Debbie Dutch Interview

Debbie Dutch: Contemplating the Universe With Everyone’s Favorite Horror Queen. By Brian Kirst

Like her artistic inspirations (many detailed below) actress Debbie Dutch is simply legendary. She has appeared on Broadway and in many big budget film projects such as Protocol with Goldie Hawn. Visitors to this site, though, probably know her best from her multi-faceted appearances in horror films like The Haunting of Morella, Hard to Die, 976-Evil II, Death Dancers and Sorority Girls and the Creature From Hell. Most importantly, Debbie’s enthusiasm, love of life and her concern for humankind make her an inspiration. Her infectious charm and joy literally pour out in the below interview, at her scintillating website www.debbiedutch.com and in her recent film appearances including The Last Run (with Fred Savage), Vampira The Movie and Kill the Scream Queen.

Brian: Who were your first performing influences? – Audrey Hepburn beguiling William Holden with a wink? – Lynda Carter lassoing the bad guys with a modest flair? – Lucille Ball driving Ricky crazy with a convoluted plot? Others?

Debbie: My early influences include CHARLIE CHAPLIN in The Little Tramp. I was so moved by his humanity & his genius in his characterization. I loved that he was so interested in helping the ordinary person, caring for others, his humility & his courage to overcome any obstacle & meet any challenge! He also always got the beautiful damsel. He was so romantic in his shy innocence. Paulette Goddard is my favorite heroine. They
ended up getting married in real life. I did want to mention, also, how Charlie Chaplin’s talent to tell a story through his eyes was very influencing on me. I always am aware of the camera & my expression through my eyes in my work. Also, Chaplin’s ability to always use the theme of fighting against injustice was very inspiring – a little tramp being victorious over political & other BIG injustices! – Also, my favorite #1
actress was & is GRETA GARBO. She was such an AMAZING actress. She was so
real, sensitive, vulnerable, sensual, elegant, mysterious & sexy in a classy way. She was very Stanislavski -who is my mentor in acting. My favorite Garbo flick is Anna Karenina. Greta was truly an ORIGINAL FEMME FATALE. I love her FAMOUS line “I want to be alone.” And of course my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE is “The Wizard of OZ”! It’s so positive, full of hope, courage & that youthful energy of idealism. I CAN MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE & OVERCOME ANYTHING VICTORIOUSLY. It is so heartfelt. Dorothy follows her heart and just wants to go home….Judy Garland was SPECTACULAR. I LOVE TOTO and ALL the WONDERFUL, MAGICAL characters: The LION, SCARECROW & TINMAN. Just recently I had the great honor to dance & be in Elton John’s new music video, “GOOD-BYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD”. Elton is obviously influenced by The Wizard as well and I was THRILLED. I told the director, David LaChapelle that The Wizard of OZ is my favorite movie. The whole shoot is truly one of my most inspiring to date. And – I just heard VAMPIRA passed away. I definitely want to mention that I was in Kevin Michael’s brilliant documentary on her called VAMPIRA!!!!!I was interviewed with Debbie D & shared how Maila Nurmi influenced & inspired me as a Scream Queen!!!! It’s one of my latest projects.VAMPIRA is now on sale on the internet. Last but not least – let me mention Boris Karloff & Bella Lugosi who totally influenced my affinity for HORROR!!!!

Brian: The Goldie Hawn comedy Protocol is among your first credits. Was it exciting to be involved with such a fun and substantial product?

Debbie: It was an AMAZING experience to work with Goldie Hawn! I remember HOW EXCITED I was when I got the part. The competition was TOUGH!!!!! I had to dance as part of the audition. I played a young Safari Girl, a waitress at the Safari Club where Goldie meets with the Arab king. It’s a major part of the movie and it was SO MUCH FUN to shoot. I was on the picture for two weeks, and the money was great!!!!! But most importantly, I worked with LEGENDARY ACTORS and the director Herbert Ross! Goldie was so magnanimous, sweet and amazingly talented. She was so considerate of all of the actors and crew, and gave us a party! I remember that she invited her mother to the set and I love my mother so much, so that really touched my heart! Working on Protocol was a big break for me. I then got in several major studio pictures. D.C. Cab, Miami Vice, Action Jackson, The Man Who Wasn’t There & Torchlight. Being in Protocol filled me with hope that I could be in major movies with major stars! Most importantly – Goldie Hawn, an adorable, sexy, bubbly & funny actress that I grew up watching on Laugh In as a little girl. She has truly been an influence on me as an actress. I’ve been critiqued as being like her.

Brian: Sorority Girls and the Creature From Hell seems to be your major entrance into the Scream Queen Hall of Fame. What would you say have been the most lasting effects from appearing in this cult favorite?

