David Durston: 10th September 1921 - 6th May 2010

I've only just heard the news about David's death. He was a vital spirit, full of impish wit, and made me laugh so much during our correspondence and telephone conversations for Nightmare USA. I feel very sad that he's passed away, but the sadness is tempered with the knowledge that here was a man who really grabbed life with both hands and lived the hell out of it!

Along the way he gave us I DRINK YOUR BLOOD, one of the most exuberant, thrilling and infectiously enjoyable horror films of all time. "As brash and energetic as a vintage Alice Cooper record, and easily as ghoulish," I wrote in Nightmare USA. "Infused with the liberating vitality of the truly tasteless, yet driven by real intelligence, I DRINK YOUR BLOOD is David Durston’s blood-drenched gift to horror fans." I love that movie, and I'm sure that thirty, forty, fifty years from now it'll be a blast for future audiences too.

Goodbye then, to a brilliant and charming and wonderful man.


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For those interested in the many twists and turns of David's career, here's a list of credits I compiled back in 2006:

FILMOGRAPHY AS DIRECTOR:

1964 FELICIA (also writer)
1966 THE LOVE STATUE aka THE LOVE DRUG (also writer)
1970 BLUE SEXTET aka LEAP INTO HELL (also writer)
1971 I DRINK YOUR BLOOD aka PHOBIA (also writer)
1972 STIGMA (also writer)
1975 BOYNAPPED

TV PROJECTS:

1947/8 Foxhead 400 Houseparty (live magazine show for ABC, Chicago)
1947/8 Top of the Weather (made for ABC, Chicago)
1947/8 Chicago Splash Party (made for ABC, Chicago)
1948/9 A Hit Is Made (music show made for ABC, Chicago)
1948/9 Street Singer (music show made for ABC, Chicago)
Between 1952-55 Kraft Theater (writer) (made in New York City – episode title unknown)
Between 1952-55 Studio One (writer) (made in New York City – episode title unknown)
Between 1952-55 Rheingold Playhouse (writer) (made in New York City – episode title unknown)
Between 1952-55 Danger (writer) (made in New York City – episode title unknown)
Between 1952-55 Playhouse 90 (writer) (made in New York City – episode title unknown)

1952-53 Tales of Tomorrow (writer) Episodes: "The Glacier Giant" (5 December 1952): "Mr. Fish" aka "The Discovered Heart": (16 January 1953): “Two Faced” (30 January 1953): "The Evil Within" (1 May 1953 - brief appearance by James Dean)
1953 + ‘54 + ‘55 The Tournament of Roses Parade (line producer for live broadcast of three successive New Year’s Day Parades in Pasadena.)
1956-59 Your Hit Parade (associate producer)
1958 Navy Log (writer) Episode: “The Big White Albatross” (26 December 1958). Two more scripts: titles unknown.

OTHER CREDITS:

1971 DRY SUMMER aka SUSUZ YAZ aka I HAD MY BROTHER’S WIFE (dir: Metin Erksan) (directed inserts for US version retitled REFLECTIONS)
1971 THE SEDUCTION OF INGA (dir: Joe Sarno) (re-edited and dubbed US version)
1994 HARD DRIVE (editorial supervisor)

RADIO:

1952-54 Mr. Jolly's Hotel for Pets aka Hotel For Pets (writer of NBC children’s radio show starring Frank McHugh)
1954-55 The Woolworth Hour (music show: creator and producer)