In the early 1960's, veteran cowboy actor, Arch Hall, wrote and produced several ultra low budget movies aimed towards the younger "hip" generation. These films, such as the rock 'n roll saga, Wild Guitar, and the teens versus caveman fiasco, Eegah, uneventfully played the drive-in circuit. Today, these oddities have gotten somewhat of a cult following due to their awkwardly bad and equally fun plots and dialog.
One of those films, The Sadist, stands out from the rest because it is actually pretty good and still holds up today. It features Helen Hovey, as a young teacher held hostage by two on-the-run teenage killers. It would be her only film.
At the time, the Hollywood A-list didn't pay much attention to the drive-in pictures. And that is a true shame, for if they had, Helen Hovey could have gone far. In just one movie she proved that she had all of the qualities that Alfred Hitchcock looked for in his female stars. She was attractive, strong-willed, emotionally tough and wasn't afraid to get her face dirty. Not to mention she was a pretty good actress.
Fortunately, Turner Classic Movies plays her only film, The Sadist, on a fairly regular basis. It's an intense and powerful thriller which has survived the test of time. Sadly, Helen Hovey passed away in 2009. Not much as been written about her, which makes her appeal even greater. I hope she knew that she had fans.
One of those films, The Sadist, stands out from the rest because it is actually pretty good and still holds up today. It features Helen Hovey, as a young teacher held hostage by two on-the-run teenage killers. It would be her only film.
At the time, the Hollywood A-list didn't pay much attention to the drive-in pictures. And that is a true shame, for if they had, Helen Hovey could have gone far. In just one movie she proved that she had all of the qualities that Alfred Hitchcock looked for in his female stars. She was attractive, strong-willed, emotionally tough and wasn't afraid to get her face dirty. Not to mention she was a pretty good actress.
Fortunately, Turner Classic Movies plays her only film, The Sadist, on a fairly regular basis. It's an intense and powerful thriller which has survived the test of time. Sadly, Helen Hovey passed away in 2009. Not much as been written about her, which makes her appeal even greater. I hope she knew that she had fans.
This was a real star and we all missed it...
ReplyDeleteI met her at church in 1991 and knew her as Helen Brock. I went to her funeral at the same Church in Garland, TX in 2009. I knew nothing about this film until a few years before she passed away. She was a quiet woman, but very sweet. She never talked about this movie and was actually a little embarrased by it. But she was happy and content with her life.
ReplyDeleteCaught this flick for the first time last weedend on TCM. Helen Hovey caught my attention she was great looking and gave a fine performance. I wondered why I never heard of her.Hit the info button and no other films listed for her.went on line and found your blog. She is the cousin of Arch Hall Jr. according to another site I was on. Sad to hear of her passing.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Starletshowcase.blogspot.com shortly after making the film she became a born again Christian and that was the reason she never made another movie.
ReplyDeleteWhy do some people join these weird cults .? Ah well 😌
DeleteShe is still a success story, did well in her life , godbless her
DeleteBeing a born again Christian ain’t a cult. Jesus Christ didn’t start a cult. He died on a cross and rose from the dead to defend and deliver us from cults
DeleteAccording to Arch Hall jr. (Her cousin)she was involved in theater for awhile. Apparantly, she got married soon after appearing in The Sadist and her husband didn't want her to have a career. Different times. Such a shame..she really had something.
ReplyDeleteJust finished watching this movie for the first time and can't believe how totally mesmerized I was by Miss Hovey. Had to look her up. Can safely say that she had "it", and that's something few can claim. I'm glad she lived a happy, if short, life, but what a loss to motion pictures.
ReplyDeleteShe was a good actress and stunningly beautiful. It is a shame that we did not see more of her.
ReplyDeleteWhen i first saw this movie i too was curious to find more about her she had something about her.
There is not much information about her but i will find out more and post on here. Such a shame, such a sweet person!
I have just recently discovered this site and am so impressed by the unknown talent of which Helen Hovey is a real find! Such a shame this was her only film,I agree with a previous comment that the Great "Hitchcock" would have seen much potential in this Lovely Woman, I hope many more people are able to appreciate this Fine Movie!
ReplyDeleteI saw Helen Hovey at the drive-in theater in Richmond, Kentucky. In person for the premier of Eegah her father was a professor at Berea College in Berea Kentucky. She gave me an autographed photo of her. She had a line of young men drooling over her. She was drop dead gorgeous
ReplyDeleteI just watched"The Sadist", too, and felt that she made the movie. Not very noticeable at first but she quickly took over the film. I, too, was hoping to see more from her.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful girl!
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that Helen Hovey carried the film, “The Sadist.” Her understated performance served to counterbalance Arch Hall Jr.’s over the top characterization of the sadist; and that together with a decent script, some good directing and very good cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond made the whole thing work.
ReplyDeleteRecently saw On the Basis of Sex about Ruth Bader Ginsburg's efforts to free women from the 'marriage shackles'; shame that HH got caught in that trap and so did no more film work.
ReplyDeleteShe was certainly the focal point of The Sadist; did anybody else notice the contrast between her demure appearance and ignorance of 'first (second & third etc) base' early in the film and her dishevelled look as the radio announced 'a home run' at the end!?
All true. Good actress and pretty girl. And an excellent thriller, still in 2023.
ReplyDeleteI’m memorized!
ReplyDeleteGreat movie , seen for the first time, made in 1963, it's a good tense movie with an attractive actress Helen hovey, her only movie
ReplyDeleteBless you heart & soul Helen. Remembering you today beautiful lady xxx
ReplyDeleteI’m watching the movie now. Pretty good! Helen Hovey is very pretty and a good actress. Arch Hall Jr. is very villainous and extremely psycho!
ReplyDeleteAbout to watch this movie on Movies!TV out of Philly
ReplyDeleteI just saw the movie for the first time also and had to look her up. In Philly also.
DeleteJust watch the Sadist, Lakewood, Ca.👍
ReplyDeleteThis is the sort of thing that really intrigues me. This woman, Helen Hovey, was hands down the star of the movie “The Sadist” (1963), which I understand is the only movie she ever made. This was a low budget B-movie that was raised to a higher level only because of the talents of Hovey and future Academy Award-winning cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond. This movie has become a rare B-classic which survives well today because of those two notable people. The film does suffer from a few typical B-movie drawbacks, including script and film editing (scenes too long and drawn-out). But as far as the acting goes, Hovey made this movie the B-classic it has become.
ReplyDeleteHelen Hovey had absolutely ALL the makings of a mega movie star, and I asked myself over and over again, “why didn’t she become one”? She wasn’t just a good actress she was an outstanding actress with outstanding talent and screen presence, not to mention the fact that she was a stunning beauty.
After reading some of the comments here from people who knew her, I start to form the conclusion that perhaps she made the decision herself not to pursue a film career; this is really the only thing that makes any sense to me. I definitely know that some people prefer to reject the hassle, headache, anxiety and demand of a highly successful public career, especially the fame that comes with screen acting. And if that’s the case with Helen Hovey I’m glad to think that maybe she found happiness in life by her own decision to take an alternate path. Because, friend, there’s no doubt in my mind that she could have been a major star. It would be interesting to know a little more about her life as a wife and mother, and how she died.