The Lady From the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick by Mallory O'Meara

I would like to thank Hanna from Rebellion for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher – Solaris

Published – 4/2

Price - £9.99 paperback £5.99 Kindle eBook

The Lady from the Black Lagoon uncovers the life and work of Milicent Patrick—one of Disney’s first female animators and the only woman in history to create one of Hollywood’s classic movie monsters.

As a teenager, Mallory O’Meara was thrilled to discover that one of her favourite movies, Creature from the Black Lagoon, featured a monster designed by a woman, Milicent Patrick. But for someone who should have been hailed as a pioneer in the genre, there was little information available. For, as O’Meara soon discovered, Patrick’s contribution had been claimed by a jealous male colleague, her career had been cut short and she soon after had disappeared from film history. No one even knew if she was still alive.

As a young woman working in the horror film industry, O’Meara set out to right the wrong, and in the process discovered the full, fascinating story of an ambitious, artistic woman ahead of her time. Patrick’s contribution to special effects proved to be just the latest chapter in a remarkable, unconventional life, from her youth growing up in the shadow of Hearst Castle, to her career as one of Disney’s first female animators. And at last, O’Meara discovered what really had happened to Patrick after The Creature’s success, and where she went.

History tends to be won by the winning side. But what do we decide is the winner? Justice isn’t often involved and indeed wealth, power and underlying that gender and race can play a huge part. Most geeks will know the name Rick Baker who created the effects for An American Werewolf in London, most geeks will recognise the Creature From the Black Lagoon – very few can tall you who designed him though. Mallory O’Meara fixes this in the impressive The Lady From The Black Lagoon - Hollywood Monsters and The Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick – putting back in the narrative an intriguing talented figure who was briefly famous and then cut out of the narrative by sexism.

Milicent Patrick as this book details had indeed an amazing life. Daughter of an ambitious architect (serving grudgingly under Julia Morgan one of the most famous female architects of the age) her childhood years were spent on the amazing lands of William Hearst – indeed her father had to move ancient trees to prevent branches hitting him and his friends. It even had a zoo – it was a world that encouraged a sense of glamour and style. We see Milicent then flourish in a school led by a famous female art teacher Madam Nelbert Chourinard who encouraged creativity. This leads Milicent to work in animation working for Walt Disney including on films such as Fantasia plus starting an ongoing career as a jobbing film actress and then finally moves into make-up design leading to work on classics such as It Came From Outer Space, This island Earth and then her final work I the movies The Creature From The Black Lagoon.

Considering geek’s love of detail; they can usually spot a Wilhelm scream in a film or tell you who wrote x, y and z you could isn’t it weird (if you’re male) to not imagine why Milicent wasn’t more famous. But then I wasn’t aware of Morgan or Chourinard either. As Milicent’s story is told by O’Meara you see sadly constant exhibitions of sexism putting obstacles in her way and particularly this is about a woman who was very much wanted to liv life her way doing what she loved. This is a time before equal pay laws, where the bosses could do what they liked and if a woman dated someone her family did not approve of could find herself permanently exiled. Milicent was hugely impressive at drawing as an array of photos in the book demonstrate but the business was more interested at times in her beauty and dress sense. This book will get you angry at how such talent was limited by a fragile male ego and the frustration we find as much of her narrative has been lost to time and a focus on the lies some men did to take her reputation for themselves.

O’Meara’s passion to bring Milicent into the spotlight again Keeping the flame is the heart of the narrative making this less a dry academic text and more a heartfelt explanation why Milicent Patrick matters. This is very much helped by O’Meara’s personal narration as a woman who started life as a horror fan and moved into movie production of horror films. We discover that Milicent’s work even before creature had had an unknow impact on O’Meara’s life and most poignantly we see how very little in Hollywood has changed; sleazy men of power, a focus on how a woman looks rather than what she actually produced, and abuse all continue (and not just in Hollywood). O’Meara notes that only now the #MeToo movement has started to change the balance 70 years later and even then, that the number of women in key backstage roles in Hollywood is incredibly low. O’Meara touches even how she initially tried to fit I by ignoring Horror’s inherent sexism in much of its output but learning about Milicent has helped change that outlook – it is an industry that needs to change. This passion really helps frame why Milicent has becomes such a key figure she kept going as much as she could but also reflected the very real barriers out in her way. Towards the end there is a glorious section of women in horror praising her work and what it means to them.

This is less an exploration of one horror film but instead one woman through her life in the Hollywood of the last century. A tale of talent, ambition and betrayals but also putting a very human face on one of the women who helped create some of the most famous films in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. O’Meara has in this book put her (and several other famous women who played key roles at the time) back in the narrative and this made it a gripping read as well as a detective puzzle as we follow O’Meara’s journey to trace Milicent’s life and what happened after she left showbusiness. It is poignant, righteously angry, and also passionate about the genre and its roots, flaws and future. Hugely impressive and worthy of your attention.