 | |
| Katherine Caldwell | |
| Aliases: | Kay Caldwell |
| Continuity: | Universal Monsters |
| Notability: | Main character |
| Type: | Independently wealthy |
| Gender: | Female |
| Race: | Vampire |
| Location: | Dark Oaks, New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Relatives: | Alucard [1] Colonel Caldwell [2] Claire Caldwell [3] Marya Zeleska [4] Dracula [5] |
| Status: | Deceased |
| Died: | 1943 |
| First: | Son of Dracula (1943) |
| Actor: | Louise Allbritton |
Katherine Caldwell is a fictional heiress and a key character in the "Universal Monsters" film series produced by Universal Pictures. She appeared in the 1943 movie, Son of Dracula, where she was played by actress Louise Allbritton.
Biography[]
Katherine Caldwell was the daughter of U.S. military officer Colonel Caldwell and the older sister of Claire Caldwell. The Caldwells lived on a plantation in New Orleans, Louisiana named Dark Oaks. While traveling abroad in Budapest, Katherine met and fell in love with a Hungarian Count named Alucard, who turned out to be the son of notorious vampire, Count Dracula. Seduced by the creature's preternatural charms, she arranged for him to come live with her at Dark Oaks.
Kay's boyfriend, Frank Stanley, could not abide his childhood's love strange behavior, particularly with the way she associated with a Hungarian mystic named Queen Zimba. Frank was crushed when Kay spurned his love in favor of her new suitor, Alucard. When Colonel Caldwell passed away under mysterious circumstances, he left the entire estate to Kay, with the family fortune going to her sister, Claire. Alucard quickly made his move and used his influence over Kay to convince her to marry him. They were married by a judge late in the evening.
Determined to not let his true love fall victim to an undead creature, Frank Stanley went to Dark Oaks to confront Alucard. Claiming that he was the new master of the estate, he threw Frank against a wall. Frank tried to shoot Count Alucard, but the bullets passed through his body, striking Katherine, killing her.
Alucard buried Kay in a coffin lined with dirt from his native homeland. For reasons that are not fully clear, Kay returned to life. Frank Stanley discovered that she was now one of the undead and went into her room during the daylight hours, setting her bed on fire, destroying her for all time.
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Katherine Caldwell was created by director Robert Siodmak and writer Eric Taylor.
- Playing the role of Katherine Caldwell is actress Louise Allbritton's only work in the horror genre.
- Also referred to by the shortened name, "Kay".
- Louise Allbritton received second billing in Son of Dracula, making her the female lead of the film.