Aoife Fealy cracks open the spine of Ingrid Pitt, Queen of Horror: The Complete Career
First and foremost, this book is not a biography. It can be best described as a reference book, as warned in the opening introduction. It is a catalogue of all of Ingrid Pitt’s works, from her early days in theatre to her peak career in Hammer horror in the 1970s as well as smaller bit parts in various other productions (did you know she starred in Where Eagles Dare in 1968 opposite Clint Eastwood?) right up to her most recent tv appearances and writing accolades. Each entry is given a full synopsis overview (spoilers included) alongside primary source accounts of critical reviews from the time of release, as well as posters, advertising and photographs from the actress’s own collection.
This publication is a fantastic archive of a very specific person’s work, however, it’s not much more than that. We glean the most insight into Pitt’s personal life and experience from the foreword, as well as tidbits throughout the book with quotes and memories from the actress herself. The book is very well researched and written, with an obvious love and appreciation for Pitt’s work, but without very little critical analysis or attention to Pitt’s life outside of her work. At times, there were indications to a life fully lived by Pitt from escaping East Germany in the early sixties to surviving ovarian cancer at the height of her career to being a stuntwoman for spaghetti westerns! But alas, according to the author, there are plenty of extant biographies that can offer a deeper dive into these experiences so Cotter wastes no time on them here.
This might be difficult for a reader to sit and completely finish this book cover to cover as the format is repetitive and, for the majority, is lacking in any entertaining hook. As stated, this is a reference book and can only be recommended as such. That being said, it is an impressive piece of work in regards to documentation and I’m sure will offer avid fans a deeper insight to an actress known almost exclusively for horror but who achieved so much more in her professional years.
Anne Ingrid Pitt, Queen of Horror: The Complete Career
Author: Robert Michael “Bobb” Cotter, foreword by Ingrid Pitt
Pages: 220; First published 2010, McFarland & Co Inc.
Ingrid Pitt, Queen of Horror: The Complete Career is available to purchase online now.
