Swan, Kitty


Niche Actresses of the European Cult Movies
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Johan Melle
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Swan, Kitty

Post by Johan Melle » 17/02/2020, 0:27

Kitty Swan.jpg
Kitty Swan, in a portrait from the 1960s
Kitty Swan was born as Kirsten Svanholm on 25 May 1943 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Seeking fame and fortune, she moved to Hamburg in the 1960s to find work as an actress. She picked up some gigs as a nightclub singer, but did not find acting work, so she decided to instead go to Rome, hoping she would find more success in the blossoming Italian film industry. In Rome, Kitty's beauty and charm quickly drew the attention of producers, and she earned small roles in a number of comedies and Eurospy movies. Usually cast in decorative and often uncredited roles, Kitty nevertheless worked constantly, and in addition to being in films, she also starred in many TV commercials and in fotoromanzi for magazines like Bolero, Grand Hotel and Tipo.

Her big break came when she earned the leading role in the jungle adventure Gungala, la vergine della giungla (1967), starring as a sort of female Tarzan. The film was very successful and brought Kitty considerable press attention, but instead of becoming a big star, she ended up being typecast in these jungle adventures. First in the sequel Gungala, la pantera nuda (1968) and then in the similar Zan, re della giungla (1969).

Unfortunately, Kitty's career came to a tragic end during the shooting of yet another jungle adventure: Tarzan e la pantera nera. While on location in Rainbow Springs, Florida in October 1970, some unskilled pyrotechnicians caused a terrible fire during the shooting of a scene where Kitty and her co-star Steve Hawkes were tied up. Because they were tied up, the two actors were helpless as the flames got out of control, and though they were thankfully rescued, both suffered serious burn wounds.

For Kitty Swan, this terrible accident meant the end of her acting career. In 1971, she sought treatment for her burn wounds in Montenegro, where an expert successfully treated her with herbs. While in Montenegro, Kitty made a record together with Serbian pop-folk singer Toma Zdravković.

Returning to Italy, Kitty Swan was last written about in the press in 1973, when she married her great love Roberto Casali, who had stood by her during all the hard times after her accident.

Filmography

1964
  1. I due pericoli pubblici .... English tourist at the museum (uncredited)

    1965
  2. Gli amanti latini - segment "Gli amanti latini" .... Girl doing exercises on the beach (uncredited)
  3. I due sergenti del generale Custer .... Prostitute in the saloon (uncredited)

    1966
  4. Agente 3S3, massacro al sole .... Girl in General Siqueiros' harem (credited)
  5. Borman .... Kent's lover (credited)
  6. Come svaligiammo la Banca d'Italia .... Girl at nightclub (uncredited)
  7. I criminali della galassia .... A.G. agent (uncredited)
  8. Il vostro super agente Flit .... One of Flit's girls (credited)
  9. Io, io, io... e gli altri .... Showering girl (uncredited - scene deleted)
  10. L'affare Beckett .... Girl with broken down car (uncredited)
  11. Password: Uccidete agente Gordon .... Dancer (uncredited)
  12. Perry Grant, agente di ferro .... Perry's girl on the beach (uncredited)
  13. Tecnica di un omicidio .... Girl in bed with Tony (uncredited)
  14. Un uomo a metà .... Girl in the park (credited)

    1967
  15. Ballata da un miliardo .... Valeria (credited - unconfirmed role)
  16. Deadlier Than the Male .... Fedra's girl (uncredited)
  17. Gungala, la vergine della giungla .... Gungala (credited)
  18. Il fischio al naso .... Salus Bank clinic attendant who welcomes Inzerna on arrival (uncredited)
  19. Le plus vieux métier du monde - segment "Ère préhistorique" .... Cave woman (uncredited)
  20. O.K. Connery .... Henchwoman (uncredited)
  21. The House of 1000 Dolls .... One of the "dolls" (credited)

    1968
  22. Gungala, la pantera nuda .... Gungala (credited)

    1969
  23. Zan, re della giungla .... Irula (credited)

    1971
  24. Forza "G" .... Motorbiker (uncredited)

    1972
  25. Tarzan e la pantera nera .... Irula (credited)

Filmography to check
  • Barbarella (1968) .... Girl in Sogo
  • La morte ha fatto l'uovo (1968) - role unknown but her participation in the film is mentioned in some articles
Last edited by Johan Melle on 13/03/2024, 18:17, edited 10 times in total.

