Oh, Carol!

Would-be 1950's femme fatale Carol Ohmart turns 81 today. She specialized in playing hard-hearted Hannah's and gold-digging hussies; her film debut was in the overheated noir, The Scarlet Hour (1956).

The film's plot is a convoluted labryinth of double- and triple-crosses, but it does have some stylish direction by the legendary Michael Curtiz...



...and it co-starred the hunky Tom Tryon as Ohmart's illicit lover, unwilling partner in crime, and fellow Latin jazz aficionado.

DIG THE COOL GRAPHICS ON THAT LP CAROL IS HOLDING!

Did we mention that a very young Elaine Stritch has a supporting role?


ELAINE STRITCH

Ohmart failed to become a major star, despite the efforts of Curtiz and Paramount's publicity department. She was left to freelance on her own for the rest of the decade, most memorably as Vincent Price's scheming wife in the William Castle shlock classic, House on Haunted Hill (1959).



From there it was on to television, with guest spots on everything from Bachelor Father to Perry Mason, with pit stops on Route 66 and 77 Sunset Strip in between. There was the occasional film role, too, with either the nadir or the high point (depending on your sensibilities) coming in the form of Spider Baby.

The grotesquely comic tale of a family of inbred degenerates, Carol was featured as a greedy, bitchy, "normal" aunt who tries to wrest control of the estate from the mutants. Big mistake.

CAROL OHMART & SID HAIG IN SPIDER BABY (1964)

Effectively retiring in the early 1970's, Ohmart left the Hollywood scene in favor of studying metaphysics. She may be a footnote in screen history, but her few appearances carry an interesting intensity and flintiness which set her apart from the typical blonde creampuffs of the day. On your special day, Ms. Ohmart, we salute you!