Shanks (1974)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

William Castle

Writer:

Ranald Graham (writer)

Release Date:

9 October 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

A new concept in the macabre in which the Good come out of the grave and the Evil are sent to fill the vacancy.

Plot:

A mute puppeteer uses a deceased scientist's invention to control dead bodies like puppets.

Plot Keywords:

Puppet | Puppeteer | Surrealism | Mime

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Marcel Marceau	...	Malcolm Shanks / Old Walker
Tsilla Chelton	...	Mrs. Barton
Philippe Clay	...	Mr. Barton
Cindy Eilbacher	...	Celia
Larry Bishop	...	Motorcycle Gang Member
Don Calfa	...	Motorcycle Gang Member
Biff Manard	...	Goliath
Phil Adams	...	Motorcycle Gang Member
Helena Kallianiotes	...	Mata Hari
Read Morgan	...	Cop
Lara Wing	...	Little Girl
William Castle	...	Grocer
Mondo	...	Genghis Khan

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Movie Connections:

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

EXTREMELY ODD and poorly made fantasy/horror film.

SHANKS by its very rarity has conjured a reputation it does not deserve. The story is one of the oddest ever put on film. A deaf/mute puppeteer learns how to animate dead bodies. He re-animates the aged inventor who shared the process with him. He re-animates (after he arranges their deaths) his evil sister and brother-in-law. He then arranges a birthday party for a young girl he likes, where the wait staff are his dead family members. Then a motorcycle gang bursts in, starts drinking and spreading mayhem, rapes and kills the young girl and festoons themselves about the inventor's castle. Our hero re-animates the inventor who one by one kills them all, although he does get the honor of offing the leader of the gang himself. The one woman biker seems to disappear entirely from the script.

The direction is awful as is the screenplay. Totally illogical actions and responses predominate and it takes seemingly FOREVER to complete a simple act. The whole end of the film from when the bikers enter seems to go on for an eternity.

Marcel Marceau does a marvelous mime job as both our hero, Malcolm Shanks, and the Aged Inventor. Fellow mimes, Tsilla Chelton and Philippe Clay, play the evil siblings. It is worth one's time to watch these masters of the art at work, even though the vehicle is so shabby.

As it's practically a silent film (over 90% without dialogue), Alex North's comedic and atmospheric musical score provides much of the pointed direction as to how we are supposed to react to these curious events and as such had a functional value to the film, which resulted in an Oscar nom for Best Music Score.

If you're really hard up for something to watch, or are fond of mime, it's a go. Otherwise, turn to the weather channel.