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Re: Kitty Swan

Post by Johan Melle » 17/02/2020, 0:30

The earliest role I've been able to find for Kitty is in I due pericoli pubblici (1964) as an English tourist at the museum. It's a funny little role where she discreetly goes to fix her stocking, and thus unwittingly attracts the attention of a very excited Franco Franchi, who is hiding inside an armour
Due Pericoli - Kitty Swan1.jpg
Due Pericoli - Kitty Swan2.jpg
Due Pericoli - Kitty Swan3.jpg
Due Pericoli - Kitty Swan4.jpg
Due Pericoli - Kitty Swan5.jpg

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Re: Kitty Swan

Post by Johan Melle » 17/02/2020, 0:33

Attracting the attention of Franco Franchi again in Gli amanti latini (1965), segment "Gli amanti latini", as Girl doing exercises on the beach
Gli Amanti Latini - Kitty Swan1.jpg
Gli Amanti Latini - Kitty Swan2.jpg
Gli Amanti Latini - Kitty Swan3.jpg
Gli Amanti Latini - Kitty Swan4.jpg

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Re: Kitty Swan

Post by Johan Melle » 17/02/2020, 0:35

Agente 3S3, massacro al sole (1966) credited, as Girl in General Siqueiros' harem
Massacro Al Sole - Kitty Swan1.jpg
Massacro Al Sole - Kitty Swan2.jpg
Massacro Al Sole - Kitty Swan3.jpg
Massacro Al Sole - Kitty Swan4.jpg
Massacro Al Sole - Kitty Swan5.jpg

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Re: Kitty Swan

Post by Johan Melle » 17/02/2020, 0:37

Borman (1966) credited, as Kent's lover
Borman - Kitty Swan1.jpg
Borman - Kitty Swan2.jpg
Borman - Kitty Swan3.jpg
Borman - Kitty Swan4.jpg

I've only been able to find a really terrible-looking version, so please upgrade the pics if you have a better one.

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Re: Kitty Swan

Post by Johan Melle » 17/02/2020, 0:38

Come svaligiammo la Banca d'Italia (1966) as Girl at nightclub
Come Svaligiammo - Kitty Swan1.jpg
Come Svaligiammo - Kitty Swan2.jpg

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Re: Kitty Swan

Post by Johan Melle » 17/02/2020, 0:39

I criminali della galassia (1966) as A.G. agent
Criminali Della Galassia - Kitty Swan1.jpg
Criminali Della Galassia - Kitty Swan2.jpg
Criminali Della Galassia - Kitty Swan3.jpg

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Re: Kitty Swan

Post by Johan Melle » 17/02/2020, 0:41

Il vostro super agente Flit (1966) credited, as One of Flit's girls
Super Agente Flit - Kitty Swan1.jpg
Super Agente Flit - Kitty Swan2.jpg
Super Agente Flit - Kitty Swan3.jpg
Super Agente Flit - Kitty Swan4.jpg
Super Agente Flit - Kitty Swan5.jpg
Super Agente Flit - Kitty Swan6.jpg
Super Agente Flit - Kitty Swan7.jpg

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Re: Kitty Swan

Post by Johan Melle » 17/02/2020, 0:42

L'affare Beckett (1966) as a girl with a broken down car who gets picked up by the protagonist at the very end of the film
L'Affare Beckett - Kitty Swan1.jpg
L'Affare Beckett - Kitty Swan2.jpg
L'Affare Beckett - Kitty Swan3.jpg
L'Affare Beckett - Kitty Swan4.jpg

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Re: Kitty Swan

Post by Johan Melle » 17/02/2020, 0:44

Perry Grant, agente di ferro (1966) as Perry's girl at the beach
Perry Grant - Kitty Swan1.jpg
Perry Grant - Kitty Swan2.jpg
Perry Grant - Kitty Swan3.jpg
Perry Grant - Kitty Swan4.jpg

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