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!
Other 17 Psychotronic Birthdays and Releases
Filmmakers
- Irene Ryan (1902-1973): Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies.
- John Marley (1907-1984): Actor best known for waking up with a horse’s head in his bed in The Godfather, but who was also in Deathdream and Kid Vengeance.
- Robert Lowery (1913-1971): Actor known for the Batman and Robin serial and various low-budget films like When the Girls Take Over.
- Rita Hayworth (1918-1987): Actor known for Gilda and The Lady from Shanghai.
- Montgomery Clift (1920-1966): Actor known for Freud: The Secret Passion and The Defector.
- Tom Poston (1921-2007): Actor best known for the TV show Newhart but we know him for his work with William Castle on Zotz! and The Old Dark House.
- Julie Adams (1926-2019): Actor known for Creature from the Black Lagoon and Black Roses.
- Michael Reeves (1943-1969): Director of The She Beast, The Sorcerers, and Witchfinder General.
- Michael McKean (1947-): Actor known for many Christopher Guest films as well as Clue and Memoirs of an Invisible Man.
- Margot Kidder (1948-2018): Actor known for Black Christmas and Superman.
- Howard Rollins (1950-1996): Actor known for Ragtime and A Soldier’s Story.
- Lawrence Bender (1957-): Producer most noted for his work on Quentin Tarantino’s early films.
- Kenneth J Hall (1958-): Special effects artist on films like Biohazard and Hobgoblins but has also written and directed some good films like Evil Spawn and Ghost Writer.
- Mike Judge (1962-): Creator of Beavis and Butt-Head.
- Mark Gatiss (1966-): Writer known for Doctor Who and Sherlock.
- Matthew Macfadyen (1974-): Actor known for The Reckoning and Death at a Funeral.
Films
- Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971): Dr Jekyll becomes murderous woman.
- Hands Of The Ripper (1971): The daughter of Jack continues in his footsteps.
- Case of the Full Moon Murders (1973): Sexy vampire parody film. Rated X on release.
- Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge (1991): The best of the entire series.
- I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997): Four friends are stalked by a madman.
- Boltneck (2000): After an accident, a man is given the brain of a serial killer. A comedy, obviously.
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003): Remake of the original.
- Brain Dead (2007): Night of the Living Dead due to space alien slugs.
Beverly Garland via Wikipedia. It is in the public domain.
