Michael Robert - The women of Hammer Horror : a biographical dictionary and filmography

Also by ROBERT MICHAEL BOBB COTTER
AND FROM MCFARLAND

Caroline Munro, First Lady of Fantasy: A Complete Annotated Record of Film and Television Appearances (2012)

Ingrid Pitt, Queen of Horror: The Complete Career (2010)

A History of the Doc Savage Adventures in Pulps, Paperbacks, Comics, Fanzines, Radio and Film (2009)

The Great Monster Magazines: A Critical Study of the Black and White Publications of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s (2008)

The Mexican Masked Wrestler and Monster Filmography (2005; paperback 2008)

Foreword by Veronica Carlson

McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Jefferson, North Carolina, and London

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE

BRITISH LIBRARY CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE

e-ISBN: 978-1-4766-0201-1

2013 Robert Michael Bobb Cotter. All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any formor by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopyingor recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,without permission in writing from the publisher.

On the cover: Valerie Leon in a publicity still from the 1971 Hammer film Blood from the Mummys Tomb (Authors collection)

McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com

Dedicated to Dad, Brownie, Ingrid Pitt, Davy Jones, and Elvis (R.I.P.).
Also to my wonderful wife Cheryl, Lucky the Wonder Dog, and Brian Wilson.

With thanks to Eides Entertainment, the Usual Gang of Idiots,
Richard Klemensen, and Kevin Flynn.

And with special thanks to Veronica Carlson; John Del Margio,
the Rare Horror/Sci-Fi Movie Collector for Hire (jddmld@aol.com);
Mel Bridgeman, the Finest Photo and Lobby Card Reproductions on eBay
(pokepyn@comcast.net); and Paul C. Riggie (The Reception).

I am delighted to have been asked to contribute this foreword to Bobb Cotters The Women of Hammer Horror. I regret that I actually worked with so few of these actresseswithout exception, they were lovely to know: Barbara Ewing, Marion Mathie, Kate OMara, Maxine Audley, Gwen Watford, and Helen Goss. But I have had the privilege of meeting many moreLinda Hayden, Stephanie Beacham, Martine Beswick, Caroline Munro, Mary Collinson, Madeline Smith, Valerie Leon, Yvonne Monlaur, Suzanna Leigh, Yutte Stensgaard, Virginia Wetherellall through attending conventions, thanks to the devotees of Hammer Films.

The first time I met Bobb was at one of these conventions, the second was at another after he had just completed, and published, his biography of Ingrid Pitt, who had only recently passed away. It was a revealing and heart-stopping moment, as we both shared fond memories of this vibrant lady. She was fearless and exuberant in all she did. As we finished speaking, I recalled my beautiful first meeting with Ingrid. She and I met, coincidentally, for breakfast. Conversation flowed easilyshe spoke of her war years, amazingly candidly, and with no glimpse of self-pity. I was mesmerized and totally fascinated, but horrified at what she had had to endure. So (I remember thinking as I left to go to my room)that is what makes this woman so exceptional, and gave her such energy and passion for life and freedom. That courage and bravery never flagged or waned. Tony Rudlin, Ingrids beloved husband, kindly sent me a photo of Ingrid; in it, she is serene, and as always, beautiful. I have it framed, and it sits on my desk as I write. Bobbs book on Ingrids life is a must-read.

Caroline Munro was another Lady of Hammer that I met through attending conventions. I feel in her a soulmate, and in times gone by. She and her lovely stepdaughter Tami Hamalian have often proved to be staunch support systems for me. I shall always be grateful to them for their kindness and generosity with their time. Caroline is one of the loveliest people Ive ever met, and one of the gentlest. I have many happy memories of our times together, especially when we were with Ingrid or Martine. But the one memory that edges out all others, for pride of place for me, happened at a convention hosted by Donald Fearney at Bray Studios in England. I live in the States, and The Don kindly invited me, along with my oldest son Adam, to attend. He had previously met my parents, so he kindly invited them and my younger sister Elizabeth, as well.

I was very busy signing autographs out in the lovely gardens, Adam occasionally bringing me refreshments; it was a beautiful, warm day. When I had some time to see how my parents were faring (as it was getting a bit late), they told me they had been royally looked after by none other than Caroline Munro! They were beaming from ear to ear. Father had his sweet sherry and smoked salmon; Mother had vodka and tonic and all kinds of delicious snacks. They were singing her praises for days afterwards, and often were to reminisce on their wonderful day at Bray, and Caroline: Eh! She treated us like she was our daughter, they would both say. Thank you, Donald, for making such wonderful memories possible. Thank you, Caroline, I shall never forget your kindness.

Another great memory I think of as the Day She Upstaged Me. We were attending a Q & A session, along with Yvonne Monlaur and Linda Hayden. I was asked when I first got the acting bug and at what age I said, When I was cast as the Virgin Mary at the age of 6. Caroline (having been asked the same question) said, When I was cast as Jesus at the age of 13! It brought the house down.

Martine Beswick is enormous fun to be with, though I dont get to spend much time with her as I would like. Apparently, we both enjoyed being read to as childrenand we discovered our minds saw very powerful picturessomething like Todd A O images. Ridiculous, wonderful fun!

After reading through Bobbs fine manuscript about the Ladies of Hammer, I was disappointed to learn that some have wished (or chosen) to distance themselves from their movies. I simply, or naively, thought that the passage of time would cause them to be forgotten. That changed when I was living in a large apartment overlooking beautiful Skull Creek. It had a rogue fire alarm. After the fifth false alarmthe fifth time evacuating, waiting for the fire trucks, waiting for the all-clearI decided to ignore it if it happened again. It did. As usual, heart-rate up, I dashed out to looksniffing the air, looking again, deciding it was safe, dashing back inback to my easel. After about three minutes, a loud banging on my door. I opened it and looked up into the face of an exasperated fireman: Maam, dont you know to leave the building when the alarm rings? Well, if it goes off all the time, officer... Maam, I dont care HOW many times it goes off.... A short pause, then, Maam, Ive just been watching you on television back at the firehouseyoure Veronica Carlson! He smiled and said, Miss Veronica, you can either walk out, or I can carry you out over my shoulder. I walked out. The fireman had been watching Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed.

The philosopher Andre Gide said it best: Our acts are attached to us, as its glimmer is attached to phosphorous. They consume us, it is true, but they make our splendour. Bobb Cotter has created his own splendour by giving the fans of Hammer a truly invaluable reference book of Hammer Horror Heroines that is a delight to read.