13 Ghosts (1960)

Director:

William Castle

Writer:

Robb White (written by)

Release Date:

July 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

IT'S FUN TO BE SCARED BY 13 GHOSTS (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

A family inherits what proves to be a haunted house, but a special pair of goggles allows them to see their ghostly tormentors.

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Lawyer | Haunted House | Mansion | Remade

Cast

Charles Herbert	...	Buck Zorba
Jo Morrow	...	Medea Zorba
Martin Milner	...	Benjamen Rush
Rosemary DeCamp	...	Hilda Zorba (as Rosemary De Camp)
Donald Woods	...	Cyrus Zorba
Margaret Hamilton	...	Elaine Zacharides
John Van Dreelen	...	Van Allen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeanne Baker	...	Ghost (uncredited)
John Burnside	...	Ghost (uncredited)
William Castle	...	Himself (uncredited)
David Hoffman	...	Messenger (uncredited)
Roy Jenson	...	Ghost (uncredited)

Directed by
William Castle

Writing credits
Robb White		(written by)

Produced by
William Castle	....	producer

Original Music by
Von Dexter

Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc		(director of photography) (as Joseph Biroc)

Film Editing by
Edwin H. Bryant		(as Edwin Bryant)

Art Direction by
Cary Odell

Set Decoration by
Louis Diage

Makeup Department
Helen Hunt	....	hair stylist
Ben Lane	....	makeup supervisor
Richard Cobos	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Hazel Keats	....	hairdresser (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Max Stein	....	assistant director
Robert Robinson	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Max Frankel	....	second propman (uncredited)
Harry Hopkins	....	prop master (uncredited)
Jim Meehan	....	lead man (uncredited)

Sound Department
Harry D. Mills	....	sound (as Harry Mills)
Charles J. Rice	....	sound supervisor
Eldon Coutts	....	recordist (uncredited)
Sol Jaffe	....	mikeman (uncredited)
Andy Payne	....	cableman (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Richard Albain	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Al Becker	....	key grip (uncredited)
Robert Coburn	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Clarence Eubank	....	best boy (uncredited)
James R. Field	....	gaffer (uncredited)
John 'Mike' Hunt	....	second grip (uncredited)
Emil Oster	....	camera operator (uncredited)
James Saper	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Other crew
Dona Holloway	....	associate to producer
Charlsie Bryant	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• William Castle Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Film-Verleih (1961) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (TV)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (William Castle Collection)

Special Effects

• Butler-Glouner (photographic color effects)

Other Companies

• Pathé  Eastman color by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

85 min | 82 min (black and white version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | UK:PG | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | USA:Approved (No. 19630) | West Germany:16 (nf) | USA:Not Rated | West Germany:16

Company:

William Castle Productions

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [William Castle] [gimmick]The movie was filmed in "Illusion-O" and a special viewer was needed to see the ghosts. This resulted in a number of sources incorrectly stating that the film was originally shown in 3D. The "ghost viewers" contained a red filter and a blue filter, but unlike 3D viewers/glasses, both eyes would look through the same color filter. The red filter would cause the ghostly images to intensify while the blue filter caused the images to fade.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Ouija board planchette is flying around the room (from 21:58 to 22:08), you can see the wires that are holding it up. (This is not apparent in the 2005 DVD version from Sony Home Entertainment.)

Quotes:

Medea Zorba:[Ben has just brought Medea home] That was a wonderful evening Ben, thanks. How about some coffee before you go?
Ben Rush:No, thanks. Not tonight, I sure wish you and your family were staying somewhere else; this place gives me the creeps.
Medea Zorba:Oh don't start with that again.
Ben Rush:Well I worry about you, Medea. Just for me will you try to be a little careful?
Medea Zorba:For you, I'll pull the covers over my head tonight.
Ben Rush:[smiling] See you tomorrow?
Medea Zorba:I hope so. Good night, Ben.
Ben Rush:Goodnight
[leaves the house]
Ben Rush:.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007)

If You Believe...

William Castle set out to make a fun, spooky, scarey picture for anyone who ever believed (or wanted to believe) in ghosts, and the result, 13 GHOSTS, is a marvelous and memorable little picture, that even after 40-odd years, still has creeps, scares, thrills and fun galore.

If at all possible, see it the way it was meant to be seen- - -with proper Ghost Viewers-(available with the DVD edition) -so you can experience Illusiono, by which you can actually see the ghosts in Ectoplasmic Color!

The plot, acting and production values may be unsophisticated, but what matter?- -The important thing is THE GHOSTS- -and they are all there as promised, including the mysterious thirteenth ghost- -and a wonderfully familiar witch (who was delighted to play the part)- -

This is a great movie for kids (and adults) who love ghosts and spooky stuff, but are not at all ready (or desirous) of watching a movie full of gore, putrescent language or non-stop violence.

You'll remember the ghosts, the fun and the thrills, for years to come.