The Caroline Munro Archive: Lay Her Among the Lilies by James Hadley Chase, Corgi Books, 1974

by John Scoleri

Welcome to the latest installment of this semi-regular feature on bare•bones where I share rarities from my Caroline Munro collection.

This week, we celebrate lovely Caroline's 70th Birthday with this long sought-after gem (which actually arrived on her Birthday 1/16). It's another paperback with her photograph on the (in this case wraparound) cover!

Lay Her Among the Lilies by James Hadley Chase was originally published in 1950. In the 1970s, Corgi published a series of Chase's novels with similar trade dress using different models on the covers. This is the only one that I'm aware of in the series with Caroline; if you know of others, please post a comment below!

Regular readers will recall that this isn't the first time I've covered a James Hadley Chase novel with Caroline on the cover. Caroline also graced the hardcover edition of Chase's believe this... you'll believe anything.

Check out the other installments in this series, and keep checking back, as there are a lot more items where these came from!

The Caroline Munro Archive: Woman's Mirror - September 17, 1966

by John Scoleri

I'm back again with yet another rarity from my Caroline Munro collection, a continuing series here on bare•bones.

This time out is an advertisement in the Woman's Mirror in 1966.

Woman's Mirror

September 17, 1966

A seventeen year-old Caroline appears in an advertisement for Number Seven All-In-One make-up in this very rare advertisement.

Keep an eye out for more Caroline Munro rarities here on bare•bones, and be sure to check out the prior entries in this series!

The Caroline Munro Archive: Australasian Post - November 28, 1968

by John Scoleri

I'm back again with yet another rarity from my Caroline Munro collection, a continuing series here on bare•bones.

This time out is a brief magazine appearance in the Australasian Post in 1968.

Australasian Post

November 28, 1968

"A Tarzan's Mate"

Obviously the ideal mate for some cinematic Tarzan is out-of-doors girl, Caroline Munro, 19. Caroline, a real swinger, is now in Italy to make "Talent for Loving" with Richard Widmark. She first appeared briefly, in "Casino Royale"...

Keep an eye out for more Caroline Munro rarities here on bare•bones, and be sure to check out the prior entries in this series!

The Caroline Munro Archive: Join the Lamb's Navy... Again

by John Scoleri

I'm back again with yet more rarities from my Caroline Munro collection, a continuing series here on bare•bones.

I previously posted a selection of Lamb's Navy Rum beer coasters I procured with shots of Caroline on them. I was excited to find what I thought was another batch of those, only to be pleasantly surprised when the following landed on my doorstep. These were not smaller beer coasters, but in fact larger bar mats (each measuring approximately 11" x 8"). 

This is a great shot from a previously unseen Lamb's Navy Rum photo shoot.

This photo is from the same shoot as this previously posted magazine cover.

This image pairs well with one of the aforementioned beer coasters.

Watch for more Caroline Munro rarities here on bare•bones, and be sure to check out the prior entries in this series!

The Caroline Munro Archive: Getting Romantic

by John Scoleri

I'm back again with yet another rarity from my Caroline Munro collection, a continuing series here on bare•bones.

Several times in her early modeling career, Caroline appeared on the cover of music albums. I previously posted my copy of Hot Hits 11 and The Mike Morton Congregation album NON STOP HITS Volume 6.

In 1966, a 17 year-old Caroline appeared on the cover of the George Chisholm album Getting Romantic on the Philips Label (6856 013).

Once again, the cover art is the only reason I can see buying this particular album, but then I'm not susceptible to:

the 

romantic 

gorgeous 

trombone 

sound of

GEORGE CHISHOLM

with

organ

and rhythm

in

GETTING

ROMANTIC

says

I gotta right to sing the blues

All this and heaven too

Someone to watch over me

Long ago (and far away)

The man I love

Embraceable you

By the fireside

Boy next door

But beautiful

Body and soul

I love you much too much

If I could be with you (one hour tonight)

Watch for more Caroline Munro rarities here on bare•bones, and be sure to check out the prior entries in this series!

The Caroline Munro Archive: Titan's Captain Kronos Comic Covers

by John Scoleri

I'm back again with more from my Caroline Munro collection, a continuing series here on bare•bones.

Last year, Titan Comics released a series licensed from Hammer Studios based on the 1974 film, Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter. Wisely, one set of variant covers was christened Hammer Glamour, and featured photos of Caroline, who starred in the film as Carla.

