Whether you embraced the surname Heath or Dwyer, you were cute as a button, with acting finesse to match, especially when crossed with the masterful Vincent Price in three classic, Poe-ish pictures: "The Witchfinder General" (aka "The Conqueror Worm"), "Cry of the Banshee" and "The Oblong Box" (costarring the cunning Christopher Lee).
On the horror/science-fiction front, you entered "The Body Stealers", while stroking romance in "Wuthering Heights '70" and exciting espionage for "The File of the Golden Goose". You even became an effective producer in later years, prompting that prestigious stretch with the popular "An Awfully Big Adventure".
Though the big screen proved good to you, you also gained fame through your television appearances on "The Prisoner"; "The Avengers"; "The Challengers"; "Space: 1999"; "Villains"; "Z Cars"; "Arthur of the Britons"; "United!"; "Hadleigh"; and "Callan".
Your beauty could melt anyone's heart and your sprite personality couldn't help but entrance. You're an angel now among the angels, Ms. Heath: a beacon whose quality contributions will never douse.
Many know you from such melodramatic and breezy jaunts as "Fawlty Towers"; "The Doctors"; "The Bill"; and "Lovejoy"; and in such films as "There's a Girl in My Soup"; "Crooks and Coronets"; "The Jokers"; "The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones"; "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush"; and "Parting Shots".
Others know you from your appearances in the soap operas "Downton Abbey" and "EastEnders".
Adventure fans know you from "Penny Gold"; "We Still Killl the Old Way"; "Mosquito Squadron"; "Death, Deceit and Destiny Aboard the Orient Express"; and the Bondian tribute, "No 1 of the Secret Service" (aka, "Her Majesty's Top Gun").
However, to horror fans you gained your greatest glory with performances in "The Witchfinder General" (aka "The Conqueror Worm"); "Vampira" (aka "Old Dracula"); the dark, futuristic "Narcopolis"; and that mod, irreverent, cult classic, "Psychomania" (aka "The Death Wheelers").
You were suave, sophisticated, funny and whenever the chance arose, downright mean. For all of your varied efforts, you'll continue to stand supreme: an actor to be remembered, a gentleman to be revered.
The latest issue of Jim Main's *PPFSZT! is here!!!
Though Kevin Duncan's splendid cover for #44 conveys a seasonal chill, there's nothing but creative warmth brewing from this 36-page, Winter installment, which includes tributes to "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman", "Werewolf of London", "The Thing from Another World (with Fantastic Four's Ben Grimm), "Doctor Who", "The Witchfinder General/Conqueror Worm"...and for all you Bogie fans, "The Treasure of Sierra Madre". There's also Mike Maloney's moody "One Night in Noir" and Part 2 of Roger C. Keel's haunting "Prisoners of the Ice Kings".
Along with Keel and Maloney, the contents' slew of accompanying artists is also impressive: Roland Austin, Jack Bertram, Lance Doc Boucher, Troy David Boyle, Jason Bullock, Tom Doyle, Kevin Dale Duncan, Don Fortier, Anthony C. Gray, Rusty Gilligan, Marc Haines, John Lambert, Scott McClung, Robert J. Sodaro, Carl Taylor...Rick Williams. Yeah, takes one's breath away.
I love the way Main blends so many different ideas, imagery and themes into *PPFSZT!: all invigorating, all edifying. There's no source quite as offbeat or special as *PPFSZT! Try an issue. You're guaranteed to be hooked!
*PPFSZT! #44 can be purchased for $6.50 (check or money order), from Jim Main/Main Enterprises at PO Box 93, New Milford, CT 06776.
