Peggy Cummins
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Peggy Cummins (born Augusta Margaret Diane Fuller; 18 December 1925 – 29 December 2017) was an Irish actress, born in Wales, who is best known for her performance in Joseph H. Lewis's '' Gun Crazy'' (1950), playing a trigger-happy ''
femme fatale A ( , ; ), sometimes called a maneater, Mata Hari, or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and Seduction, seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype ...
'', who robs banks with her lover. In 2020, she was listed at number 16 on ''
The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...
'' list of Ireland's greatest film actors.


Biography


Early life

Cummins was born Augusta Margaret Diane Fuller in
Prestatyn Prestatyn (; ) is a seaside town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Historically a part of Flintshire, it is located on the Irish Sea coast, to the east of Rhyl. Prestatyn has a population of 19,085. Origin of name The name Prestatyn d ...
, Denbighshire, Wales. Her Irish parents were visiting there when a storm kept them from returning to their home in
Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
.Interview with Louella O. Parsons, ''St. Petersburg Times'', 30 December 1945. She lived most of her early life in
Killiney Killiney () is an affluent coastal suburb on the southside of Dublin, Ireland. It lies south of Dalkey, east and northeast of Ballybrack and Sallynoggin and north of Shankill, in the local government area of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown within ...
, Dublin, where she was educated, and later in London. Her father was Dublin-born Franklin Bland Fuller, who was a grandson of architect James Franklin Fuller. Her mother was actress Margaret Cummins, who played such film roles as Anna in ''Smart Woman'' and Emily in '' The Sign of the Ram'' (both 1948).


Early acting career

There is a legend that actor Patrick Brock noticed Cummins at a Dublin tram stop and introduced her to Dublin's
Gate Theatre The Gate Theatre is a theatre on Cavendish Row in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1928. History Beginnings The Gate Theatre was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir with Daisy Bannard Cogley and Gearóid Ó Lochla ...
Company, but she told Barbara Roisman Cooper when interviewed aged 88: "That is absolutely nonsense." As a child in Dublin, she attended the Abbey School of Ballet. From there she was spotted and chosen for a non-speaking role in ''
The Duchess of Malfi ''The Duchess of Malfi'' (originally published as ''The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy'') is a Jacobean revenge tragedy written by English dramatist John Webster in 1612–1613. It was first performed privately at the Blackfriars Theat ...
'' at the Gate Theatre. "I played one of the children, only seen in silhouette because they had been murdered ... that was my start in the theatre." Cummins’ London stage debut was in the role of Maryann, the juvenile lead in ''Let’s Pretend'', a children’s revue that opened at the St James’s Theatre on her 13th birthday. On the basis of this she was cast in the British film directed by
Herbert Mason Samuel George Herbert Mason (1891 – 20 May 1960) was a British film director, producer, stage actor, army officer, presenter of some revues, stage manager, theatre director, stage director, choreographer, Production manager (theatre), produ ...
, '' Dr. O'Dowd'' (1940). As part of an agreement with the
London County Council The London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today ...
, Cummins was limited to five hours of filming per day and had to be supervised by a governess. Cummins had supporting roles in '' Salute John Citizen'' (1942) and '' Old Mother Riley Detective'' (1943). She appeared on the London stage in 1943 aged 17, playing the part of 12-year-old Fuffy in '' Junior Miss'' at the Saville Theatre and in the title role of ''
Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (also known as ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English Children's literature, children's novel by Lewis Carroll, a mathematics university don, don at the University of Oxford. It details the story of a ...
'' in 1944 at the Palace Theatre. Her first major film was '' English Without Tears'' (1944) with Michael Wilding and Lilli Palmer, directed by
Harold French Harold French (23 April 1897 – 19 October 1997) was an English film director, screenwriter and actor. Biography After training at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, Italia Conti School, he made his acting debut age 12, in a produ ...
and released in the United States as ''Her Man Gilbey''. She followed this with '' Welcome, Mr. Washington'' (1944).


