Continuing until 21 May at ACMI, the Melbourne Cinémathèque’s season ‘Barbara Steele: The Queen of Screen‘ pays tribute to a gothic horror royalty who worked across Europe and the United States and whose name became synonymous with haunted castles, the aura of dry ice, candelabra-clutching women returned from the dead and occult ceremonies.
Steele starred in a string of iconic horror films in the 1960s, including Mario Bava’s groundbreaking BLACK SUNDAY (1960), Roger Corman’s PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961), Riccardo Freda’s THE HORRIBLE DR. HICHCOCK (1962), and Antonio Margheriti’s THE LONG HAIR OF DEATH (1964), becoming famous as the “Queen of All Scream Queens”. Her notoriety was also noted by Federico Fellini, who featured her alongside Marcello Mastroianni and Claudia Cardinale in 8 ½ (1963). She remains one of the true icons of Euro-horror.
7-21 MAY
Wednesday 14 May
7:00pm THE LONG HAIR OF DEATH (1964)
8:50pm CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR (1968)
Wednesday 21 May
7:00pm THE HORRIBLE DR. HICHCOCK (1962)
8:40pm 8 ½ (1963)
For more info and booking: Melbourne Cinemateque – Barbara Steele