Hazel Court: Autobiography

Here we see Hazel with two-time Oscar winning cinematographer Freddie Francis, at the September 1999, 10th International Festival of Fantastic Films, in Manchester, England.

Tomahawk Press has announced plans to publish the Hazel Court autobiography sometime in the year 2000.  The provisional title is "Patchwork: Diary of a Scream Queen."

In the words of the press release:

International star Hazel Court has starred in countless films, both in England and the United States.  However, she is best known for her work in horror films, starting with Hammer in the 1950's and going on to work with Roger Corman in Hollywood.  She has been described as the "Ultimate Scream Queen".  This is her autobiography, in which she traces her career from being a "Gainsborough Girl" through to her current status as internationally recognised sculptor and author.  Hazel provides intimate portraits of Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Jack Nicholson, as well as her late husband, actor/director Don Taylor.

Hazel also covers her work on many cult American TV series, such as Dr. Kildare, Rawhide, Bonanza, etc.  Did you know that Hazel was first choice to star in The Avengers, but went to Hollywood with Don Taylor instead?  An English woman's view of a life in Hollywood, Patchwork is eagerly anticipated by Hazel's fans throughout the world.

Obviously, the 2000 publication date slipped quite a bit.  The book finally appeared, at least in Britain, in 2007, but copies have been very illusive indeed.  It is reported that copies may be more readily available in the U.S. by the summer of 2008.

Another September 1999 photo, showing Bruce Sachs, our Miss Court, and Russell Wall.  The gentlemen are the directors of Tomahawk Press who published Hazel's autobiography.