separation
4. Ida
5. The Salesman
6. Drive My Car
7. Roma
8. A Fantastic Woman
9. The Great Beauty
10. Son of Saul

Animated Film:

1. Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse
2. Soul
3. Inside Out
4. Coco
5. Zootopia
6. Frozen
7. Pinocchio
8. Big Hero 6
9. Encanto
10. Toy Story 4

Perfectionist said...

Louis: Chazelle THAT high is just blasphemy. But then again, La La Land has lost so much hype with me overtime. I personally loved Campion's and Cuaron's Roma wins... They would EASILY be at the top tier for me.