biographyCastle's first real foray into horror films came in Macabre (1958; with Jim Backus). In order to promote the film, Castle employed the first of a series of gimmicks designed to hype his films. For Macabre, theatergoers were issued a life insurance policy which was payable if any audience member died of fright while watching the film. Castle's gimmicks were nothing short of brilliant, using wired plastic skeletons to frighten theatergoers watching The House on Haunted Hill (1959; with Vincent Price and Carol Ohmart) and 3-D for 13 Ghosts (1960; with Martin Milner). He found his greatest gimmick in Joan Crawford, whose career revival in 1960s horror flicks packed audiences in theaters to see Strait-Jacket (1964; with Diane Baker and Leif Erickson) and I Saw What You Did (1965; with John Ireland and Patricia Breslin). He also produced but did not direct Rosemary's Baby (1968; with Mia Farrow), which is probably his highest profile film. |
|
the films of william castleThe House on Haunted Hill (1959)Carol Ohmart and Vincent Price starred in Castle's The House on Haunted HillThe Tingler (1959)Homicidal (1961)From the campy psycho-thriller Homicidal, my favorite William Castle film. LEFT: Joan Marshall proposes marriage---and a quickie divorce---to bellhop Richard Rust in exchange for $2,000. CENTER A: With Glenn Corbett, Patricia Breslin, and Joan Marshall as Warren. CENTER: With Patricia Breslin, Eugenie Leontovich, and Joan Marshall. RIGHT: Marshall, as Emily, knocks Glenn Corbett out. Billed as 'Jean Arless' in this film, Joan Marshall steals the movie with her over-the-top performanceZotz! (1962)The Old Dark House (1963)From Castle's horror/comedy The Old Dark House with Tom Poston, Janette Scott, and Fenella FieldingStrait-Jacket (1964)The Night Walker (1965)From The Night Walker, released by Universal. LEFT: With Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Taylor, and Jess Barker. RIGHT: With Robert TaylorI Saw What You Did (1965)Joan Crawford is soon to become victim to murderer John Ireland in the creative horror flick I Saw What You DidLet's Kill Uncle (1966)The Spirit Is Willing (1967)From Castle's horror/comedy The Spirit Is Willing with Sid Caesar, Vera Miles, and Barry GordonRosemary's Baby (1968)Produced by William Castle, Rosemary's Baby was perhaps the crowning achievement of his career. Pictured are Patsy Kelly, Ruth Gordon, and Mia FarrowProject X (1968)Circle of Fear (1972-1973 NBC TV Series)Promotional photo from Castle's early 1970s series Circle of Fear. This photo was taken during production of the episode The Graveyard Shift, which featured Patty Duke, William Castle, and John AstinBug (1975)Bradford Dillman in a still from Bug, the last film produced by William CastleShampoo (1975)William Castle as producer Sid Roth with Julie Christie and Warren Beatty in the hilarious sex comedy Shampoo. Directed by Hal Ashby, who was married to Joan Marshall, the star of Castle's Homicidal, the film was in part based on Marshall's experiences in 1960s Hollywood. Marshall also appears in this film as Mrs. Schumannlater yearsCastle's directorial output slowed in the late 1960s. Since he owned the film rights to Ira Levin's 1967 novel Rosemary's Baby, he produced the film version the following year, but Roman Polanski served as director. In the early 1970s, Castle produced the NBC TV series Circle of Fear. And on occasion, he acted in several films, including Day of the Locust (1975; with William Atherton and Karen Black) and Shampoo (1975; with Warren Beatty and Julie Christie). The latter film was a reunion of sorts for Castle and Joan Marshall, the star of Castle's 1961 psycho thriller Homicidal. Marshall's husband, Hal Ashby, directed Shampoo, in which Marshall also makes an appearance. Just one year after the publication of his autobiography Step Right Up!: I'm Gonna Scare the Pants Off America, William Castle passed away from a heart attack on May 31, 1977, at the age of 63. He was survived by his wife and two daughters. |
filmographyFILM
|
william castle trailers now showingwilliam castle film now showing |
Click on the logo to go back to Brian's Drive-In Theater
This page premiered October 30, 2003.
Copyright and Disclaimer Information