Tuesday, January 26, 2010

PEGGY CUMMINS.



Peggy Cummins, British actress, best known for her performance in Joseph H. Lewis Gun Crazy, playing a trigger-happy femme fatale who robs banks with her husband played by John Dall.

Peggy lived most of her life in Dublin, and was educated and in London. In 1938 actor Peter Brock noticed Peggy at a Dublin tram stop and introduced her to Dublin's Gate Theatre Company.

She would perform in the title role in "Alice In Wonderland," and in 1938 playing the title role "Junior Miss." Cummins made her first film at age of 15, in the British production "Dr. O'Dowd" (1940).

Her first major film was in "English Without Tears" (1944). The film was released in the USA as "Her Man Gilbey."

Peggy Cummins was brought to Hollywood 1945 by Darryl F. Zanuck, to play Amber in "Forever Amber."She was replaced because she was too young by Linda Darnell.

She went on to film Gun Crazy with John Dall (1949).

While in Italy filming "That Dangerous Age" (1949) with Myrna Loy and Roger Livesay, Cummins took voice lessons to prepare her for musicals.

She returned to London in 1950 to marry and work in British films.

She performed in Meet Mr. Lucifer (1953 )and later performed with Dana Andrews in Night of the Demon (1957).

She also performed in Hell Drivers (1957), which also featured Stanley Baker, Patrick McGoohan, and Herbert Lom.

Cummins's last film, In the Doghouse(1961), alongside Leslie Phillips.




4 comments:

  1. Dawn, how wonderful to read your tribute to the lovely, talented Peggy. She was awesome in GUN CRAZY and delightful in ALWAYS A BRIDE. While NIGHT OF THE DEMON is one of my favorite films, I think her role wasn't developed very well...still fun to see her, of course. Great photo of her!

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  2. Rick, Thank you. I have not seen many films of Peggy's. I thought it was very interesting to learn, that she was brought to Hollywood, to play Amber in "Forever Amber." but, was replaced because she was too young by Linda Darnell.

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  3. I have never heard of her but now I am going to try and see this film. That photo shows that she was quite a beauty.

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  4. Purplelion, Peggy, is new to me too.

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