Surprisingly, only one of the four covers actually utilized a photo from Captain Kronos; the other three used publicity images (two black and white, one color) shot for Dracula A.D. '72.

Caroline in her costume as Laura Bellows from Dracula A.D. '72

Caroline (appropriately) as Carla in Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter

Another great shot of Caroline in her costume as Laura Bellows from Dracula A.D. '72(Don't think dropping a photo of Horst Janson in the background will fool us!)

A publicity shot of Caroline from Dracula A.D. '72(Even Horst appears to be thinking, "Why am I here?")

I haven't read the series myself, which is described as picking up where the film left off. If you missed out on the individual issues, or your local comic shop didn't carry it, there is a trade paperback is due out in April, and it will likely include the variant covers. You can pre-order a copy here.

Watch for more Caroline Munro rarities here on bare•bones, and be sure to check out the prior entries in this series!

The Caroline Munro Archive: Manikin Cigars Calendar

by John Scoleri

I'm back again with yet another rarity from my Caroline Munro collection, a continuing series here on bare•bones. As we're celebrating Caroline's Birthday this week (January 16th), we'll consider this a special Birthday installment!

One of the many ad campaigns Caroline Munro worked on in the early 70s was for Manikin Cigars. My friend and fellow collector Holger Haase was the first to upload a copy of the Manikin Cigar commercial 10 years ago, and since then a slightly longer, higher quality version has surfaced:

Most fans know that Caroline appeared in several Lamb's Navy Rum calendars throughout her 10-year tenure with the brand, but until recently, I was unaware that she also made an appearance on a calendar for Manikin Cigars (circa 1970-71). I was pleased to add this particular rarity to my collection, as it contains three great images of Caroline tied to the commercial shoot above.

Fans may also recognize this shoot as the source of two unauthorized topless photos of Caroline that have been circulating for many years (after first appearing in Japanese publications). Out of respect for Caroline, you won't find those here, but I assume her devout fans are already be familiar with the images in question.

If you have any information about further Manikin campaigns featuring Caroline (be it print, commercial or calendars), please leave a comment below!

Watch for more Caroline Munro rarities here on bare•bones, and be sure to check out the prior entries in this series!

The Caroline Munro Archive: The Daily Telegraph Magazine, September 22, 1967

by John Scoleri

I'm back again with yet another rarity from my Caroline Munro collection, a continuing series here on bare•bones.

50 years ago today, an 18 year-old Caroline Munro was featured in an article on "The Success of British Beauty" in The Daily Telegraph Magazine. Alongside a brief write-up were 7 lovely photos, included below.

The Daily Telegraph Magazine 

Number 155

September 22, 1967

Pages 26-27

Caroline Munroe (sic) 18, is a model girl and a small-part player in films, including Casino Royale. She evolved her own make-up techniques. Her private-life make-up usually consists of bright orange or pink lipstick, masses of mascara on the upper and lower lashes, eye shadow, and nothing else whatsoever. 

Off-duty, she particularly dislikes wearing a make-up which labels her unmistakably as a model because she finds that the top girls avoid such obvious professionalism. 

“What the top girls have learned to do is to look pretty and to walk well, but there is nothing gimmicky about them,” she said.

For a demonstration in sheer style, she admires Rita Tushingham and Jean Shrimpton. 

Watch for more Caroline Munro rarities here on bare•bones, and be sure to check out the prior entries in this series!

The Caroline Munro Archive: Cinema TV Today, December 11, 1971

by John Scoleri

I'm back again with yet another rarity from my Caroline Munro collection, a continuing series here on bare•bones.

Today we're looking at a brief appearance in Cinema TV today.

Cinema TV Today 

Number 9959

Saturday, December 11, 1971

A Yummy Victim for Dracula

This yummy young lady is Caroline Munro who plays Laura Bellows in Hammer's "Dracula Today," a modern horror story set in trendy Chelsea.

We're sure that there would be many willing candidates to join the Dracula sect if their victims could all be as pretty as Caroline.

At 17 Caroline was already modeling, successfully we feel, as today at 22 she has three films to her credit and has just won a year's contract with Hammer Films.

Watch for more Caroline Munro rarities here on bare•bones, and be sure to check out the prior entries in this series!

The Caroline Munro Archive: Mid-1970s Leading and Younger Leading Women directory listing

by John Scoleri

Welcome to the latest installment of this semi-regular feature on bare•bones in which I share rarities from my Caroline Munro collection. 