Debbie: I was cast as Mary Anne in Sorority Girls & the Creature from Hell. In fact, the role was written for me. I was just entering into a new phase in my career: from playing supporting roles in “A” flicks to lead roles in “B’s”. It was a WONDERFUL opportunity to carry a picture. Even though it’s a talented ensemble cast, I was singled out by SCREAM QUEEN ILLUSTRATED. When it played on USA UP ALL NIGHT hosted by Rhonda Shear, I was listed in T.V. Guide with top billing. I became a celebrity in the horror genre. This gave me the confidence that I can make a movie a hit and that I had fans. This made me even more dedicated to always give my BEST performance from my heart & soul. I have infinite gratitude and appreciation for my fans for making me a Scream Queen! Sorority Girls also deepened my faith in the power to believe that we can make our dreams come true – which has been my motto!

Brian: Please tell me all you can about your involvement in the genre crossing Hard to Die! This is truly one of the best B Movies ever made with supernatural possession, action film parody, shower scene antics and an amazing cast of Video Movie royalty (you, Melissa Moore, Karen Mayo Chandler, Kelli Maroney and Gail Harris)! Wow! That it is not available on DVD is a crime!

Debbie: Brian, I AGREE!!!!! I’ve been asking Jim Wynorski to do a sequel for years!!!!!! I LOVED my part of Jackie Webster!!!! I didn’t even have to audition. Jim, the director cast me because he wanted me. I played myself with that comedic campiness! It was SUCH A BLAST!!!!I LOVED working with EVERYONE in the film! Forrie Ackerman is a LEGEND!!!! Working with Jim Wynorski was great!!!! Jim knows exactly what he wants and ALWAYS makes a hit! One morning about 6:00 AM, Roger Corman showed up. I was filming the stairwell scene where I need to do some serious stunt work. We were on an unbelievable tough shooting schedule, since B flicks don’t have the luxury of time and Roger was watching me. I gave Orville, played by Peter Spellos, a karate chop, knee kick & pushed him down the stairs -1, 2, 3. I pulled it off!!!!!! I LOVE that scene! Hard to Die was definitely one of my favorite Scream Queen flicks. I loved Melissa, Gail, Bridget & Karen, who I miss. We are friends to this day and I’m saddened by Karen’s early passing. (Note: Karen Mayo Chandler who appeared in many genre films like Out of the Dark recently died of cancer.) My favorite scene, though, is my death scene. It’s SO FUNNY when I finally take the AK 47 bullet & I hit the floor. I couldn’t keep my legs from flying up in the air. Everyone on the set cracked up and Jim said, “KEEP IT”! The experience will always be a “Golden Memory”.

Brian: How did you get to the level of emotional disturbance needed to create the volatile opening moments of Mind Twister – another bad-ass genre film special?

Debbie: I LOVED that moment. I was trained on Broadway and I use the Strasberg technique, “Emotional Recall”. So I used my fear of crashing through a glass window to my death and also used the feeling from the bondage with the ball in my mouth tied around my head! I asked for it to be tight so that I could use the suffocation as part of my preparation. I have to share this “back story” on how I got the role of Sheila Harrison. I was at a party and was talking to Fred Olen Ray. He asked me to come in for the part since it was one of the last two cast. He’s SO COOL!!!! He asked me if I could do my own stunts since he didn’t want to hire a separate stunt girl for the part. He asked me if I could CRASH THROUGH A SUGAR GLASS WINDOW in one take, since they didn’t have anymore in the budget! I said, “OF COURSE!” He knew me and my work through Jim and he said, “You’ve got the part!” I found out later that they had 3 windows, but I DID IT IN ONE TAKE! After that I called myself,” One Take Deb”! On a more sensitive note, I had the great chance to meet and talk with TELLY SAVALAS, who was always an idol to me because I watched him as a little girl in KOJAK! This was one of his last movies. He was just like Kojak -very cool. Also, Richard Roundtree, another amazing actor was in the movie.

Brian: Your films include everything from the Vice Academy series to The Haunting of Morella. Do you prefer performing comedy or the tense drama needed to relate situations of extremity – or do you like a combination of both?

Debbie: I LOVE BOTH DRAMA & COMEDY!!!!!I LOVED working on The Haunting of Morella! It’s a great movie and it still shows a lot in London. Once again, I was cast by Jim Wynorski, who is a great friend & director. He explained that the part of the serving girl wasn’t just a bit. It was a through line through the entire movie. It was an important part of the dramatic story. The fire & my image in the flames was added
later in editing and is SO COOL!! ! I remember Jim being excited when he told me about it. It was so intense when I’m in the antique bath tub and I got my throat slashed. I had to lie in a pool of cinema blood seemingly forever and it was COLD!!!! But everyone was so considerate of me, it was FUN!!!! I got to work with such great actors like David McCallum, who I also watched as a little girl on T.V., Nicole Eggert & the late Lana Clarkson. Another FAB experience on the silver screen!!!! The Vice Academy’s were SO MUCH FUN!!!! Rick Sloan basically wrote the parts for me. He wanted me to be as outrageous as I wanted!!!!! Liz Kaiten is a wonderful friend to me to this day. I think there’s always a blend of both comedy & drama in a character in any movie, but it’s important to be true to the style & essence of the story. It wouldn’t be appropriate to make the audience laugh in a serious scene and vice versa. But, I’m always open & vulnerable to this reality. I LOVED working in both these flicks!

