There was a time, long ago in the 1980's, when the term, Scream Queen, actually meant something. It was a distinction. Sort of like how it once meant something to be a horror writer. Or, for that matter, a horror journalist. Yeah, I'm part of the whole instant internet professional thing myself.
The first Scream Queen was probably Fay Wray. She could belt out a bloodcurdling scream as well as anyone ever could. There were more later, but it was always debatable whether a Scream Queen merely appeared in horror films, or if they played the perennial victim. Many ladies, from Bette Davis to Beverly Garland and Barbara Steele and beyond have been associated with horror, but no one can argue that Jamie Lee Curtis was the first modern Scream Queen. Curtis was genuinely talented and she made us all care about whether she survived films like Halloween, The Fog, Prom Night, Terror Train, and Road Games.
Then later, as the home video revolution raged, a new breed of Scream Queen was on the rise. Knockout girls like Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens, Michelle Bauer, Jewel Shepard, Kelli Maroney, Elizabeth Kaitan and Shannon Tweed began to grace the productions of extremely low budget, direct-to-video horror films. I liked 'em all.
Wait. Isn't ogling women in varying degrees of undress juvenile and sexist?
Well, as for the juvenile part, probably so. Most of us that still enjoy horror and exploitation have resisted maturity. I think that can be a good thing. We like horror because, among other reasons, it keeps the inner child alive in us. Horror keeps us young at heart and I consider that to be a good thing.
As for the sexism part, I do not think it's applicable. Some will disagree, but I personally never saw anything dirty about the films that featured Scream Queens in the 80's. There was something wonderfully innocent about them. At least they seemed that way to me. I thought of the women in them as being strong. Making it in a tough, man's game. And I see nothing degrading about showing one's body. Nor do I see it as degrading to enjoy looking upon an attractive person's body. It was good time, and it appeared to me that the girls were having a lot of fun too.
My favorite of all the Scream Queens of the day was Monique Gabrielle. Her exotic beauty was complimented by the good natured humor she brought to her roles. Monique always seemed like such a trouper. She gamely derobed and it never seemed unnatural or smutty. She looked like she was having a great time, and I had a great time watching her films.
None of the Scream Queens of the day were particularly good actresses. Monique included. But they gave their all and the results were glorious.
Who can forget Monique in Bachelor Party? Or her as the guileless California nudist in Amazon Women on the Moon? My personal favorite of her films is Evil Toons. It's as idiotic as they come, but how could you not like any movie that stars Dick Miller, Arte Johnson, and David Carradine with Monique Gabrielle? Not to mention a Chas. Balun animated horny demon? It was fun seeing her play with her own self image by portraying a frumpy homeless woman in Not Of This Earth.
Yeah, there were a lot of turkeys in the bunch. I mean, only a moron would claim that something like Deathstalker 2 is a good movie. But Monique's lovely presence made it an enjoyable one.
Sadly, Monique Gabrielle began to appear in fewer movies. People crave the young in these things. I personally like mature women and I would love to see her in some low budget horror movies again.
Several years ago I did some internet searching on Monique, and I saw that she had done some hardcore X movies. It made me sad. I have nothing against porn, but it's not for me. I guess you could say that I'm not the voyeuristic type. I've never owned a piece of outright pornography in my life. For me, titillation is always more enjoyable than watching full blown sex. I felt that Monique was too good to be in that kind of thing. I guess you could also call me naive.
Then Monique seemed to completely disappear from the public eye. I suppose she's retired now. Monique, I hope that, wherever you are, you're surrounded by friends and family, love and prosperity. I also hope that you look back upon your career with fondness and affection. Just as I do.
The first Scream Queen was probably Fay Wray. She could belt out a bloodcurdling scream as well as anyone ever could. There were more later, but it was always debatable whether a Scream Queen merely appeared in horror films, or if they played the perennial victim. Many ladies, from Bette Davis to Beverly Garland and Barbara Steele and beyond have been associated with horror, but no one can argue that Jamie Lee Curtis was the first modern Scream Queen. Curtis was genuinely talented and she made us all care about whether she survived films like Halloween, The Fog, Prom Night, Terror Train, and Road Games.
Then later, as the home video revolution raged, a new breed of Scream Queen was on the rise. Knockout girls like Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens, Michelle Bauer, Jewel Shepard, Kelli Maroney, Elizabeth Kaitan and Shannon Tweed began to grace the productions of extremely low budget, direct-to-video horror films. I liked 'em all.
Wait. Isn't ogling women in varying degrees of undress juvenile and sexist?
Well, as for the juvenile part, probably so. Most of us that still enjoy horror and exploitation have resisted maturity. I think that can be a good thing. We like horror because, among other reasons, it keeps the inner child alive in us. Horror keeps us young at heart and I consider that to be a good thing.
As for the sexism part, I do not think it's applicable. Some will disagree, but I personally never saw anything dirty about the films that featured Scream Queens in the 80's. There was something wonderfully innocent about them. At least they seemed that way to me. I thought of the women in them as being strong. Making it in a tough, man's game. And I see nothing degrading about showing one's body. Nor do I see it as degrading to enjoy looking upon an attractive person's body. It was good time, and it appeared to me that the girls were having a lot of fun too.My favorite of all the Scream Queens of the day was Monique Gabrielle. Her exotic beauty was complimented by the good natured humor she brought to her roles. Monique always seemed like such a trouper. She gamely derobed and it never seemed unnatural or smutty. She looked like she was having a great time, and I had a great time watching her films.
None of the Scream Queens of the day were particularly good actresses. Monique included. But they gave their all and the results were glorious.
Who can forget Monique in Bachelor Party? Or her as the guileless California nudist in Amazon Women on the Moon? My personal favorite of her films is Evil Toons. It's as idiotic as they come, but how could you not like any movie that stars Dick Miller, Arte Johnson, and David Carradine with Monique Gabrielle? Not to mention a Chas. Balun animated horny demon? It was fun seeing her play with her own self image by portraying a frumpy homeless woman in Not Of This Earth.
Yeah, there were a lot of turkeys in the bunch. I mean, only a moron would claim that something like Deathstalker 2 is a good movie. But Monique's lovely presence made it an enjoyable one.
Sadly, Monique Gabrielle began to appear in fewer movies. People crave the young in these things. I personally like mature women and I would love to see her in some low budget horror movies again.
Several years ago I did some internet searching on Monique, and I saw that she had done some hardcore X movies. It made me sad. I have nothing against porn, but it's not for me. I guess you could say that I'm not the voyeuristic type. I've never owned a piece of outright pornography in my life. For me, titillation is always more enjoyable than watching full blown sex. I felt that Monique was too good to be in that kind of thing. I guess you could also call me naive.
Then Monique seemed to completely disappear from the public eye. I suppose she's retired now. Monique, I hope that, wherever you are, you're surrounded by friends and family, love and prosperity. I also hope that you look back upon your career with fondness and affection. Just as I do.
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