Episode 22: William Castle - Godfather of Gimmicks

In the late 1950s to the mid 1960s, one director boldly went to great lengths to scare the crap out of theatergoers: William Castle. Castle was equal parts PT Barnum, Alfred Hitchcock and Roger Corman and his greatest schtick was gimmicks. He rigged theaters with seat buzzers, fainters, fright breaks and coffins. He even made a decent movie or two. Join us as Slate profiles the late great William Castle: Grandfather of Gimmicks.

Links to William Castle Movies

The Whistler (free on Youtube)

Macabre ($2.99 on Youtube)

House on Haunted Hill (free on Youtube)

The Tingler ($2.99 on Youtube)

13 Ghosts (free on Youtube)

Homicidal ($2.99 on Yuotube)

Zotz! (free on Dailymotion but it's a horrible movie)

Mr. Sardonicus (free on Dailymotion)

Strait Jacket ($2.99 on Youtube and worth every penny!)

I Saw What You Did (trailer)

Rosemary's Baby ($2.99 on Youtube)

Bug (trailer)

BONUS! 

Mr. Sardonicus' fucked up face

Joan Crawford's screen tests for Strait Jacket

Joan Crawford Wardrobe/Makeup Test for Strait-Jacket (1964).

The Tingler "special" effects

directed by William Castle; Vincent Price we love you!

Homicidal featurette

See a review of this film at my daily film blog at http://www.alifeatthemovies.com/

The "Fright Break" from Homicidal

William Castle advises audience members they could leave the theater and receive a full refund if they were too frightened to see the climax of the film.