Brian: Do you have any specific memories about working on Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold – a classic parody of the 1950’s Science Fiction epics? Your comic fumbling as Nurse Williams practically steals the entire show!

Brian: 60 Foot Centerfold was another great film by Fred Olen Ray. He asked me to play the part of Nurse Williams and I was thrilled to work with him again as well as Michelle Bauer. Many of the actors involved were my friends. I saw the Nurse as “kooky, sexy & cute”, which is one of my specialties. It’s so much fun to bring out that Marilyn Monroe/Goldie Hawn in me. They have always been a major influence on me in my work, especially in the cute, funny sexy roles. The scene where we’re all running all over the place is hilarious!!!! We improvised a lot of it and that makes the moment even funnier and spontaneous – bigger then life!!!! That’s reality comedy. 60 Ft. deservedly became a big cult hit! I’m honored to have worked with both Fred and Jim. They truly set the bar in this genre.

Brian: How would you compare your present self as a performer to the younger actress who elicited such a powerful impression in such fun fare as The Man Who Wasn’t There (another darling performance) and your first feature Deep Jaws?

Debbie: When I was cast in THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE, it was definitely the high point of my young career. I was studying with Milton Katseles, a famous acting coach and the likes of Michelle Pfeiffer, Delta Burke, Miguel Ferrer, Mary Hart, Marilyn McCoo, Rita Wilson and many more up & rising stars were in my class. I was doing a scene and Bruce Malmuth, the director of NIGHT HAWKS & HARD TO KILL, was also in my class. The next week I got a call from my agent that I was booked in THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE. I didn’t even have to audition! Bruce was AMAZING! Also Jeffrey Tambor who plays the Russian, Boris, was incredible. They taught me so much about bringing forth my greatest potential on the screen & creating a human character! These lessons are still with me and I use what I learned then in ALL my roles to date: To be in the moment, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF & BE REAL AND TRUTHFUL!!!! Art is LIFE!

Brian: If you could imbue with the world with any emotion or permanent sense of being – what would it be?

Debbie: I always BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE! I want to share with everyone TO NEVER GIVE UP ON OUR DREAMS & MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE! But we have to take action, make the causes that will manifest our absolute victory. It’s important to work hard, diligently perfecting your craft as an artist, persevering and challenging every obstacle and overcoming them. Faith is a major part of my self on this incredible journey. I chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo which is a Buddhist mantra that means: fusion with the mystic law of cause & effect through sound. It gives me that inner strength & high life condition that I need to succeed in this difficult mission. Tina Turner chants this mantra in her film, WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT.

Brian: Lastly, any final thoughts, news of future projects or words of advice (IE: Never defy a dinosaur wearing a leather thong in a Fred Olen Ray production) that you’d like to leave us with? And thanks – you truly are a Queen!!

Debbie: I’m so proud of all my new films. My latest flicks that I’d like to mention are KILL THE SCREAM QUEEN, BEAST, THE LAST RUN, AMERICAN RIDE, DEAD AIR and ABSOLUTE HORROR. KILL THE SCREAM QUEEN was a real cool flick with S and M, produced & directed by Bill Zebub. I was in it with my girlfriend Debbie D who is a wonderful Scream Queen. It was so awesome to work with these two East Coast talents. I LOVE being Bi-Coastal! BEAST is directed by Gary Levinson and is really scary. I don’t want to give away the plot, but you can see some cool stills & synopsis on my website: www.DebbieDutch.com. THE LAST RUN is an “A” movie starring Fred Savage. It’s not horror, but a totally HOTT flick just released on DVD. You can rent at Blockbuster. AMERICAN RIDE is a series of 3 hip flicks, documentary style, which will be released sometime in ’08, directed by the amazing Carey Borth. DEAD AIR is now being played on T.V. in various territories and is a very exciting drama/horror. The producer, Morgana Morgan, also is producing my upcoming DREAM movie, THE HOLLYWOOD WARRIORESS. Also, I’d like to pr my latest horror appearance as a Guest Star in ABSOLUTE HORROR! It is a really scary horror flick written & directed by Steve Oakley, with a hot young ensemble of actors from MTV. More info is found on my website as well as its own site. I’d love to mention, again, that recently I had the great privilege to be in ELTON JOHN’S music video, GOOD-BYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD directed by the brilliant David La Chappelle. I was also recommended to a talented celebrity photographer from London, Jon Cottam, to be photographed for his exciting exhibit opening in London next fall. These are all some of the high points of my career to date! I’m so fortunate that at this point in my life – the best is yet to come!!!!!! I have infinite gratitude & appreciation to all my fans for bringing me to this Victory in my life!!!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

(Above and Second image courtesy of Jon Cottam – Introductory photo by David Polcino.)