Suzan Farmer

[billy farmer]

I thought i would start a new Thread for Suzan Farmer, an Actress who i have always liked and enjoyed watching in many films and TV programmes, some of my favourite Suzan Farmer film roles are Constance Beverley in The Scarlet Blade (1963), Angela Smeeton in The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964) and Diana Kent in Dracula, Prince Of Darkness (1966), Suzan Farmer also appeared in several other films including 633 Squadron (1964), Rasputin, The Mad Monk (1966) and Doctor In Clover (1966), Suzan Farmer also appeared in many TV programmes (many of which i have seen) including The Saint, Danger Man, Gideon's Way, Sherlock Holmes (Douglas Wilmer series), Man In A Suitcase, Please Sir, The Persuaders and Dixon Of Dock Green, Suzan Farmer was born in Kent, England on June 16th 1942, she was married to the Actor Ian McShane from 1965-1968, she appeared with him in the film The Wild And The Willing (1962), any other fans of this fine Actress on Brit Movie with memories to share of her many film and TV appearances.

[cornershop15]

I was planning to start a thread for Suzan myself in the near future, Billy, and am surprised that no-one else had thought

of the idea until now. Congratulations. This publicity picture for Danger Man shows her at her most beautiful in my opinion:



As Helen in the episode No Marks for Servility (1964)

You're way ahead of me with her film appearances, but I did watch Rasputin: The Mad Monk a few months back, one of two films she made with Our Francis (Matthews) - the other being Dracula: Prince of Darkness. Every time I see an actor or actress these days I try to think of Where I Saw Them First, more candidates for my recent thread. In Suzan's case, that was only about three years ago, with the Thriller episode Death in Deep Water (1975), one of her later credits. Her main co-stars were Bradford Dillman and Ian Bannen, both making their second appearances in the show.



As Suzan was new to me at the time, I struggled to 'get aquainted' (it's very rare that a face is instantly formed in my mind) and when I encountered the actress again on DVD, in Man in a Suitcase some time later, I didn't recognise her as the same woman. This was a particularly strong episode, entitled Brainwash (1967) and I vividly remember Howard Marion-Crawford tormenting star Richard Bradford by repeating "I'm going to shoot you, McGill!". Oddly enough, the imposing Mr. Crawford was in that episode of Danger Man as well. Did he play her father in either of these shows?



Suzan has frequently appeared on DVDs I've watched ever since, usually in ITC shows like Gideon's Way and The Persuaders. But I was unhappy with her role in UFO as she had very little to do - unlike her star turn in Thriller. I look forward to seeing the latter again soon but it is of no consolation to the sad fact that both her Armchair Theatre plays are lost.



They were called Cradle Song (1964), with Rosalie Crutchley, and The Signal Box of Grandpa Hudson (1966), her second and last joint venture with husband Ian McShane. Very sad that this attractive couple divorced. I have a few pictures of them at home together which I'll post over the next couple of weeks.

[wellendcanons]

I've always thought Suzan Farmer is a lovely and excellent actress. I first will have seen her in The Persuaders! I would guess, but she also starred in an excellent Thriller episode, which was the last one ever made. Apart from Suzan's numerous ITC appearences and the occasional horror film like Dracula - Prince of Darkness and Persecution, she also played Bernard Hepton's love interest in an episode of that great 70's comedy series, The Squirrels.



Well done billy for starting a thread on this lovely and wonderful actress and thanks cornershop for the fab screencap.



wellendcanons.

[cully]

Yes, super and beautiful actress we remember so well from so many films and TV appearances!



Also, a voice which was easy to recognize as she couldn't say her R's correctly.

[Gerald Lovell]

Funnily enough, I just watched Suzan in "No Marks for Servility" yesterday! Why she married the awful Howard Marion Crawford in that one I'll never know!



It's Suzan's voice that I find distinctive. It was very pleasant to hear her on the audio commentaries for Dracula Prince of Darkness and Rasputin the Mad Monk . . . when she and the others could get a word in edgeways, over the very talkative Christopher Lee!

[wellendcanons]

Funnily enough, I just watched Suzan in "No Marks for Servility" yesterday! Why she married the awful Howard Marion Crawford in that one I'll never know!



It's Suzan's voice that I find distinctive. It was very pleasant to hear her on the audio commentaries for Dracula Prince of Darkness and Rasputin the Mad Monk . . . when she and the others could get a word in edgeways, over the very talkative Christopher Lee!

Am I right in thinking Gerald that Suzan did Barbara Shelley's 'screamy' voiceovers in Dracula - Prince Of Darkness? I thought I'd read it somewhere.



wellendcanons.

[Gerald Lovell]

Am I right in thinking Gerald that Suzan did Barbara Shelley's 'screamy' voiceovers in Dracula - Prince Of Darkness? I thought I'd read it somewhere.



wellendcanons.

Yes, I think that Barbara and Suzan do mention that on the commentary.

[billy farmer]

A screencap of Suzan Farmer as Angela Smeeton in The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964).

[cornershop15]

By mere chance, I watched that episode of Man in a Suitcase only a couple of days later as it was next in line. Just as thrilling and, yes, Howard Marion Crawford did play her father! Not surprisingly, Suzan looked much like she does in the first picture, but it was strange to think she was an unfamiliar face when I saw this two years ago. The real 'test' will come when I see her appearance in Thriller again. I'm still having trouble believing that was the same actress. My second viewing will be really interesting.

... she also played Bernard Hepton's love interest in an episode of that great 70's comedy series, The Squirrels.