1974 Photo by Victor Blackman

This time out, I'm sharing a page from a mid-1970s UK acting directory. 

Caroline (5' 7") is included in the section on Leading and Younger Leading Women. Her recent films listed are A Talent for Loving (highlighting the fact that it was a Paramount picture), The Curse of Dr. Phibes (aka The Abominable Dr. Phibes), Dracula Today (aka Dracula A.D. 1972), Phibes Rises Again (aka Dr. Phibes Rises Again), Captain Kronos (aka Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter), The Golden Voyage of Sinbad and I Don't Want to Be Born (aka The Devil Within Her). A television appearance on the Des O'Connor Show is also called out (Caroline appeared on the show on June 26, 1971).

Check back regularly for more rarities from the Caroline Munro Archive!

The Caroline Munro Archive: Adam 1969 Calendar

by John Scoleri

Welcome to the latest installment of this semi-regular feature on bare•bones in which I share rarities from my Caroline Munro collection.

You may recall from prior installments Caroline's being featured own the cover and inside Adam Magazine in 1968, and her subsequent return to the cover in 1969. Between those two appearances, she was featured on the back cover of the magazine's 1969 Calendar for the month of December.

Adam 1969 Calendar  

What finer gift could a man get on Christmas morning than Carolyn Monroe (sic), all dressed up in a double breasted birthday suit? She’s 38-23-37.

The Caroline Munro Archive: Rain on the Wind by Walter Macken, Pan Books, 1970

by John Scoleri

Welcome to the latest installment of this semi-regular feature on bare•bones in which I share rarities from my Caroline Munro collection. 

This time out, I'm sharing another instance of Caroline Munro appearing on the cover of a novel. Rain on the Wind by Walter Macken is described as drama, excitement and romance amid the terrible beauty of Galway’s Atlantic seaboard. It's worth noting that this is the 1970 paperback edition from Pan Books (033002454X), of which a handful of affordable used copies are available through Amazon.

The Caroline Munro Archive: Personas, October 15, 1973

by John Scoleri

Welcome to the latest installment of this semi-regular feature on bare•bones in which I share rarities from my Caroline Munro collection. This time out we look at an early appearance in the Spanish magazine Personas, promoting what was to be an appearance in the Richard Burton film The Voyage. It looks like Caroline ultimately did not appear in the film, although that is solely based on her and the film's credits as listed on IMDB. I think I'll have to seek out a copy to see if she appears in an uncredited cameo.

Personas
Number 39
October 15, 1973

Caroline Munro: A Voyage with Richard Burton (Translated from Spanish - original article below)

Caroline Munro, twenty-two, has married the American singer Judd Hamilton in Las Vegas, who she met on the film in A Talent for Loving in Spain.

"Oh! If I remember correctly, during the filming of A Talent for Loving, I fell off of a horse. However, in spite of several fractured bones, I finished the role as best as I could."

Other films in which Caroline had occasion to shine, both her artistic talent and anatomical merits. Those films include Dr. Phibes Rises Again, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad.

"I am very excited about my latest film, The Trip (El Viaje, aka The Voyage), that is being filmed now with Richard Burton. The director is Vittorio de Sica, who discovered me through my appearance on the cover of an Italian magazine."

Caroline has every reason to be excited. Vittorio de Sica and Richard Burton are two names capable of making a star out of a totally unknown actress, although this is not exactly the case of this beautiful Scottish woman.

"No, I do not know Richard Burton personally, but I admire him a lot as an actor and I hope he's a good film-mate."

Caroline has an apartment in London for her continuous trips to Europe, and has now rented a farm in Italy where she will reside during the making of her next film.

Carolyn (sic) Munro, un "Viaje" con Richard Burton

Carolyn (sic) Munro, de veintidós años, se ha casado con el cantante americano Judd Hamilton en Las Vegas y ha rodado su primera película en España.

—¡Oh!, si me acuerdo perfectamente. Se llamaba <<A Talent for Loving>> y en una escena un poco violenta me caí del caballo. No obstante, a pesar de varias fracturas de huesos, acabé el rodaje como pude.

Después vinieron otras películas, en las que Carolyn (sic) tenía ocasión de lucir, a partes iguales, su talento artístico y sus méritos anatómicos. Entre estos títulos figuran <<Dr. Phibes Rises Again>>, <<Abominable>>, y <<Sinbad’s Golden Voyage>>.

