Scream Queens from horror movies of 1970 introduce us to a few stars of the decade and close the chapter on few stars from decades before. They must face murderers, mad magicians, vampires, Frankenstein Monsters and cavemen. Important female roles are few and far between. Below are six female scream queens who made an impact on horror film history.
PAMELA FRANKLIN as JANE in AND SOON THE DARKNESS
While not her first horror movie, previous featured in both The Innocents (1961) - at the age of 11 - and The Nanny (1965), Pamela Franklin would begin her adult horror career with And Soon the Darkness and would follow this role up with films like Necromancy (1972), The Legend of Hell House (1973) and The Food of the Gods (1976) before leaving acting altogether in the early 1980s. With this movie, the actress, now in her early 20s, stars as Jane bicycling across the Paris countryside with her flirty friend, Cathy (Michele Dotrice). When Cathy disappears, Jane must uncover the whereabouts or, perhaps, the demise of her friend.
SANDRA DEE as NANCY WAGNER in THE DUNWICH HORROR
The H. P. Lovecraft classic tale, The Dunwich Horror, is adapted by Curtis Hanson and is directed by Daniel (Die, Monster Die!) Haller. Sixties teen actress and star Sandra Dee stars as Nancy Wagner who is entranced by the strange powers of the warlock Wilber (Dean Stockwell) Whateley. The Dunwich Horror is one of Sandra Dee's final film appearances as she was suffering in both public opinion (recently divorced from star husband, Bobby Darin) and in personal health (suffering from anorexia nervosa, depression and alcoholism). Dee know more for her earlier roles (Gidgit and The Reluctant Debutante) never took too many genre roles, besides The Dunwich Horror, she would guest star in some TV supernatural thrillers such as The Sixth Sense (1972) and Night Gallery (1971-1972).
VERONICA CARLSON as ELIZABETH HEISS in HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN
Previously starring in two other Hammer horror films, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969), Veronica Carlson starred as Elizabeth Heiss in Hammer's attempt at a Frankenstein reboot, The Horror of Frankenstein. In this version she found herself being chased by David (Darth Vader from the Star Wars trilogy) Prowse and pursued by a new Baron Victor Frankenstein played by Ralph Bates. After two more genre roles in Old Dracula (1974) and The Ghoul (1975), she would all but retire from acting.
JOAN CRAWFORD as DR. BROCKTON in TROG
In her last on screen appearance, the legendary Joan Crawford takes another dive into the horror halls of fame. Her previous efforts include Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), Straight-Jacket (1964), Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1965) and Beserk! (1967). Mrs. Crawford stars in Trog as Dr. Brockton, an anthropologist who believes she has found the missing link. She continues to defend the creature after it escapes and wreaks havok across the countryside. The reception to Trog was so poor, by critics and Crawford alike, that she publicly trounced the film many times and retired from making feature films.
INGRID PITT as CARMILLA KARNSTEIN in VAMPIRE LOVERS
In her first horror film for Hammer Films, Ingrid Pitt plays Carmilla Karnstein in the first of the Karnstein trilogy of films, Vampire Lovers. It would make her an instand horror icon, the Queen of Horror. She would bring the role a sexuality little seen in mainstream horror prior, but would become the staple of Hammer horror films since. This is her defining role and she holds her own along side of horror legend Peter Cushing. She would continue making horror films in the early Seventies, including Countess Dracula (1971), The House That Dripped Blood (1971) and The Wicker Man (1973). Today, she is a successful writer, has a large International fan club (Ingrid Pitt Fan Club) and continues to make appearances at horror conventions.
MADELINE SMITH as EMMA MORTON in VAMPIRE LOVERS
In 1970, young and beautiful Madline Smith would make a quick and lasting mark on horror scream queens as one of Hammer films leading ladies in both Vampire Lovers as Emma Morton and Taste the Blood of Dracula as Dolly. Later she would appear in Theatre of Blood (1973) with Vincent Price and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974). She would also become a Bond girl in Live and Let Die (1973). In Vampire Lovers she works opposite the legendary Ingrid Pitt, she would be the heroine to Pitt's antagonistic Karnstein.
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