Candice Rialson racked up a pretty impressive resume in the 1970's appearing in Roger Corman's Candy Stripe Nurses & Summer School Teachers (both from 1974), played one of Gloria Grahame's evil daughters in Mama's Dirty Girls (also from '74) and a runaway who hooks up with some really whacked out people in Pets (again - '74 !). She also appeared in Moonshine County Express & Chatterbox (both from 1977). Like most actresses in low budget films she hoped to break into bigger pictures and had bit parts in Logan's Run (1976) & Winter Kills (1979). In The Eiger Sanction from 1975 she a had a small but memorable role as a flirtatious student of teacher Clint Eastwood.
Probably her best role was in Allan Arkush & Joe Dante's 1976 classic send-up of Roger Corman's New World Pictures - Hollywood Boulevard, playing hapless starlet Candy Wednesday ("Miracle Pictures - If It's a Good Picture, It's a Miracle").
She was born in Santa Monica Ca. in 1951, won Miss Hermosa Beach at age 18 and later worked as a go-go dancer. In 1979 she retired to raise a family and sadly passed away from liver cancer in 2006. A talented (often much better then the roles called for) & natural actress who always seemed to have a bit of innocence about her.
HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD is one of my favorites of these types of movies. Just a lot of fun. And it's a shame we will likely not get the TEACHERS movie on DVD, or the first NURSES movie, for that matter. It irritated me as I put off buying the first release when I had ample opportunity to do so. When it was announced it wasn't coming out due to poor sales, I went to buy the New Concorde release and the damn thing was a bit more expensive than I was willing to pay, lol.
ReplyDeleteYea, I hear ya. I bought ALL the Shout Factory Corman releases and am forever in their debt for putting this stuff out, but... NO Teachers set ! Plus I really wanted the 3rd Lethal Ladies Set & The Angels Set with the biker stuff. I can't believe we got utter crap like Smokey Bites the Dust, but no Student Nurses (the first New World film !?!). I hope that they can re-visit this line again at some point in the future.
ReplyDeleteI'm with the both of you - I have bought the New World stuff pretty much every time anyone's released it. I just met Jeffrey Kramer from Hollywood Blvd - the screenwriter in the picture - he signed my DVD and we commisserated over losing Candice Rialson so young. She was a true beauty - and Dick - I think you nail it - she did have a delicious bit of innocence about her. Great post!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I never even knew the name of the cute little student in Eiger Sanction who is snubbed and told to go home and "study her ass off" followed by one of the all time great ass shots, lol. And I just learned that I will have to order Hollywood Blvd as it looks like a film I would dig, thanks again!!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line from Hollywood Boulevard was delivered by Dick Miller: "I used to handle that meatball."
ReplyDeleteDick Miller is a god. I REALLY need to do a post on him !
ReplyDeleteBe sure to include Rock 'n' Roll High School when Dick Miller utters another of my favorites: "They are ugly, ugly... UGLY people."
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