—Estoy muy ilusionada con mi película, <<The Trip>> (El Viaje), que se está rodando ahora con Richard Burton. El director es Vittorio de Sica, que me descubrió a través de la portada de una revista italiana.

Carolyn (sic) tiene toda la razón del mundo para sentirse ilusionada. Vittorio de Sica y Richard Burton son dos nombres capaces de consagrar a una actriz totalmente desconocida, aunque éste no es exactamente el case de la bella escocesa.

—No, personalmente no conozco a Richard Burton, pero le admiro mucho como actor y espero que sea un agradable compañero de rodaje.

Carolyn (sic), tiene un apartamento en Londres para sus continuous desplazamientos a Europa y ahora ha alquilado une finca en Italia donde residirá durante el rodaje de la próxima película.

Check back regularly for more rarities from the Caroline Munro Archive!

The Caroline Munro Archive: Nuevo Fotogramas, April 4, 1969

by John Scoleri

Welcome to the latest installment of this semi-regular feature on bare•bones in which I share rarities from my Caroline Munro collection. This time out we look at an early appearance in the Spanish magazine Nuevo Fotogramas, promoting her appearance in the film A Talent for Loving.

Nuevo Fotogramas
Number 1068
April 4, 1969

Caroline Munro, seven years of cinema ahead (Translated from Spanish - original article below)

When Caroline Munro was in Madrid, she was pleasantly surprised by its beauty. Caroline’s second role is in the film A Talent for Loving, directed by Richard Quine, the ex-fiancé of Kim Novak. Caroline is nineteen years-old, is English, and comes from the field of advertising and modeling. One rainy night, a producer from Paramount saw her and offered her an exclusive seven-year contract. Caroline left the world of advertising soups behind and launched into cinematographic orbit. Her career in cinema got rolling opposite Stanley Baker in Where’s Jack. In her second film, A Talent for Loving, the script has her portraying the daughter of Richard Widmark. During the filming of a violent scene, she was injured falling off a horse. Luckily the accident was not as bad as it first appeared. It’s clear Caroline is destined to become a star. With her seven year guaranteed contract, it’s very possible that she will become a new film queen. And Caroline has nothing against horses,  as can be seen in the accompanying photograph.

Caroline Munro, siete años de cine por delante

Cuando Caroline Munro estuvo en Madrid sorprendió agradablemente a todos por su belleza y gran temperamento. Caroline vino a rodar su segunda película: <<Talento para amar>>, bajo la dirección de Richard Quine, el famoso ex novio de Kim Novak. Caroline cuenta diecinueve años, es inglesa y procede del campo de los <<spots>> publicitarios. Un día, a la salida de un estreno, en una noche de lluvia, un productor de la Paramount se fijó en ella y le ofreció un contracto en exclusiva por siete años. Caroline dejó los anuncios de sopas y se plantó en la órbita cinematográfica. Debutó en el cine rodando Where’s Jack junto a Stanley Baker. Su segundo film fue <<Talento para amar>> , en el que interpretaba el papel de hija de Richard Widmark. Durante el rodaje de una escena violenta resultó accidentada al caer de un caballo. Afortunadamente el accidente no resultó la importancia que en un principio se temía. Lo que es evidente es que Caroline está llamada a convertirse en una <<star>>. Su contracto de siete años la avala suficientemente y es muy posible que la veamos durante mucho tiempo como una nueva reina del celuloide. Caroline, que no guarda rancor a los caballos, se ha dejado fotografiar junto a uno de ellos para demostrado.

Check back regularly for more rarities from the Caroline Munro Archive!

The Caroline Munro Archive: The Horns of Truth by T.B. Morris

by John Scoleri

I'm back again with yet another rarity from my Caroline Munro collection, a continuing series here on bare•bones.

In a prior installment I showcased Caroline's appearance on the cover to James Hadley Chase's novel believe this... you'll believe anything, published by Robert Hale & Company in London in 1975.

This time out, we look at her appearance on The Horns of Truth by T.B. Morris, also published by Robert Hale & Company in London, this one from 1972.

From the inside jacket flap:

Torr Melkarth, seducer and possible murderer of the young girl, Ismene Pandouros, returns to Crete after years of absence to face her father, Manoli, once his friend and now unwillingly set against him in a blood feud. Theo Bruce, once assistant to archaeologist Simon Melkarth and lover of his daughter, Ariadne, who had left the island at the time of Torr's escape from justice, learns of Torr's purpose and — himself under a compulsion of conscience — goes ahead of Torr to warn Ariadne. Theo finds a fresh entanglement with Ariadne's younger sister, Freda, and increasing tension in the Melkarth household where Simon and Ariadne also have bitter secrets from the past. 

Conflicts of love and hatred lead to further tragedies and deaths in an island of passion on a night of storm. The principals and the earthly villagers who may be seen as a chorus, become involved in a labyrinth of spiritual and physical stress which has the underlying shadows of the myth of Ariadne, Theseus and the Minotaur.

The Caroline Munro Archive: ABC Film Review, March 19

by John Scoleri

Welcome to the latest installment of this semi-regular feature on bare•bones in which I share rarities from my Caroline Munro collection. This time out we look at an early appearance in ABC Film Review, promoting her appearance in Dracula A.D. 1972 (referenced herein as Dracula Today).

ABC Film Review
Vol. 22 No. 3
March, 1972

It's Back to the Coffin for Caroline by Frank Law

Caroline Munro, who made her film debut in The Abominable Dr. Phibes as the doctor's embalmed wife, has recently completed the sequel, Dr. Phibes Rises Again — still resting in peace. 'A lovely role for a lazy actress,' Caroline quipped. 'All you have to do is lie in a coffin looking beautiful but dead.'

Caroline Munro shares a tomb for two with Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr. Phibes.

You may recall Caroline looking very much more alive as our double-page pin-up last month. She posed for that portrait while making Dracula Today (sic).

In the days when she was a top model, Caroline wouldn't have dreamed of appearing in a studio other than with every hair immaculately in place. Now, however, starting a second career as a serious if more than usually decorative actress, she's quite happy to go before the camera 'all mussed up' if the script demands, and has exchanged the fabulous wardrobe she wore for fashion photographer's like Duffy, for 'most often a blood-stained shroud'. She did, however, have a chance to show off her super long legs and slim figure in one section of Dracula Today where she is attired in what Caroline herself describes as 'an off-beat hot pants outfit with bare midriff and lots of fringe trim'.

In a derelict church, Caroline is involved in rather devilish goings-on, in Dracula Today.

It was Caroline's striking facial beauty which got her into films in the first place. A Scot by descent but born in Windsor 'right opposite the castle', Caroline was brought up at a Rottingdean convent. Disappointed because she didn't have the full academic qualifications for the place at Art School she so badly wanted, her self-confidence flagged. Her mother's solution was a course at the Lucy Clayton modeling school. 'At that stage,' says Caroline, 'I didn't know what to do, but the school made up my mind for me when they fixed my first assignment only days after my graduation.' In fact Caroline was sent on a six-day trip to Malta modeling Acrilan dresses for famous fashion photographer Brian Duffy. 

'I was very green in the modeling business and when I was asked to lie down in the sea fully clad in a dress — well frankly I thought it was a bit absurd,' Caroline recalls. 'However, I did as I was told and that was the shot which the sponsors picked as the lead picture for their campaign.'

Later, when Caroline's photo appeared in the American edition of Vogue, came a cable from the head of Paramount Studios: 'Find that girl and get her tested.' They did, and the result was a role in Talent for Loving (sic) starring Richard Widmark and Topol, in which Caroline plays a Mexican-American girl. 

Unfortunately, due to internal problems, the rest of Paramount's option on Caroline's contract was not taken up, but she says 'frankly I am not too sorry now because this has enabled me to accept work from Hammer. I love working on their pictures—there's a wonderfully friendly atmosphere and everyone wants to help a comparative beginner like me.'

During the breaks between shooting of Dracula Today, Caroline found time to make a whole bedspread in patchwork knitting to adorn her luxury flat in the Water Gardens near Marble Arch W1. However, she doesn't make her own clothes—but prefers to shop for the latest trends not in Chelsea but in Oxford Street. 

She defines the style she most admires for both men and women as 'casual/smart' and likes the occasional really unusual item, such as the red velvet Kaftan she wore in Dracula Today and covets for her own off-duty use.

She likes to see men, including her husband singer Jud Hamilton to whom she has been married 18 months, dressed up when the occasion demands in the more extravagant type of gear such as velvet suits and frilly shirts.

Although 'mad about clothes' Caroline claims to be relatively frugal in her purchasing. 'My only real extravagance is boots which I have to have hand made—because like most models I have Garbo size feet—and can't find the fashionable styles I want in normal ranges.'

Stay tuned for more rarities from my Caroline Munro Archive!