Old Picture

Here is Diana pictured on stage at the Swindon Empire Theatre, aged 5.

Diana in "The Long Haul"

Diana featured in a seemingly forgotten film "The Long Haul" released in 1957. Starring Victor Mature, Gene Anderson, Patrick Allen and Diana, this is one of many films from yesteryear which are sadly difficult to find.

Pictured here, Diana pouring champagne over her own personalised truck.

Synopsis taken from imdb:

After being discharged from the U.S. Army in Germany, Harry reluctantly follows his wife to England where he lands a job as a truck driver. It is

not long before his boss, Joe Easy, tries to involve the ex G.I. in a smuggling operation. Harry first resists but Joe throws Lynn, his own

mistress, into his arms and he soon forsakes his scruples. After Lynn has become his lover Harry leaves his wife. When he feels

he has made enough money, he considers getting back to the

States with Lynn. But just then an accident happens to Butch, his young son.

Kensington Gardens

As seen in this picture with Diana walking through the gardens. This area is the the Italian Gardens area of the park and remains largely unchanged from when the film was filmed.

This area is completely at contrast to the other parts of the film, set in a dark and dingy prison cell. To me this scene is particularly poignant because of this. Diana, or Mary, walks through the gardens slowly, and with the poem being read throughout the film, highlights her days being numbered and she wouldn't see this beauty again. I think this was further highlighted by her clothes in this scene with them being very dark and gloomy. The black and white filming of the film also add to this gloom.

Away for a while

I am away for this week so unfortunately there will be no updates.
I'll be back with lots of news things.

Starsigns - Libra

Diana developed a liking for starsigns and the meaning about them. She once said Librans are "without a doubt the most argumentative men in the world". She backed this up by the fact her father was a Libra. Diana had frequent rows with her father growing up as he didn't approve of her ambitions to be a film star. In fact her fathers favourite phrase was saying he "washed his hands of her", something that obviously stuck in Dianas mind throughout her life.
She went on to say male Librans are convinced they are right all the time. Sounds like a male trait in general to me (joke)

Diana Dors - It's Too Late

Diana Dors - It's Too Late (1964)

The A side to 'So Little Time'. No idea what happened to the first 30 seconds of the pictures, it plays perfectly off youtube, once on youtube it cut all that off for some obscure reason.

Diana on egotism

In her book 'Behind Closed Dors', Diana talks about egotism and one rare incident where she was guilty of it. She was invited to a garden fete, for which she'd be paid a small fee. She took her Husband, Alan Lake and their son, Jason along too. They were having a nice time and Diana was centre of attention, having her photograph taken everywhere and people making nice comments. In her words, she was 'wallowing in supreme egotism'. She was making a speech when Jason butted in with a comment of 'Mummy....how much are you being paid for this?'.
No sooner had she recovered from this embarrassment, a woman rushed out from the crowd waving a piece of paper for Diana to sign. She exclaimed "I knew it must have been you Diana, because I recognise your husband!"

Diana Dors - Where Did They Go?

In 1982 Diana recorded and released a single called 'Where Did They Go', which is all but lost from records and is now a fairly rare record. A lovely track, Diana sings of her past life, very akin to "Those Were The Days" by Mark Hopkin. It's a poignant song as it was recorded while she was battling against cancer.

On the b-side is a duet with her son 'Gary' who had a good singing voice too himself, in a track called 'It's You Again' written by Gary.

I am planning to record a video of it playing on my record player and put it on youtube at some point and I'll post it on the blog once I do so too. It would be such a shame for this gem of a record to be lost completely.

Kip Gowans

Diana met Kip on the set for Oliver Twist. Despite Diana dressed in Dickensian clothes and dirt smeared all over her face, Kip took a liking to the 15 year-old Diana. Diana was attracted to his looks and confidence and she agreed to a date with him. He didn't take her to the cinema or for dinner, rather to Ruislip woods and as they lay on the grass battle ensued. Diana, still, in many ways admirably a virgin, fought off Kip's advances much to his disappointment. Despite this awkward date, they went on a second one which again turned out to be disasterous. Again they went to the woods and the same battle ensued.

Kip walked her back to the station muttering he'd see her around and that was the end of their brief romance. It had a profound affect on Diana, whom started to question herself and why she couldn't behave like whoever Kipp was to get with next. She wondered why she valued her virginity more than others around her and the whole ordeal certainly contributed to her growing up. Diana would wait for a long time for him to call again but he never did.

Kip ended up marrying Lee-Ann Remick and had a successful career as a director and producer.






Lee-Ann and Kip

Diana's Claustrophobia

Diana's birth took nearly a week and her mother, Mary nearly as a result. Diana was cast aside by doctors as they battled to keep Mary alive, Diana meanwhile was revived by a nurse nextdoor. As a result of this near-suffocation Diana suffered from Claustrophobia for the rest of her life. It makes me wonder whether this claustrophobia contributed to her brilliant performance in a prison cell in Yield To The Night. Just a thought though.

Her mother took a long to recover from the birth but she did and she devoted her love to Diana, much to her husband's/ Diana's father's annoyance.

Yield To The Night Poem

A Loveliest Tree - A.E. Housman

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow


Parts of this poem are read out at various places during the film by Diana/ Mary as she stares the prospect of death in the face. This is the poem in full, a beautiful poem made even more beautiful from Diana's soft, delicate voice.

Diana Dors Tribute Video

Thanks to williebeable21too for making this tribute video of Diana.

It has lots of nice clips of Diana in films, tv and other scenes too set against music that is perfect for the montage in my opinion.

Yield To The Night pictures

Here are some stills taken from the fantastic 'Yield To The Night' where Diana puts in a mesmerisingly good performance. I will write more about the film itself in upcoming posts.
This film is widely regarded by critics as Diana's best work and it is certainly amongst her best. It's difficult to name for definite her best work as there is so much to choose from but this perfomance in 'Yield to The Night' is one of the best displays of acting I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing. She made the part her own and she really understood the role she was playing perfectly. She delivers each line thoughtfully but naturally through her great talent and guile.

Diana Dors - Glamour with grit

This picture sums up Diana's wonderful mix of glamour and grit perfectly. The backdrop of a normal English housing estate, with Diana looking dazzling stepping out of a car with grace.

Diana's down to earth nature, sensitive and kind personality was one of her great charms, she never let the fame and glamour carry her away and the public loved her for it.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

No prizes for spotting Diana here! She's given a front row standing. Many people I've spoken to confuse her for Marilyn Monroe on this, however Marilyn is of course a couple of rows behind in the centre, her face is the only part visible. I have always loved how Diana has pride of place on this famous album cover.

New look blog

After much faffing around, the blog I feel now looks much better. I hope you like the changes too.

Diana Dors on Sky Movies

On 24/07/09 at 08:10am, Sky Movies are showing 'Steptoe and Son Ride Again' on channel 'Sky Movies Classics'. Channel number is 308 on Sky.

Diana's sharp wit and humour is on display throughout the film, which makes for many laughs. Not a well critically received film at the time, 'Steptoe and Son Ride Again' is not the best film Diana has graced but her performance in this film is excellent as usual.

Swindon Siren

Britain doesn't have many statues of females but one that stands proud is Diana Dors. The statue is located fittingly outside the cinema at Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, Swindon. Swindon by the way has reportedly the largest amount of cinema screens per person in the U.K.

In 1991, John Clinch was commissioned to make a bronze figure of Swindon's most famous daughter, Diana Dors. Clinch decided to accentuate her glamour, with Diana here in a startling dress. Not long ago, the statue was showing signs of disrepair and the council were thinking of scrapping it but Diana's devoted fans clubbed together to save it, and rightly so.

I have always found the face quite funny but recreating Diana's beauty on a metal statue is no easy thing I'm sure!

Lady Godiva Rides Again

Lady Godiva Rides Again was released in 1951, which of course featured Diana but also Ruth Ellis, the last female to be executed in the U.K, four years later. Diana was friends with Ruth, something not often documented. Indeed, it also comes as some surprise to many people that Ruth appeared in this film.

The film is about a small-town girl who wins a beauty contest so heads for greater things.

Joan Collins also appears in her debut film as a beauty contestant, though she isn't mentioned on the credits. Neither is Ruth, which is a large reason why people are surprised when they learn she was in the film.

Not one of the most complex characters Diana acted in her career, but she puts in a fine performance, really getting to the heart of her character. With Diana herself coming from humble backgrounds into stardom, it's obvious to see that this role wasn't one that fully stretched her acting prowess.

Often funny and light hearted, it's a good humerous watch which shows another set of acting skills Diana possessed. The film also has a more dark side to it, in the darker side of talent shows, in this case, beauty contest. The road to stardom and through it is bumply with many downpoints, with increasing frustration and desperation to keep the stardom flowing.

Tread Softly Stranger

Here are some screen caps I took off the film, 'Tread Softly Stranger'. These are my favourites from the many I ended up taking, I hope you like them too.

'Tread Softly Stranger' was released in 1958 and Diana plays the character 'Calico', a hostess in a lap dancing club. She often looked out of place, seemingly capable of much more glamerous things. A crime drama, 'Tread Softly Stranger' also features George Baker and Terence Morgan who are brothers that Calico has wrapped round her little finger.

Diana really shines once again in this film, I was encapsulated from the start and it must go down as a true British classic.

As excellent film, I noticed it is available on amazon for under £6.

More Diana references

A bit more than a reference this, the compilation 'The Smiths - Singles' features Diana in a famous scene from Yield To The Night.

Morrissey has often stated Diana as one of his heroes. He once said this:

"She had the sexiest voice in world history. She is just a fantastic British figure and because she was so overtly sexual she was always underrated as an actress. She was decades before her time in standing up and saying, 'Yes, I enjoy sex', but her private life was over-recorded by the papers and it did not tally that someone so flamboyant could have depth too. This is Diana Dors' best recording: very sexual, very heaving, sort of string-drenched and very beautiful. You want to nestle in her bosom."

He also put on her fantastic record, 'So Little Time' on the documentary about him, 'Importance of Being Morrissey'.

he also remarked in an interview:

"And over the toilet is a signed portrait of Diana Dors. "Some people find it hard to go when someone's looking" says Morrissey. "But not me."

Diana Dors References in Music

The first song I will mention is New York Dolls - It's Too Late.

But you spend most your time in the powder room where you chit chat with Diana Doors
And you tryin to tell her
Ow

This track is available on the album 'Too Much, Too Soon'. Released in 1974.

The second I will mention is The Kinks - Good Day.

She's mentioned a few times in this song, here's a snippet.

News of the world, tea and biscuits in bed.
The headlines said that diana is dead.
She couldnt act much but she put on a show.
She always smiled even when she felt low.
I used to fancy her a long time ago.

I'm not sure if Davies was joking or whether he is narrating somebody else saying this but I simply have to disagree with "she couldn't act much..." when she so clearly could, without a doubt one of the most talented actresses ever to grace the planet. An otherwise nice track.

The track is released on various Kinks compilations, notably 'Come Dancing With The Kinks', released in 2005.

Dors on TV/ Radio

Well, as I'm sure you are aware, seldom are there any traces of Diana on the television or the radio. I keep trying though, sometimes there are, hidden away at the back of the schedule. Once I am enlightened to some programme, it will of course, be posted on here.

Diana Dors - So Little Time

This is a nearly lost Dors musical masterpiece that wasn't included on 'Swingin' Dors'.
So Little Time is a catchy piece of music, with the ever excellent Dors, making a fine track that should've received much more attention that it ever has. At the time of release, Diana had become largely unfashionable musically but despite this, came up with this track, released in 1964. Thanks to 'terracite' on youtube for uploading this track.
Morrissey is seen in the TV programme 'The Importance of Being Morrissey' playing this record and stating it as one of his favourite things. He also included it on the CD 'Under the Influence', available on amazon, play and other online stores.

Swingin' Dors

Swingin' Dors is the only album Diana released and what a shame that is. Her voice is lovely and there is not a weak song on this album. The arrangement and music is often catchy and full of hooks, it really is a lost gem in music history.

Diana never recorded a bad song, so it's baffling how this was only re-issued in 2007. Why did it take so long? I was hooked on every word she sang, so crisply and beautifully it makes for joyful listening.

Credit has to go to Wally Stott for the excellent music composition. Each track sounds very good.

It was reissued on CD and vinyl. The CD, it has to be said, is the inferior product. The vinyl has more robust packaging, complete with extra pictures and a generally larger bookelt included. The vinyl itself is red, just like it originally was, to match her lipstick. And of course, you can't beat that authentic, unrestrained musical sound that gracefully leaps out of the speakers in all it's glory. The booklet is full of excellent pictures, some of which I hadn't seen before and a nicely written, concise story of her and her life.

Diana is pictured on the sleeve in her dazzling dress, which she wore in the subsequent tour dates in glamerous locations around the world. Sadly, she didn't remain fashionable for very long and it wasn't too long before she was relegated to working men's clubs and such like.

Both the vinyl and the CD are available on amazon and I can't recommend it enough, you won't be able to stop playing it, much to the annoyance of my neighbours I'm sure.

Purchasing Dors Photos

Diana Dors was a beautiful person in many ways. The aura she gave off cannot really be described but what I know is that it conjured up emotions and feelings within me that I rarely ever feel. To make sure this is retained, I like to put pictures of her on my walls. Needless to say, they look fantastic. One website I've found great for these is www.moviemarket.com. There is quite a large range of Dors photos you can buy in various sizes. They can also print it onto canvas if that's your thing too.

Hello and welcome

As the title suggests, this is a blog dedicated to Diana Dors. Personally I'm completely mesmerised by Diana, I think she was an excellent actress who carried such grace, beauty and she had an aura surrounding her which is so unique. Despite ataining iconic status, Diana still retained her common-touch, she was kind, sensitive, witty and treated everybody with respect. This is what made Diana so special.

It would be great to have a lively area where Diana Dors fans can come together and bask in her wonderful legacy.