Sunday, November 8, 2009

Who's your favourite Hammer Glamour girl?


Hammer Glamour, the book for which the coffee table was invented, and has patiently waited for these past centuries, is finally in my hands...
In fairness, as others have noted, it is in some respects a confusing publication, and in some respects a disappointment.
There seems little logical reason why some of the stars are given full entry status in the main body of the book while others are relegated to the 'Also Starring' directory at the back. It is nothing to do with number of appearances for the studio, nor even number of leads, since the main section includes numerous 'one-shot' stars, including one-shot supporting roles.
I suppose the standard is icon-status, but even then there are some odd anomalies that transcend mere difference of opinion: Catherina Von Schell, Jennie Linden and Rosenda Monteros all make it into the main section, while Niké Arrighi, Maggie Kimberly, Heather Sears and Angharad Rees do not. If iconic relevance is the issue, do Judy Geeson and Stephanie Powers really justify inclusion in the main text if Susan Strasberg doesn't?
The loss of Joan Collins from all consideration (a top-16 full-page inclusion in the 'Brides of Dracula and Others' photo-spreads from the beloved old House of Horror paperback) is perhaps not a huge surprise in a 'how the mighty have fallen' kind of way, the iconic merry-go-round being what it is, but how to account for the following no-shows: Virginia Wetherell, Katya Wyeth, Pippa Steele, Anoushka Hempel? And as Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires continues to grow in popularity, I think they'll come to regret excluding Shi Szu as well...
. Obviously, this is not a book one turns to with a thirst to read about anything. Therefore criticism of the more or less perfunctory text seems redundant, although the talk of exciting new interviews and research rather invites it, as does a tone of peevish disapproval in relation to some of the studio's excesses that sits oddly with the book's own raison d'etre. (Is "the lingering close-up" of Jenny Hanley's bosom after being attacked by a bat really "one of the most depressing shots in any of Hammer's early 70's films"?)
There's little new in the interviews, though a fascinating section on Vera Day, a more or less forgotten but plainly significant starlet of the fifties, is a notable exception. And I was glad to find out that Susan Denberg is still alive, and to learn a little more of my favourite vampiress, the monumental Marie Devereux.
.But mainly, the writing is just there to fill the gaps between photos, and that's fine. Not that a few odd choices haven't been made, even in this department. My own favourite, Veronica Carlson, for example, is represented by two large, shiny-faced studio portrait shots, rather than anything more evocative of the Hammer mood. If they had decided only to use official Hammer shots, that obviously narrows the field, but why relegate the now classic Frankenstein Must be Destroyed mooching-about-in-a-graveyard publicity session to the back cover?
. And I'm not certain that all of the main pictures are Hammer shots. Is the one of Susan Denberg on page 55? or Valerie Leon on page 97? (By the way, chaps: look at this latter picture very closely.)
I know that part of the idea is to reproduce rare and lesser-known images, but if isolating and celebrating the exact ingredients of the Hammer glamour style is the primary aim, then there should be at least some emphasis given to analysis of the really classic images.
The obvious choice for endpapers or back cover was surely the irresistible embarrassed-looking-cast-of-Vampire Lovers-lined-up-on-a-coffin session, which makes only a walk-on appearance (in a lesser-known shot without the coffin).
.And it's surprising to see Caroline Munro in her AD 1972 boots in a black and white car park rather than on the film's sets, to see so little of Denberg in that wonderfully fraudulent Created Woman session with Cushing, to see so little made of Hazel Court (one of those strange 'shovelling hay' pictures), or to see not even one picture of Leon in her Mummy's Tomb nightie ...
. But that's more than enough carping. Funny how every review of this book I've seen begins by listing its various faults and disappointments, then sort of verbally shrugs its shoulders as if to say but what the hell?
But what the hell? This is not a book that's going to get boring too quickly. If I've inadvertently given the impression that this book is anything other than a treat, or pretty much the Christmas present you've always dreamed of, let me hasten to correct my error. So here, with the official Carfax Abbey Seal of Approval, are Caroline, Yutte, Martine and Madeline.
And don't say I never do anything for you.

Who are your favourite Hammer starlets? Please take part in my poll at the top of the page. You can vote for as many as you like, and if you opt for 'other' leave me a comment to say who you prefer and why. The results will be tabulated and revealed in a later post, as another cheap excuse to include a load of pictures of them looking foxy.

11 comments:

Mykal said...

Matthew: so many to choose from! But I think you know how the voting went in my district. I would still serve tea to the Ms. Court of the Hammer era at 2:00 a.m. any time it was requested.

Although I must say, Caroline Munro could also get tray service, particularily in those boots! -- Mykal

Tower Farm said...

My vote goes to Marie Devereux. There is just something about her... maybe a couple of things.

JM

Holger Haase said...

Favourite Hammer Girl: Caroline Munro without a doubt. She messed up my teenage mind way too much that one of the first things I did when I got proper Internet access way back when was to start a Munro discussion group. LOL
Great write up. Surprised to hear you talk about the other so-so reviews as most of the other reviews I caught were 100% positive (and came with mentions of review copies). Your review and mine seem to be the only two more "objective" ones.... and it appears that we were also the only ones to pay for the book. :-)

monty said...

Very impressive blog Matthew. Well written and highly enjoyable, plus the pics don't hurt. I was always partial to Madeline Smith as favorite Hammer Girl but after seeing the pics of Caroline Munro, I had to reconsider.

Matthew Coniam said...

Thanks all. Caroline seems to have more admirers than I realised: she's currently in the lead...

James said...

Cool post Matthew. Just for the record, Ingrid Pitt gets my vote every time...

Matthew Coniam said...

Thanks, James.
Perhaps irrationally, I find her batty off-screen persona a little too off-putting to fully enjoy her on-screen one; but when I first saw The vampire Lovers as a schoolboy she certainly made an impression on me, and there has to be some good reason why a woman who made only two appearances for the company, in not all that highly regarded films, should have become its primary female icon.
So I raise my glass to Ingrid - but I still hope Veronica or Hazel wins!

Ormsby said...

Oh man, pick my favorite Hammer Scream Queen? I got to go with Caroline Munro as my all time favorite, with Hazel Court as real close second. I hate you right now for making me choose.

Matthew Coniam said...

I never said it would be easy... Imagine how I feel. The ones I picked for the poll are basically all my favourites, and it breaks my heart to see Susan and Yutte and even Veronica getting so few votes.
At least your first choice is showing every sign of romping home with the prize!
Thanks for stopping by: I've been enjoying your blog and have added it to my roll of honour.
Matthew

kochillt said...

I would like to cast one vote for Carol Marsh and another for Jacqueline Pearce. Although in this case, everyone's a winner!

Matthew Coniam said...

Carol Marsh: yes, indeed. There were so many I had to leave out. The mysterious Valerie Gaunt, too.