''Forever Amber'' and 20th Century Fox

In October 1945, Cummins was brought to Hollywood by Darryl F. Zanuck, head of
20th Century-Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film production and distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Com ...
, not initially – as is widely believed – to play Amber in Kathleen Winsor's '' Forever Amber'' (1947). She tested for a role in '' Cluny Brown'' (1946) before being considered for Amber. Production started in January 1946, but because she was considered "too young", she was soon replaced by Linda Darnell. Zanuck then gave her a lead role in a mystery, '' Moss Rose'' (1947), directed by
Gregory Ratoff Gregory Ratoff (born Grigory Vasilyevich Ratner; ; April 20, c. 1893 – December 14, 1960) was a Russian-American film director, actor and producer. As an actor, he was best known for his role as producer "Max Fabian" in ''All About Eve'' (195 ...
, which was a financial disappointment. He tried her in two films directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, '' The Late George Apley'' (1947), playing the daughter of
Ronald Colman Ronald Charles Colman (9 February 1891 – 19 May 1958) was an English-born actor who started his career in theatre and silent film in his native country, then emigrated to the United States where he had a highly successful Cinema of the United ...
, and '' Escape'' (1948), co starring with
Rex Harrison Sir Reginald Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play '' French W ...
. Cummins then appeared with Charles Coburn in ''
Green Grass of Wyoming ''Green Grass of Wyoming'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Louis King and starring Peggy Cummins, Charles Coburn and Robert Arthur. The screenplay, written by Martin Berkeley, is based on the third book in the popular, "My Friend ...
'' (1948), a sequel to ''
My Friend Flicka ''My Friend Flicka'' is a 1941 novel by Mary O'Hara, about Ken McLaughlin, the son of a Wyoming rancher, and his mustang horse Flicka. It was the first in a trilogy, followed by ''Thunderhead'' (1943) and ''Green Grass of Wyoming'' (1946). The ...
'' released in 1943. Cummins returned to England to appear in '' That Dangerous Age'' (1948) for
Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; ; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)
, directed by
Gregory Ratoff Gregory Ratoff (born Grigory Vasilyevich Ratner; ; April 20, c. 1893 – December 14, 1960) was a Russian-American film director, actor and producer. As an actor, he was best known for his role as producer "Max Fabian" in ''All About Eve'' (195 ...
) with
Myrna Loy Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. As a performer, she was known for her ability to adapt to her screen partner's acting style. Born in Helena, Monta ...
and
Roger Livesey Roger Livesey (25 June 1906 – 4 February 1976) was a British stage and film actor. He is most often remembered for the three Powell and Pressburger, Powell & Pressburger films in which he starred: ''The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'', '' ...
. She went back to the US for '' Gun Crazy'' (1950), a story about the crime-spree of a gun-toting husband and wife. "I loved being in Hollywood", she told ''The Sunday Times'' a few years before she died, but it was her last film shot in the United States.


Return to Britain

She returned to London in 1950 to marry and work in British films. She made '' My Daughter Joy'' (1950) for Korda and Ratoff, co-starring with Edward G. Robinson and starred in '' Who Goes There!'' (1952) for Korda and '' Street Corner'' (1953) for Muriel Box. Around the same time, she appeared in '' Meet Mr. Lucifer'', an
Ealing Studios Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in west London, England. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on th ...
comedy, and '' Always a Bride'' with Ronald Squire (both also 1953). Cummins was in '' The Love Lottery'' (1954) with David Niven, and '' To Dorothy a Son'' (1954) with
Shelley Winters Shelley Winters (born Shirley Schrift; August 18, 1920 – January 14, 2006) was an American film actress whose career spanned seven decades. She won Academy Awards for ''The Diary of Anne Frank (1959 film), The Diary of Anne Frank'' (1959) and ' ...
and John Gregson. She starred in '' The March Hare'' (1956) with Terence Morgan, and '' Carry On Admiral'' (1957) with David Tomlinson. She later starred alongside Dana Andrews in the horror film '' Night of the Demon'' (1957), directed by
Jacques Tourneur Jacques Tourneur (; ; November 12, 1904 – December 19, 1977) was a French-American filmmaker, active during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known as an auteur of stylish and atmospheric genre films, many of them for RKO Pictures, including ...
, and '' Hell Drivers'' (also 1957), which featured Stanley Baker,
Patrick McGoohan Patrick Joseph McGoohan (; March 19, 1928 – January 13, 2009) was an Irish-American actor of film, television, and theatre. Born in New York City to Irish parents, he was raised in Ireland and England. He began his career in England during t ...
, and Herbert Lom. Cummins went back to comedies with '' The Captain's Table'' (1959), '' Your Money or Your Wife'' (1960), and '' Dentist in the Chair'' (1960). Her last film was Darcy Conyers' '' In the Doghouse'' (1961), alongside
Leslie Phillips Leslie Samuel Phillips (20 April 1924 – 7 November 2022) was an English actor. He achieved prominence in the 1950s, playing smooth, upper-class comic roles utilising his "Ding dong" and "Hello" catchphrases. He appeared in the '' Carry On'' ...
. In 1964 Cummins was reunited with Herbert Lom in an episode of the British TV series '' The Human Jungle''.


''Gun Crazy''

In 1998, '' Gun Crazy'' (1950) was selected for preservation in the United States
National Film Registry The National Film Registry (NFR) is the United States National Film Preservation Board's (NFPB) collection of films selected for preservation (library and archival science), preservation, each selected for its cultural, historical, and aestheti ...
by the
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...
, as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Michael Adams wrote in ''Movieline'' in August 2009 that the film was "directed by B-movie specialist Joseph H. Lewis from a script co-written by MacKinlay Kantor and blacklisted Dalton Trumbo, "fronted" by his friend Millard Kaufman. ''Gun Crazy'' was made for $400,000 in 30 days in 1949. ''Movieline'' found Cummins in 2009, still healthy. "It was a great part", she said of Annie Laurie Starr. "It was a brilliant story from a brilliant writer. We had a very good director and a great cameraman. I think John Dall and myself were in those days quite well-suited in the parts we had." The film played at the
British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...
in London in February 2009. At the screening, Cummins viewed the film with an audience for the first time in six decades.


''Night of the Demon''

On 14 June 2006, she appeared as guest of honour at a special screening of '' Night of the Demon'' in
Borehamwood Borehamwood (, historically also Boreham Wood) is a town in southern Hertfordshire, England, from Charing Cross. Borehamwood has a population of 36,322, and is within the London commuter belt. The town's film and TV studios are commonly know ...
,
Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and one of the home counties. It borders Bedfordshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Greater London to the ...
, hosted by the Elstree Film and Television Heritage Group. At the screening, she answered questions from the audience before viewing the film for the first time. She said she had never worked with her co-star Dana Andrews before, though she knew and liked him; they remained friends for the rest of his life. On 29 September 2010, Cummins introduced the film ''Street Corner'' (1953) as part of the Capital Tales Event at
BFI Southbank BFI Southbank (from 1951 to 2007, known as the National Film Theatre) is the leading repertory cinema in the United Kingdom, specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films. It is operated by the British Film Inst ...
London hosted by Curator Jo Botting. She played Bridget Foster in the film written by Muriel and Sydney Box and directed by Muriel Box. On 29 August 2013, Cummins introduced the world premiere of a digital remastering of ''Night of the Demon'', screened by the
British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...
in the courtyard of the
British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...
. The screening location features prominently in the film, with shots of the courtyard before a key scene in which the psychologist Holden meets occultist Karswell for the first time in the British Library, which until 1998 was housed within the museum.


Personal life

In 1954, she became the First Honorary Commander of the 582d Air Resupply Group at RAF Molesworth, England, designated special operations by the
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
. She was married to businessman Derek Dunnett (William Herbert Derek Dunnett) from 1950 until his death in 2000. The couple had two children; a son in 1954, and a daughter in 1962. Cummins' film career ended in 1961, although she made a handful of television appearances up to the mid-1960s. During the 1970s, Cummins was active in a national charity, Stars Organisation for Spastics, raising money and chairing the management committee of a holiday centre for children with disabilities in
Sussex Sussex (Help:IPA/English, /ˈsʌsɪks/; from the Old English ''Sūþseaxe''; lit. 'South Saxons'; 'Sussex') is an area within South East England that was historically a kingdom of Sussex, kingdom and, later, a Historic counties of England, ...
. The charity, known as SOS, became an independent registered charity in 2001 and in 2008 changed its name to Stars Foundation for Cerebral Palsy. Cummins was a trustee of the charity which is run entirely by volunteers and raises funds for communication and mobility aids for people with cerebral palsy. In later life, she lived in West London. On 25 January 2013, Cummins was honoured at the Noir City Film Festival at the Castro Theatre in
San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
with a screening of a restored print of ''Gun Crazy''. Cummins died on 29 December 2017, eleven days after her 92nd birthday, at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, England, following a stroke.


Filmography


References


External links

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Peggy Cummins
at BFI {{DEFAULTSORT:Cummins, Peggy 1925 births 2017 deaths People from Prestatyn Irish film actresses Irish stage actresses Actresses from Dublin (city) 20th-century Irish actresses Welsh people of Irish descent