I posted at 'Sitcoms That Haven't Been Repeated' earlier and that's one of them. I'm constantly coming across the title but never any clips to remind me. Welsh actor Alan David, who starred in an Armchair Thriller story I watched recently, was definitely a familiar face to me back then and this could well have been the show ... but I need to see it! I am WELL intrigued by the thought of Suzan being matched with Bernard Hepton! He hardly figures in my DVD collection. Get Carter, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and that's it at the moment. 85 this October - something else that's difficult to comprehend.

At home with husband Ian McShane, 18th November 1963 (nice picture, shame about the logo):



If that date is correct this was only four days before President Kennedy was assassinated and

With The Beatles, their 2nd album, released. The day after that, Doctor Who made his debut.

[cully]

By mere chance, I watched that episode of Man in a Suitcase only a couple of days later as it was next in line. Just as thrilling and, yes, Howard Marion Crawford did play her father! Not surprisingly, Suzan looked much like she does in the first picture, but it was strange to think she was an unfamiliar face when I saw this two years ago. The real 'test' will come when I see her appearance in Thriller again. I'm still having trouble believing that was the same actress. My second viewing will be really interesting.

[center]I posted at 'Sitcoms That Haven't Been Repeated' earlier and that's one of them. I'm constantly coming across the title but never any clips to remind me. Welsh actor Alan David, who starred in an Armchair Thriller story I watched recently, was definitely a familiar face to me back then and this could well have been the show ... but I need to see it! I am WELL intrigued by the thought of Suzan being matched with Bernard Hepton! He hardly figures in my DVD collection. Get Carter, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and that's it at the moment. 85 this October - something else that's difficult to comprehend.

At home with husband Ian McShane, 18th November 1963 (nice picture, shame about the logo):



If that date is correct this was only four days before President Kennedy was assassinated and

With The Beatles, their 2nd album, released. The day after that, Doctor Who made his debut.

cornershop,lovely pic of Suzan with Ian McShane but your post gives us a conundrum. You say it's a pic of her with her husband in November 1963. However, IMDB says she was only married to Ian from 1965-1968 so either IMDB is wrong (it wouldn't be the first time!) or the date is indeed wrong.



Mind you, you've taught me something I never knew..that Suzan and and Ian were EVER married! What ever possessed him to separate from Suzan?

[cornershop15]

Cully, I've just had a look at the caption again and it doesn't actually specify what they were at the time. It's a similar story with the other picture:





Ian McShane, actor, with actress Suzan Farmer walking along in the rain, sheltering under an umbrella [somewhere in London I should think].

Clear as mud! They might as well be co-stars in a film - which they were a year earlier - but not being referred to as 'husband and wife' leads me to think they were just living together. This could even be Ian and Suzan's first photo session as 'a couple'. Both have a page at Who's Dated Who but their joint profile says they 'Commenced Dating' and Married in 1965 and Divorced in 1968.



This tallies with IMDb's information but I'm not convinced! Why would it take them three years, from (possibly) their first meeting in 1962 - preparing to film The Wild and the Willing - to have their first date? All very mysterious. We need to know if THAT date's right before we make any progress!

[Gerald Lovell]

I watched Suzan in an episode of SHERLOCK HOLMES the other day called "The Beryl Coronet". She always looked extremely fetching in period dress! Suzan was not quite what she seemed in this one though . . .

[John Hamilton]

Funnily enough, I just watched Suzan in "No Marks for Servility" yesterday! Why she married the awful Howard Marion Crawford in that one I'll never know!



It's Suzan's voice that I find distinctive. It was very pleasant to hear her on the audio commentaries for Dracula Prince of Darkness and Rasputin the Mad Monk . . . when she and the others could get a word in edgeways, over the very talkative Christopher Lee!

I had no idea she did a commentary! My discs have only a crappy 'Many Faces of Christopher Lee on the Dracula and a trailer on the Rasputin

[markrgv]

I had no idea she did a commentary! My discs have only a crappy 'Many Faces of Christopher Lee on the Dracula and a trailer on the Rasputin

The commentary on DPoD is available on a German R2 release. I got mine from a specialist seller on Ebay a few years ago. I don't know if the Anchor Bay R1 release has this commentary.

Our very own Francis Matthews is also on it.



And then the same four people do a commentary for Rasputin the Mad Monk on the Anchor Bay R1 release called The Hammer Collection: The Devil Rides Out & Rasputin. - which is available on Amazon.



Hope this helps



Mark.

[Gerald Lovell]

The commentary on DPoD is available on a German R2 release. I got mine from a specialist seller on Ebay a few years ago. I don't know if the Anchor Bay R1 release has this commentary.

Our very own Francis Matthews is also on it.





Mark.

The original Anchor Bay R1 release does indeed have the commentary. I think there was a later release, mind you, without it. The picture quality on the original release is pretty poor and it's only worth putting up with for the commentary, IMO.

[billy farmer]

A TV Times listing from August 27th 1976.

[wellendcanons]

A TV Times listing from August 27th 1976.

I remember the series and this episode. I loved it. Well overdue for a DVD release I reckon. Thanks for posting billy.

wec

[billy farmer]

Here are some screencaps of Suzan Farmer as Diana Kent in Dracula, Prince Of Darkness (1966) also featuring Barbara Shelley and Charles Tingwell as Helen and Alan Kent.

[torinfan]

She was terrific in "Die Monster Die" with Nick Adams

[Keif Howard]

I agree. Die Monster Die was the last disc I bought that featured the lovely Suzan. Well worth looking for and can usually be picked up for under three pounds. Does anyone know what she's up to lately and if she is well etc? Also, I wonder if she still wears her trademark Alice band!