Mr. Sardonicus (1961)

Director:

William Castle

Writers:

Ray Russell (screenplay)
Ray Russell (novel)

Release Date:

1962 (Austria)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

A man of evil... with a face that could stop a heart!

Plot:

A search for a winning lottery ticket in his dead father's grave causes Sardonicus' face to freeze in a horrible grimace...

Plot Keywords:

Face | Baron | Lottery Ticket | Mask | Doctor

Cast

Oskar Homolka	...	Krull (as Oscar Homolka)
Ronald Lewis	...	Sir Robert Cargrave
Audrey Dalton	...	Maude Sardonicus
Guy Rolfe	...	Baron Sardonicus
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	Henryk Toleslawski
Erika Peters	...	Elenka
Lorna Hanson	...	Anna

Also Known As:

Sardonicus (UK)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Finland:(Banned) (1961) | UK:12 | USA:Approved (Certificate No. 19991) | West Germany:16

Company:

William Castle Productions

Trivia:

When Sir Robert first arrives at Castle Sardonicus, the castle is in view in the background. The lighted windows make the castle look like a skull.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As the Doctor arrives in the train depot in Gorslava, the door opens and the camera pulling away is reflected in the door's glass.

Quotes:

Krull: [noticing Sir Robert's disquiet at seeing a collection of empty picture frames] Perhaps you are puzzled by the empty frames, sir?
Sir Robert Cargrave: Yes, they do seem rather strange.
Krull: The baron is an unusual man, of unusual convictions. In such frames, ordinary men would honor the portraits of their forefathers. But the baron has disowned his forefathers in one magnificent gesture.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Creature Features: Mr. Sardonicus (#1.38)" (1971)

Soundtrack:

Foggy, Foggy Dew

As Far As I'm Concerned This Is William Castle's Best Movie

William Castle's campy introduction made me think that I was going to watch a cheesy low budget horror film but that was not the case. It's a suspenseful, finely tuned Gothic tale which is part Edgard Allan Poe and part "Eyes Without a Face." In fact, I think it is Castle's very best movie. I know that is not saying a whole lot but it does compete favorably with what the Hammer studios and Roger Corman were doing in the 1960s. The atmosphere is ominously thick and the script is much better than what I expect from a Castle film. Guy Rolfe has a wonderfully melodious (and creepy) voice and his performance recalls Claude Rains' work in the original "Invisible Man." Ronald Lewis is a sympathetic hero and Audrey Dalton is lovely as the heroine. Oskar Homolka ("I Remember Mama") seems to be imitating Bela Lugosi. It was a nice little surprise that I recommend to fans of horror films.