Beverly Garland was born on 17 October 1926.
Garland had a great career. Regular people probably think of her as a TV actor. But she starred in a number of iconic psychotronic films.
She starred in 5 Roger Corman films over the course of 2 years:
- Swamp Women
- It Conquered the World
- Gunslinger
- Naked Paradise
- Not of This Earth.
But she was in a lot more than that! One of her earliest roles was in The Neanderthal Man. In the middle of her Corman phase, she starred in Curucu, Beast of the Amazon. And her best-known film (outside the Corman catalogue) is The Alligator People.
She also starred in some 1950s psychotronic television. For example, she played a nightclub singer in “The Four of Us Are Dying” episode of The Twilight Zone.
She was the perfect heroine for this period. She was pretty and even delicate but she could also be a badass. And she did all this without ever acting in a way that would make an insecure man worry.
Gunslinger is a great example of this. I can’t watch it without thinking, “Incels would love this film!” After her sheriff husband is murdered, she takes his job because the town is filled with a bunch of beta men. But don’t worry, boys! After she cleans up the town, she’s back in her dress and headed out of town for a new life that will doubtless not include pants.
My favorite film that features Beverly Garland is It Conquered the World. But the film doesn’t give her a lot to do. Besides, it’s mostly the monster that I love. It’s up there with Ro-Man from Robot Monster in terms of ridiculous monsters.
So I think the best way to celebrate Garland’s birthday is to watch The Alligator People. Also: another ridiculous monster!
Beverly Garland via Wikipedia. It is in the public domain.
