Ingrid Pitt, Queen of Horror by Robert Michael Cotter - Book Review
I was thrilled to read that the multi-talented Ingrid Pitt was receiving the McFarland book treatment in the form of Robert Michael Cotter’s new volume, “Ingrid Pitt, Queen of Horror, with a forward and commentary by Miss Pitt. Soon I was learning all about her days at Hammer films making “The Vampire Lovers”, and “Countess Dracula”, as well as one of my favorites, “The House That Dripped Blood” opposite Jon Pertwee. After reading about “The Sound Of Horror”, I had to see that one, too, although it is a very low budget Spanish film from 1964 and Ingrid Pitt was none too pleased with either the picture or her performance.
It was a real treat finding out about “The Asylum”, a 2000 movie Ingrid made with her daughter Steffanie Pitt plus Patrick Mower, Robin Askwith and Colin Baker. Ingrid at 63 was still a vibrant and bewitching presence and Steffanie is quite affecting as a young woman haunted by her horrifying childhood.
In the midst of all this enjoyable film research, there was a sad announcement in the New York Times that Ingrid Pitt had died at 73. The obituary went into Ingrid’s own wretched childhood as a concentration camp survivor, and later her escape from East Berlin. It was not an easy life, but the quality that won Ingrid so many fans was her joie de vivre. She reveled in being a Queen of Horror and in keeping in touch with her many fans via her website, Pitt Of Horror.
Robert Michael Cotter’s book covers her stage work, her credits as a published author and her extensive television appearances. His gaze on her career is both affectionate and fair. There was much tragedy in Ingrid’s early life, it’s a pleasure to read of her strength and drive to make her later life and that of her daughter's full, rewarding and mostly happy. For more information, check out mcfarlandpub.com.
Movie Magazine International
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