A book to cherish!
|
This book is nothing less than superb. Hazel Court tells her own story in the warmest, most charming way, as if she were sitting right next to you, chatting about her life and times. Never gooey or overly sentimental but always with an eye to the best in others and to her own good fortune in having lived such a wonderful and exciting life. The bad times are not glossed over but Hazel is such an optimistic and positive-minded person that this autobiography simply overflows with the warmth of her personality.
Her claim to be the cinema's greatest `Scream Queen' is well deserved, not least for her unique record of having worked with all the giants of the genre - Karloff, Cushing, Lee, Price, Milland and Lorre - but also for the sheer breadth and vitality she brought to each of her roles. Clearly, though, she was much more than just a horror film actress - she was a star with none of the shallowness and overstated ego of others of that ilk, and her talent illuminated everything she touched. Just watch "Devil Girl From Mars" for proof of how she could elevate `tosh' to something of considerable merit.
From her early family history in the West Midlands, through her beginnings in the movie business, through her friendships and relationships, to her latter-day success and fulfilment as an acclaimed sculptress, this is a truly moving and fascinating account of one of Britain's best exports.
The book is a feast for the eye, too, with some of the most astonishing pictures ever collected in one volume. Beautifully designed, expertly produced, this is - as the blurb accurately says - "a book to cherish!" Its publication was also one of the last things to give Miss Court genuine satisfaction just prior to her untimely passing in April, now not so much an autobiography so much as a tribute. Not just for buffs and aficionados, "Hazel Court - Horror Queen" will appeal to anyone with even a passing interest in biography and popular culture.
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada