Diana Van der Vlis

[blackv8]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0886469/

Diana Van der Vlis (June 9, 1935 - October 22, 2001) was a Canadian stage, screen and television actress best known for her character ‘Dr. Nell Beaulac’ on the ABC soap opera, Ryan's Hope and her character ‘Kate Hathaway Prescott’ on the CBS soap opera, Where the Heart Is. Two other roles on soap operas that she played were Sherry Rowan on Ryan's Hope and Susan Ames Carver on The Secret Storm when she was a substitute for Judy Lewis in the role.

Van der Vlis was born in Toronto, Ontario. She passed away in Missoula, Montana (after becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen).

Van der Vlis studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London and acted in Canada before moving to New York in the spring of 1956. She appearing opposite Walter Pidgeon in the Broadway hit The Happiest Millionaire and numerous other productions. A prime time television role was a guest-starring appearance on Eastside, Westside on CBS.





X (also known as X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes) is a 1963 science fiction/horror motion picture. Directed by Roger Corman, X stars Ray Milland as Dr. James Xavier. A world renowned scientist, Dr. Xavier experiments with X-ray vision and things go horribly wrong. Shot in a mere three weeks on an ultra-slim budget of $300,000, Corman described the film's success as a miracle. The movie was notable for its use of visual effects to portray Dr. Xavier's point of view. While crude by later standards, the visuals are still effective in impressing upon the audience the bizarre viewpoint of the protagonist. Diane Van der Vlis plays Dr. Diane Fairfax, who becomes emotionally involved with Dr. Xavier.

The film won the 1963 Best Film Award, The Silver Spaceship, at the First International Festival of Science Fiction Films. In his book Danse Macabre, Stephen King notes a strong H. P. Lovecraftian quality to X, based on Xavier's near-insanity when he cannot comprehend the god-like being he sees at the center of the universe. Rock band Pere Ubu composed an original underscore for the film in 2004, which they have performed live at various concerts and film festivals. The band Bauhaus used the film as inspiration for the song "The Man With the X-Ray Eyes" on their second album Mask.(actress bio and film facts from Wikipedia)





This film is a cheesy delight typical of Corman's on-the-cheap films. Ray Milland was charismatic even in a silly story like this.






Diane Van der Vlis holds her own, playing a love interest who seems intellectually and charismatically the equal of Dr. Xavier.





Dr. Fairfax takes Dr. Xavier to a doctor party (where they use syringes to mix the "perfect" martini). An associate asks Dr. Fairfax to a dance, whereupon a lovely blonde (played by gorgeous Lorrie Summers) invites Dr. Xavier to dance. Unknown to the blonde, Dr. X's x-ray vision has kicked in, and he amuses himself looking around at everyone who appear to be nude to him. Of course we only get to see what he sees from the neck up, knees down or above the waist from behind. He reveals his condition to Dr. Fairfax by complimenting several of her physical features covered by clothing (!).



Dr. X starts to become unhinged by his condition, and his temper leads to the negligent, accidental death of a fellow doctor.



Dr. X ends up working in a carnival sideshow as a mind-reader, where some of the lovely fellow attractions are shown discussing what his "gimmick" must be and why he was so antisocial.





Dr. Fairfax finds Dr. X and takes him away from the lowlife who is selling Dr. X's ability to "heal." As the word gets out about the murderer on the loose, she can't really help him avoid the self-destruction he seems intent on.

[erdnuss]

a trailer of X The Man With The X Ray Eyes - you can see Diana Van der Vlis at ca. 0:58 - 1:05 min. very short time for this nice actress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqWvR...LGyhzg&index=3

[johnbear]

[SanteeFats]