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.
