A toast to Madeleine Collinson

July 22, 1952 - August 14, 2014

All the movie going years of my pre-teen and teen years were a lot of fun,

but 1964 and 1972 were extra special.

In the Summer of 1964, I saw my first Godzilla film on the big screen,

and my love of Hammer horror deepened with a re-release double bill of Curse of Frankenstein and Horror of Dracula, and new Hammer like The Evil of Frankenstein,

Curse of the Mummy's Tomb and The Gorgon.

It was also the final Summer before I started school and experienced real horror,

like the first day of kindergarten. The Summer of 1972 was special,

because it was my last Summer before starting 7th grade and high school.

The high school years were still carefree, 

but as they progressed they became more complicated.

It was the Summer I was introduced on the big screen to the Spanish Wolf Man, 

Paul Naschy, and more Hammer horror, and the Collinson twins, Mary and Madeleine,

in the outstanding Twins of Evil.

Twins of Evil was also the first film I saw that had nudity in it.

Even without the nude scenes, Madeleine Collinson's performance (Mary is equally great) 

was seared into my memory forever, and for my two cents,

she is one of the best cinematic female vampires of all time.

I kept waiting to see her in another horror film, but it wasn't to be,

and Twins of Evil, was, in fact, her final film.

I never met her and didn't know her personally,

but Madeleine Collinson lingered in my memory long after that night at the drive-in.

She was part of the carefree times and wistful innocence.

The elusive silver screen goddess I loved from afar.

May her journey and stay in the great beyond be one of peace.

This post was written by Conrad Widener.

It's Spectember!

Join us every week this month for a toast

to a favorite female star who's now a ghost

forever haunting our hearts.