NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH CIRCUS OF FEAR by Dave Goode

Quite often I wonder why certain movies got comic book adaptations by Dell or Gold Key and others didn't. For instance CIRCUS OF HORRORS ( 1960 ). A movie that is sometimes confused with CIRCUS OF FEAR ( 1966 ). The latter comes from an Edgar Wallace story and features Christopher Lee as a hooded circus performer. CIRCUS OF HORRORS is a wonderfully sleazy circus thriller produced by Leslie Parkyn and Julian Wintle. Directed by Sidney Hayers CIRCUS OF HORRORS had an original screenplay by George Baxt. Anton Diffring ( The Blue Max (1966), Where Eagles Dare (1968) and as De Flores in the Doctor Who television story Silver Nemesis.) stars as the unhinged Dr. Schuler and is supported  by a cast that features Donald Pleasance , Yvonne Monlaur , Erika Remberg and Yvonne Romain.

The story has Dr.Schuler fleeing England for France several years after World War Two after a botched surgery left a patient horribly disfigured. There he operates on the daughter of a circus owner portrayed by Donald Pleasance. The little girl was disfigured during the war. When the circus owner dies under mysterious circumstances Schuler takes over ownership of the circus. The little girl grows up to be a circus performer herself and is portrayed by beautiful Yvonne Monlaur who some of you Hammer film fans may remember from BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960). Through surgery Dr. Schuler transforms a number of disfigured women criminals to beautiful circus performers. When these women attempt to leave the show they die in circus accidents.

Though there was never a comic book adaptation as part of the movie's pressbook there was a one - page comic. Also there was a novelization of the movie written by Tom Owen. I wonder if the book was even sleazier than the movie. Giving the reader things the movie only hinted at.

ILSA , QUEEN OF THE GRIND HOUSE by Dave Goode

If you're a fan of  " men's sweat mags " then you might also be a fan of the Ilsa movie series starring Dyanne Thorne. ILSA SHE - WOLF OF THE SS (1975 ) , ILSA , HAREM KEEPER OF THE OIL SHIEKS ( 1976 ) and ILSA TIGRESS OF SIBERIA (1977 ). There was a fourth flick ILSA THE WICKED WARDEN ( 1977 ). But that was originally a movie titled GRETA THE WICKED WARDEN about another psychotic dominitrix. The title was obviously changed to capitalize on the success of the Ilsa movies.

Born Dorothy Ann Seib in Park Ridge , New Jersey Dyanne Thorne began her show biz career as a band vocalist and stage actress in New York. She appeared on comedy albums with Allen & Rossi , ,Loman & Barkley and Vaughn Meader. She would appear on a number of television variety  shows and television series. To fans of the original STAR TREK she is " Girl No. 1 " on the classic episode A Piece Of The Action. Her buxom figure would lead to roles in grind house  movie like SIN IN THE SUBURBS ( 1964 ) and nudie - cuties like THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO ( 1971 ). And then in 1975 she would take on the role that would lead her to cult stardom.

Ms. Thorne standing 5' 7" 123 lb. ( 37 - 22 -35 ) figure looked like the embodiment of the Nazi she - devils that tortured captured American soldiers on the covers  of men's adventure mags in the 60s.

It got me to thinking that she would have been the perfect foil for Steve Holland and Eva Lynd in one of those alternate universe war movies I keep imaging that duo starring in.