The first gothic princesses (completed 13/13)

Princesses fallen into oblivion

THE FIRST GOTHIC PRINCESSES

Princesses fallen into oblivion

Throughout the decades, there were numerous actresses who, to one degree or another, represented characters of various pre-Gothic or macabre hues.

Before moving on to the next section in which we enter fully into the Gothic period, I would like to briefly mention the actresses and films that were surely an inspiration for the future creation of the Gothic culture, but that unfortunately over the years (and decades) their influence is no longer remembered or given the importance it deserves.

Forgive me for not mentioning all the actresses, for such work would be of a colossal nature. I will only mention the most representative cases on both sides of the great pond (aka. Atlantic Ocean)

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BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (April 22, 1935)

Elsa Lanchester (born in the UK in 1902), plays both Mary Shelley and Frankenstein's girlfriend in this American film with Boris Karloff.

The main contribution of the character would be the hairstyle, which would be imitated in a certain way by the character of Lydia Deetz, played by Winona Ryder in 1988.

The stripe of white stripe that runs along the entire side of Frankenstein's bride's hairstyle is also adopted by Lydia Deetz, not in Tim Burton's film, but in the cartoons, in fact the death rock group that Lydia founded, is precisely called: Frankenstein's Brides. Lydia Deetz also wears that kind of white-striped hairstyle on one side for formal events.

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BLACK SUNDAY (August 11, 1960) Original title: La maschera del demonio.

Barbara Steele (born in the UK in 1938), plays in this Italian film the witch Asa Vajda, who was burned at the stake centuries ago and now wishes to absorb the life of Princess Katia Vajda (also played by Barbara Steele) to obtain immortality.

Barbara Steele is considered the Queen of Horror in Europe, even taking part in prestigious horror films such as the American film: The Pendulum of Death/Well and the Pendulum, with Vincent Price in 1961.

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THE WEREWOLF VS THE VAMPIRE WOMAN (May 17, 1971) Original title: La noche de walpurgis.

No, it's not the title of the acclaimed hentai: "The Black Bible: The Night of Walpurgis."

Patty Shepard (born in the United States in 1945), plays in this Spanish film the Countess Wandesa Dárvula de Nadasdy, who is revived and faces a werewolf in the film.

This film is part of a series of films featuring the werewolf. This particular work was a great success in Spain, to such an extent that it began the period of horror films in that country and Patty Shepard's performance was so good that it was thought that it would replace Barbara Steele as the undisputed queen of European terror.

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So far a sample of my personal opinion the best exponents of pre-Gothic actresses and their best films that would lead them to influence the Gothic sub-culture.

Next, I show three other actresses (already beginning the Gothic period itself) in interesting films. The characters they play are close to Gothic and therefore almost Gothic... almost.

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THE HUNGER (April 29, 1983)

Catherine Deneuve (born in France in 1943), plays the vampire Miriam Blaylock, who has as her newborn vampire the singer-songwriter David Bowie, and tries to seduce a young actress played by the great Susan Sarandon, in what may have been her first lesbian role.

This film points to the origin of the Gothic movement in the United States, in fact the music of the opening of the film is from the band Bahaus, which influenced musically the creation of the Gothic culture.

Unfortunately, while the film may be considered somewhat within the gothic aesthetic, the same cannot be said of Miriam Blaylock's character, more than gothic, it actually shows a glamorous snobbish image of Beverly Hills or Malibu.

A curious note is that years later the actress Susan sarandon and Winona Ryder would act together in the film: Little Women of the Year 1994. Curious because it would be Winona Ryder who would play the role of Lydia Deetz, the Gothic girl in Tim Burton's film Beetlejuice.

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CONAN THE DESTROYER (June 29, 1984)

Sarah Douglas (born in the UK in 1952), plays the evil Queen Taramis (it's my imagination or all queens are evil)

This sequel to Conan the Barbarian's film, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, cannot be considered Gothic in any sense, but belongs to the fantasy genre or sword and witchcraft.

The most beautiful but perverse Queen Taramis, however, wears a set of Gothic clothes: fine silks with suggestive and provocative openings when she is in her palace, and a black armor adorned with fine dark furs and a very elegant and delicate cloak despite its sombre appearance.

The character of Taramis, cannot be considered Gothic since her main role is to act as the evil queen in turn who tries to kill the princess later.

A curious note is that Sarah Douglas had already worn black clothes in 1980, more specifically in the film Superman 2, with Christopher Reeve. It's a pity that her interpretation of that time did not focus on the Gothic, but on the villain of the trio with superpowers from Krypton trying to kill Superman.

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LEGEND (28 August 1985)

Mia Sara (born in the United States in 1967), plays Princess Lily, who must be rescued by a young commoner played by Tom Cruise (this plot sounds familiar from several TV, movie and video game franchises).

Legend, can not be considered as Gothic in any sense, but belonging to the genre fantasy or sword and witchcraft.

Princess Lily never acts like a gothic character, except in a very small but memorable part: when the devil finally manages to tempt her, making the princess wear an exquisite gothic dress that is nothing to envy in glamour those who would wear years later the queens of the Snow White franchise and the hunter.

The dance scene when Princess Lily becomes Gothic is sublime, but it doesn't last long and therefore this character cannot be considered Gothic.

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These last three actresses were so close to being the first real gothic princesses, they lacked the penny to make weight, so close and so far... By a bald frog hair!

But don't worry, in the next section the first Gothic princesses will appear, starting with a character, the first one with Gothic characteristics in Tim Burton's films, I mean Lydia Deetz.

The influence that not only this character would have, but also the actress who plays it: Winona Ryder, for the creation of Gothic culture, was something that nobody expected (not even she herself) and that will surely surprise you.

CONTINUARÁ...