Strait-Jacket (1964)

After a 20 year stay at an asylum for a double murder, a mother returns to her estranged daughter where suspicions arise about her behavior.

Director:

William Castle

Writer:

Robert Bloch

Stars:

Joan Crawford, Diane Baker, Leif Erickson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Crawford	...	Lucy Harbin
Diane Baker	...	Carol Harbin
Leif Erickson	...	Bill Cutler
Howard St. John	...	Raymond Fields
John Anthony Hayes	...	Michael Fields
Rochelle Hudson	...	Emily Cutler
George Kennedy	...	Leo Krause
Edith Atwater	...	Mrs. Alison Fields
Mitchell Cox	...	Dr. Anderson

Storyline

Lucy Harbin has been in an asylum for 20 years after axing her husband and his mistress during a crime of passion, witnessed by her young daughter, Carol. While trying to renew ties with Carol, who is now a young woman about to be married, heads begin to roll again. Is Lucy repeating her past?

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Plot Keywords:

asylum | murder | axe murder | female protagonist | pepsi | 

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Taglines:

WARNING! 'Strait-Jacket' vividly depicts ax murders!

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Zwangsjacke

Company Credits

Production Co:

William Castle Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joan Crawford had script and cast approval.

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Goofs

When Lucy commits a double ax murder at the beginning of the film, there is absolutely no blood on ax blade or blood splattering during her brutal attack.

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Quotes

Lucy Harbin: [to Michael] You sit down here with Carrol because I wouldn't want her to think I was taking her father away from her.

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Crazy Credits

The Columbia Pictures logo at the end of the film features the classic woman with torch, only her head has been chopped off and it's sitting at her feet.

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Connections

References Psycho (1960)

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Soundtracks

"All of Me"
(Gerald Marks/Seymour Simons) - "There Goes That Song Again" (Jule Styne/Sammy Cahn). Both songs share the same melody.
Song being played on the record player.

User Reviews

Who says Castle couldn't direct?!?

This is one of the most enjoyable horror films ever. The closing credits gag reveals the spirit of the picture - it is not to be taken seriously. By the way don't spoil a great laugh by reading what that gag is, in the "crazy credits" section. This is pure camp fun, played brilliantly by Joan Crawford in an Oscar worthy performance. The opening narration is hilarious

• and Joan's get-up (black fright wig, clinging floral dress and clanging

bangles) is outrageous. You'll probably guess the surprise ending - but that's not what this film is about. Besides the fun element there is also a subversive political statement - Castle sets his axe-murder horror on a sweet little farm, that looks like a set from a family sit-com. And the family that live in it are too good to be true as well. But all this is a facade, as insanity, lust and murder lie just below the surface.

Also of note in the cast are George Kennedy - excellent as the twisted handy-man, and Diane Baker as the perfect daughter. And apparently that's Lee Majors being hacked up at the start of the film. Castle does a brilliant directing job, but it's Joan's film all the way - what she can do with knitting and matches is truly amazing! And the scene where she attempts to seduce her daughter's boyfriend is nothing short of magic. I can't believe that an actress who could play this scene with such good humour, could have taken herself as seriously as "Mommie Dearest" suggests. Do not miss this over-looked classic.