Reply With QuoteI don't have any up-to-date information regarding Diane Clare but know that she appeared in 'The Haunting' and 'The Wrong Box' during the same period as 'Plague'.
Who remembers actress DIANE CLARE born 1938 ??
She had the leading part in the hammer horror movie
"Plague of the Zombies"(1966).......
What happened to hear ??
Where is she now ????
I don't have any up-to-date information regarding Diane Clare but know that she appeared in 'The Haunting' and 'The Wrong Box' during the same period as 'Plague'.
I too would like to know where she is, what she is up to and any plans she may have.
I fell in love with her when I saw her in PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES. She seemed so sexy and unlike so many actresses, managed to look sexy while dressed from head to toe with nothing on show.
I also remember her in WITCHCRAFT and in ICE COLD IN ALEX although I saw both of those after Plague
She also played the school teacher in "Whistle Down the Wind". There was a very moving scene where a child asked her what we should do if Jesus came back.
"Praise Him" came the reply. Magic stuff from an innocent era.
I was fortunate to contact her via Equity back in 1992 !! Since 1963's THE HAUNTING is my all-time favourite film ( Ok , so it's NOT really a British film.....though " technically " it is !! ), and I have been spending the best part of thirty years tracing cast and crew for recollections ( either on record, or where the actual person is still alive courtesy of letters, autographs, photos, etc. ); I was gob-smacked when she wrote me a letter dated August 17, 1992. She mentioned a move of house so she was unable to supply a photo, but I got her autograph and a hand written letter; she gave up acting in the late 1960s to bring up her two children. I thought her portrayal as the teacher in Whistle Down the Wind was very good; quite similar to that of Carrie Fredericks in The Haunting. Her role in Hammer's Plague of the Zombies ( 1965 ) was dull and wooden, alas. I would assume she is a grandmother enjoying her retirement, since she will now be 70 ! Hope this helps.....
Diane Clare was a very talented actress. She made bit parts memorable and stole the Show. 'The Haunting', 'Whistle Down The Wind' and 'Go To Blazes' are three fine examples of this - and also of her talent for accents. In the Great British classic 'The Haunting' 1963 (my favourite film of all time - I canvassed heavily to get this out on Video and DVD) she plays an American, Carrie Fredericks, and speaks with a convincing accent. In 'Go To Blazes' Welsh, and in Whistle Down The Wind - English! It is a great pity she retired from acting, but thankfully she left us a great legacy on film. I have attempted to highlight her work in various Reviews I have done of her films. I do hope she sees these Posts to know just how much her work was appreciated by us, and it may just bring her out of retirement - what a joy that would be!
She passed away.
http://announcements.thetimes.co.uk/...?pid=165529932
Last edited by will.15; 27-06-13 at 05:53 AM.
Very sorry to read this, so soon after we lost Bryan Forbes. Diane appeared in three of his films: Whistle Down the Wind (Schoolteacher), The L-Shaped Room (Nurse) and The Wrong Box, as a Salvation Army girl. I'm not a fan of Horror movies but was pleased that she got a more substantial role in Plague of the Zombies.
With no hope of watching her portrayal of Henrietta Musgrove, in a lost BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion, I hope we get to see her (only?) other recurring role, in ITC's Court Martial. Most of the images here are publicity stills for the now-obscure series:
The "unknown" actress in that picture with her and Jane Asher is Maxine Audley. It's from the play The Man Who Understood Women by Diane's husband Barry England (who also wrote Figures in a Landscape and Conduct Unbecoming). He died in 2009 so, as that notice said, I too hope they will be happily reunited. Sincere condolences to other family and friends.
Last edited by cornershop15; 27-06-13 at 02:08 PM.
Very sorry also to hear of her passing. A fine actress who was very lovely, but didn't act as if she were. If that makes any sense. Quite fine in everything she appeared in, especially Plague of the Zombies. RIP
Just saw the sad news that Diane Clare who played the ill-fated nurse in British war film classic Ice Cold In Alex has died at the age of 74.
Emma
Daily Mirror, 16th September 1967
Now together again in Heaven. A lovely picture:
Picture by George Greenwell
THE MAN WHO UNDERSTOOD
WOMEN CHOSE THIS ONE ...
PLAYWRIGHT Barry England wrote next Monday's ITV play "The Man Who Understood Women". And it looks as if he's a man of his word. For in two weeks' time, 33-year-old Barry is to marry one of the play's leading ladies, 28-year-old Diane Clare, the blonde pictured with him on the right.
He didn't write the TV part specially for Diane. "We only started going out seriously together last Christnas," says Barry, "and I finished the play more than a year ago. But I must say it's been the most pleasant play I've ever worked on."
And Diane? "I only hope he does understand women", she says.
Here is a short bio of Diane Clare I wrote for the former Hammer Glamour Website maintained by Holger Hasse in 2008.
DIANE CLARE
(July 08, 1938)
Born in London, England
Diane Clare's genteel English accent is both indicative of her noble bloodline and at the same time is curiously out of place given her mixed ancestry.
Her Father was Hungarian born,Baron.A.Dirsztay most likely either a Merchant,Industrialist or Banker who settled in Britain before the Second World War.
Her Mother was of American descent and directly related to wildwest showman William Frederick Cody (that's Buffalo Bill to you and me).
It was with the assistance of her Mother and because of her natural photogenic charm,that Diane became a child actor from the age of 2.
However she admits to remembering nothing at all of appearances in films like "The Silver Fleet" (1942) starring Ralph Richardson and Esmond Knight,or "The Ghosts of Berkeley Square" (1947) with Robert Morley,and later,star of Hammer's "Brides of Dracula" Martita Hunt.
All I do recall she says "is the lovely period costumes,and the few lines of dialogue I had to say"
Despite such appearances,her education soon took priority,during which time she managed to join a stage school,and became captivated by the idea of a future life in the acting profession.
In 1953 she entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art,where she studied with the likes of Albert Finney and Alan Bates.Whilst still at RADA she also co-starred alongside Peter O'Toole in Young Elizabeth at The Malvern Arts Festival.
Her film career took off after honing her acting skills in repertory theatre,and by taking over the title role from Anna Massey in the stage production of "The Reluctant Debutante".
In her first major film appearance she was cast as Sister Denise Norton in "Ice Cold in Alex" (1958) opposite the likes of John Mills,Sylvia Syms,Anthony Quayle and Harry Andrews.
Although having few lines ,Diane showed acceptable dramatic qualities as the innocent and ineffective nurse traumatised by the emotional and psychological consequences of War.The image of her grave in the foreground of a lonely,barren and forgotten wilderness,while an ambulance drives off into the distance,lives long in the memory.
Another substantial supporting role beckoned with the cinemascope production of "The Reluctant Debutante" (1958) a glittering and loquacious upper class Hollywood style comedy set during the London Season.This time however Diane switched roles ,playing the quiet and modest but infatuated daughter of the socially manipulating Angela Lansbury.
Rex Harrison and his Wife Kay Kendall played the principle characters.Diane remembers Kay Kendall as "being full of fun".But unknown to her and to everyone else at the time, except her husband, she was terminally ill with Leukaemia.She died the following year.
A series of small parts followed in the early 60's with the "Naked Edge" (1960) ,Gary Cooper's last film and "Whistle Down the Wind" (1961),a vehicle for the 15 year old Hayley Mills.Her part in this film as a Sunday school teacher consisted of one memorable scene where she is alone with children trying to explain the answer to their difficult questions of Christ's return.
By this time Diane had also been making numerous television appearances.In 1959 alone she featured in four one-off plays for the BBC "Offshore Island" "Through the Glass Darkly" "My side of the Story" and " White Sheep of the Family" .
In one play "Local Boy" (1963) as the wife of an ambitious politician,with Jack Hedley,she gave what she considered her finest performance;the critics agreed with her "Diane Clare excelled as the spirited wife" "A delicious performance by Diane Clare" and tellingly "she managed to mix sex,politics and wide-eyed innocence in a way that was both playful and shrewd".
Later her husband, Barry England,novelist and playwright,would say of his wife;
"Diane's quality of innocence is precisely the reason why she was cast in those roles.I think the quality of innocence is also a key element in Diane's own character and one of her most endearing qualities"
Fortunately Diane didn't worry about being typecast,but it is a great pity her range as an actress anchored by this innocence was not put to better use as they had been in "Local Boy" and later in Hammer's Golden era classic "Plague of the Zombies".
Her association with horror had started with a small part in Robert Wyse's "The Haunting".This was followed by Don Sharpe's "Witchcraft" (1964) where she played Amy the niece of faded Universal star Lon Chaney Jar.
The Film involves the association and bitterness existing between two families,stemming from their origins during the witch trials right up until the present day.Diane's character is central to the films conflict as a girl torn between two loyalties.Her family or the man she loves.
Diane Clare commented that,Lon Chaney Jnr was a gentleman,shy ,sad but friendly and very unassuming.At the time she admits rather naively,that she was unaware (unlike everybody else) that he drank heavily during filming.
More television followed.Plays,this time for the ITV network,guest appearances in Sgt York,The Probation Officer,Hancock's Half Hour,Z-Cars,Dixon of Dock Green,The Avengers and Redcap.However she was probably best known to TV audiences of the time for her recurring role as Sgt Wendy,opposite Peter Graves and Bradford Dillman, in the second run of the excellent ITC drama series "Court Martial",a typically British production despite its reliance on many recognisable and rising stars from across the Atlantic.
After the success of Court Martial,which received a BAFTA for best drama series of 1966,Diane headed for the Thames side home of the now world famous Bray Studios.
Hammer's "Plague of the Zombies" (1966) is arguably the finest film ever made in this particular horror sub-genre.Filled with a wonderful gothic atmosphere,cloaked in an air of mystery,and ripened with a sense of adventure.
It's images of the dead rising from their graves filmed in slightly green hue with a tilted frame,displays a macabre beauty that show's very simply what can be achieved with the ordinary tools of the film makers craft.
Diane Clare's natural innocence-as Sylvia Forbes the daughter of a London Professor,played by Andre Morrell-is wholly apparent throughout most of the films length,yet she tempers it with a spirit of fun loving independence,inquisitiveness and restrained maturity.She is also on screen long enough for us to appreciate her delicate beauty.
In hindsight ,two issues have arisen regarding the making of Plague of the Zombies and Diane Clare.
One concerns Diane's relationship during the making of the film with co-star Andre Morrell,the other is about whether or not her voice was dubbed by another artist.
In an Interview with Jacqueline Pearce (who was also in Plague) Mike Murphy,editor of the now dis-continued magazine dedicated to Hammer Films "Dark Terrors" asked her what she thought of Diane Clare's performance in "Plague of the Zombies".
She answered "I didn't think she was terribly good actually.She used to annoy Andre Morrell very much.He didn't have much time for her at all.I'd never heard of her before or since actually"
Diane's performance was in keeping with the type of actress she was and the quality of innocence she best expressed.Given her husband's remarks about her and the more forceful personalities of both Andre Morrell and Jacqueline Pearce it is may not be surprising that there was a degree of friction between them.
Diane Clare shows typical humility with regard to her co-stars,however there is also perhaps an awareness of a difference in temperaments.
"With Andre Morrell there was a gulf,of course,in age and experience,so I couldn't claim to have got close to him.But he was a consummate professional,and as with all such,easy to work with"
Whatever they felt about each other,it didn't show on screen,as the Father-Daughter relationship was well etched,particularly in their first scene together.
Diane says of Jacqueline Pearce "she was very nice and played the role of a harmless victim very well"
It is pleasing to hear that John Carson and Brook Williams (the other stars in Plague) were by all accounts, already good friends.
Rumours of actors being dubbed seems a common occurrence,particularly when they are associated with Hammer Films.
It should be stated categorically that Diane Clare's voice was not dubbed in Plague of the Zombies as is sometimes reported.
More interesting is the reason why this voice dubbing Imp regularly does the rounds,and I think this is connected to the very concept of re-dubbing itself,where quite often the actors have to re-voice dialogue due to poor recordings or other acoustic problems.
It is not always possible to disguise the fact that a scene has been re-voiced ,but it gives rise to rumours of an actor's voice being removed and replaced.
This is very likely to be the source of the error.
In 1967 Diane Clare's acting career ended.She was 30 years of age.She had decided that husband and children were more important.Her two children,Katie and Christopher were both born soon after her marriage to Barry England.
His successful novel "Figures in the Landscape" had received critical acclaim and had been shortlisted for the Booker Prize.He had also wrote "Conduct Unbecoming" a well received stage play and later a film starring Stacey Keach and John Mills.
It was during this very hectic few years of her marriage that she decided what things must have first calling on her time.There would simply be too many compromises if she continued to pursue acting.Ironically she mentions,this is when the offers came flooding in.
Her last film was the "Trygon Factor" (1967),directed by Cyril Frankel,where Diane plays a bogus nun with a penchant for murder.It was a polished production which also starred Stewart Granger,Robert Morley and James Robertson Justice.
In between this film and Plague of the Zombies she also appeared in two low budget horror films, "The Hand of the Night" and "The Vulture".
To her credit Diane's acting brought as much to the roles,as anyone could have reasonably expected given the mixture of poor direction,low production values and indifferent scripting.
Today it is believed that Diane and her Husband live somewhere in Oxfordshire,England."What satisfied me most (she reflects) was to be accepted as an actress in all the forms:theatre,television and film" "I look back only with pleasure.And gratitude.I had a chance to do I job I loved.I met many wonderful people and went to beautiful places.I wish I could thank them all"
For her appearance in "Plague of the Zombies" as Sylvia Forbes ,Diane Clare will always maintain her place in the hallowed halls of Hammer.
A very interesting article. Thank you.
Many thanks dicky.After Holger Hasse closed down his Hammer Glamour Website,I thought I'd lost it.Only 12 months ago digging around in some backup disks did I eventually find it.Originally Posted by dicky2006
As I've only just joined the forum,seemed the most appropriate time to unveil it again.
Scanned from the July, 1958, issue of ABC Film Review.
Nice little piece that.Adding a little more information to the life of Diane Clare.
Certainly not seen it before.And a good reason to seek out the ubiquitous ABC Film Reviews.
I have a complete set of the monthly ABC Film Reviews from the first issue in 1950 right up to December, 1970 and they're full of information like the above that you can't find anywhere else.
Daily Mirror, November 22nd 1958 - The 2 Dianes.
Lovely.Seems like a different world.
And yet Diane Clare,unknown to a modern audience was an actress regular featured in the media of the 50's and 60's.
Very interesting, Billy, but a pity that your newspaper clips are in such poor resolution. I wonder if the childhood portrait still exists 56 years on.
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