Review by Steve D. Stones
First, I'd like to thank my loving aunt and uncle for presenting this book
to me as a Christmas gift in 2014. I feel very fortunate to have the book in my
collection because it is not sold in the United States - and traveled from
Court's native country of England to end up in my hands. The book was published
by Tomahawk Press in Sheffield, England in 2008.
Court takes the reader on a chronological journey of her life from her
birth in Birmingham, England, to the loss of her first love during the time of
World War II, to her motion picture stardom, her marriage to director Don
Taylor and on to her accomplishments as an artist and sculptor studying in
Pietrasanta, Italy. Her sculptures have gained some international recognition
over the years.
American audiences best know Court from her appearances in several Roger
Corman films of the early 1960s - based on Edgar Allan Poe stories - such as
Premature Burial (1962), The Raven (1963) and The Masque of The Red Death
(1964). Masque of The Red Death is regarded as Corman's greatest film - and
Court certainly adds to the greatness of the film - even after burning an
upside down cross above her right breast in one scene. Corman's films have given Court the
reputation of a "Scream
Queen."
Before acting in Corman's films, Court was cast in a number of Hammer
Studios films in England, such as The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) and The Man
Who Could Cheat Death (1959). That same decade in the 1950s, Court starred in a
low-budget sci-fi film that has gone on to earn international cult status -
Devil Girl From Mars (1954). Court says she gets lots of fan mail because of
this film.
Court also has the distinction of being the only actress who has ever
starred with all of horror films' leading men at the time - Boris Karloff,
Peter Cushing, Vincent Price, Ray Milland, Peter Lorre and Christopher Lee. She
says working with these great male actors was a pleasure, and each treated her
with great respect and professionalism.
Court enjoyed a successful TV career in America - starring in such big hit
TV shows of the sixties - such as Bonanza, Rawhide, Alfred Hitchcock Presents
and The Twilight Zone. Director Graham Baker gave her a small walk on role in
Omen III (1981) that she was not cast for - thinking no one would recognize the aging
Court. Fans immediately poured out fan mail after seeing her on screen in Omen
III after a long lapse in appearing in any films.
The biggest message the reader gets from reading Miss Court's book is that
she has a very positive, upbeat personality - and never has anything negative
to say about anyone. Her tone is as attractive as her good looks. Even those
who have encountered her seem to have a very positive image of her.
An example of this is when Court met Winston Churchill in his garden as he
was speaking to some of his goldfish. Instead of speaking of Churchill in a
negative way for this peculiar behavior, Court sees this experience as part of
Churchill's great genius.
Her daughter, Sally Walsh, penned the forward of the book and tells the
story of her and Hazel accidentally hitting a policemen with their car on the way
to Buckingham Palace. Instead of citing Court for reckless driving, the officer
asks for her autograph - claiming he was a big fan. He then told Court that she
could hit him with a car anytime - according to Walsh.
The book is filled with 200 beautiful, rare photos of various stages of
Court's career from many of her film and TV productions. Some have never been
published, and one is a topless photo of a scene cut from the American print of
The Man Who Could Cheat Death.
Court passed away in April of 2008 at her Lake Tahoe residence in
California. May her films live on for fans in generations to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment