Shocking News About Dyanne Thorne
I was shocked to find out that cult movie Queen Dyanne Thorne has passed away.
The movie website “Horrorcult films” has shared this note:
“After a 30+ year career in show business with her husband, musician and actor Howard Maurer, Dyanne and Howard went on to run a successful wedding company in Las Vegas.
As a friend of the couple, I’ve been asked by Howard to share the news on his behalf.
Dyanne will be missed by film fans around the globe but she will be remembered by her wonderful work and the memories she created with her fans, colleagues, friends and family.”
No other information was available, but thanks again to the website for sharing this – you can see the entire story here:
https://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/2020/02/in-loving-memory-of-dyanne-thorne/
Dyanne Thorne has the most unique resume. She was known for her stage work in Las Vegas, made personal appearances around the world – but was best known for her role in the controversial and notorious “Ilsa” film franchise of the 1970s!
Note: there will be a few provocative photos ahead as we look at her career!
Thorne was in a number of interesting films in her career – among her early roles was the thriller “Point of Terror”, but no matter what else she did – she will ALWAYS be known for portraying the sadistic dominatrix and soldier of fortune “Ilsa”!
Her 1974 debut in “Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS”, made Thorne a huge grind house Star!
These films were nicknamed “Nazisploitation”: they combined nudity, sexual situations, torture and just general sleaziness, all in the setting of “Nazi-influenced prisons!
The controversial subject matter also delighted fans of exploitation cinema, which was taking advantage of the new worldwide freedom in films at the time.
After the worldwide success of the first film, Thorne reprised her “Ilsa” role in many more movies to come, while also posing for provocative pictures like this:
Some of these titles are as wild as the films: check out “Ilsa, Harem Keeper Of The Oil Sheiks” from 1976!
A later edition of the series was also called “Greta, the Mad Butcher”, and also “Wanda, the Wicked Warden!”
The film is considered to be the third entry in the “Ilsa” film series, but was not originally filmed with that intent!
The film’s plot follows Ilsa (also called Wanda or Greta based on the varying titles of the film), a warden at a psychiatric hospital for young women, and a girl who feigns illness so that she can investigate what happened to her sister who stayed at the hospital.
This film was directed by legendary Auteur Jess Franco, who made such classic sexploitation movies as “Lorna The Exorcist” and “Countess Perverse”.
“Ilsa The Mad Butcher” co-starred Lina Romay, the decade’s other “anything goes” Actress!
Director Jess Franco made dozens of films with his wife Lina, with this perhaps their greatest effort:
Click here to see my story about the terrific new blu-ray release of the steamy “Night Has A Thousand Desires”:
In researching this post, I found this ad online, promising a new entry in the “Ilsa” series – co-starring Bruce Lee!
Even though she never made that film with Lee, the poster lives on!
Bravo to Dyanne for her unique career. Thorne has maintained a great public profile over the years, making lots of public appearances at fan conventions around the world:
RIP Dyanne Thorne…an incredible career from one of cult cinema’s greats…
Categories: 70's Films, Camp Cult Classics, Cult Classics, Euro-Sleaze, Exploitation Films, Extreme Cinema, Grindhouse, JRsploitation, Nudity, Sexploitation Films, Talent / Celebrites, Uncategorized
I did see ‘She Wolf of The SS’ on VHS. It was a completely over the top exploitation film, but I thought it was also amusing. I didn’t know about any others in the franchise, John, so thanks for adding those.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, it’s a genre that evokes a bit f controversy to be sure, but isn’t that what films are supposed to do sometimes? It’s like “whistling in the dark”, so nothing can be wrong, right?
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The Ilsa films were notorious when I was a kid. Incredibly, I’ve yet to see any of them. But your article has inspired me to finally seek them out. And yes, Dyanne Thorne is truly a sight to behold!
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The Ilsa films were quite notorious when I was a kid. Incredibly, while they’ve always been on my radar, I’ve yet to see any of them. Your article has inspired me to finally seek them out. And yes, Dyanne Thorne is truly a sight to behold.
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