A mute puppeteer uses a deceased scientist's invention to control dead bodies like puppets.
Director:
Writer:
Award:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Marcel Marceau | ... |
Malcolm Shanks / Old Walker
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| Tsilla Chelton | ... |
Mrs. Barton
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| Philippe Clay | ... |
Mr. Barton
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| Cindy Eilbacher | ... |
Celia
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| Helena Kallianiotes | ... |
Mata Hari
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| Larry Bishop | ... |
Napoleon
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| Don Calfa | ... |
Einstein
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Biff Manard | ... |
Goliath
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Mondo | ... |
Genghis Khan
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| Read Morgan | ... |
Policeman
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| William Castle | ... |
Grocer
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| Phil Adams | ... |
Beethoven
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Lara Wing | ... |
Little Girl
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Directed by
| William Castle | ||
Written by
| Ranald Graham | ... | () |
Produced by
| William Castle | ... | executive producer |
| Steven North | ... | producer |
| Sheldon Schrager | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Alex North | ||
Cinematography by
| Joseph F. Biroc | ... | (as Joe Biroc) |
Editing by
| David Berlatsky | ||
Editorial Department
| Greg Carlson | ... | assistant editor |
Production Design by
| Boris Leven | ||
Set Decoration by
| John P. Austin | ... | (as John Austin) |
Costume Design by
| Guy C. Verhille | ||
Makeup Department
| Virginia Jones | ... | hair stylist |
| Jack H. Young | ... | makeup artist (as Jack Young) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Val Raset | ... | second assistant director |
| Sheldon Schrager | ... | first assistant director |
| Martin Walters | ... | second assistant director: Vancouver |
Art Department
| Allan Gordon | ... | property master |
| Keith Pepper | ... | assistant art director: Vancouver |
| Ed Shanley | ... | construction coordinator |
Sound Department
| Robert Crosby | ... | boom operator |
| David M. Ronne | ... | sound (as David Ronne) |
| Ben Rusi | ... | boom operator: Vancouver |
Special Effects by
| Richard Albain | ... | special effects |
| Bob Baker | ... | puppet designer |
Stunts
| Bong Soo Han | ... | stunt coordinator (as Soo-Han Bong) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Orville Hallberg | ... | camera operator |
| William Hanna II | ... | gaffer (as William Hanna) |
| Pat Hollywell | ... | key grip: Vancouver |
| Martin Kashuk | ... | key grip (as Marty Kashuk) |
| Cameron MacDonald | ... | assistant camera: Vancouver (as Cam MacDonald) |
| Paul Prince | ... | assistant camera: Vancouver |
Music Department
| Henry Brant | ... | orchestrator |
| Alex North | ... | conductor |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Ethmer Roten | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Joe Gannon | ... | script supervisor |
| Marshall Schlom | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Jack Hill | ... | assistant choreographer |
| Martha Holmes | ... | production secretary |
| Spencer Hyde | ... | production assistant: Vancouver |
| Tom Jesse | ... | assistant to producer: Vancouver |
| Judith Lang | ... | production assistant: Vancouver |
| Alain Mangel | ... | assistant to executive producer |
| Marcel Marceau | ... | choreographer |
| Steve Orfanos | ... | title designer |
Production Companies
- Paramount Pictures (presents)
- William Castle Productions (A William Castle Production)
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1974) (United States) (theatrical)
- Olive Films (2012) (Canada) (DVD)
- Olive Films (2012) (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Bertrand (wig designer) (Paris)
- Modern Film Effects (titles and opticals)
- Movielab (prints & processing)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Malcolm Shanks is a sad and lonely man, deaf, mute and living with his cruel sister and her husband, who delight in making him miserable. His only pleasure, it seems, is in making and controlling puppets. Thanks to his skill, he is offered a job as a lab assistant to Dr. Walker, who is working on ways to re-animate dead bodies by instering electrodes at key nerve points and manipulating the bodies as if they were on strings. When the professor suddenly dies one night, Shanks gets the idea to apply their experimental results to a human body, and then to start exacting some revenge.
Written by Jean-Marc Rocher |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Deliciously Grotesque. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Alex North used parts of his rejected score for 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) for this film. For example, the main title music was originally composed for the space station phone call sequence of 2001, but here rearranged with a female vocalist added. See more » |
| Goofs | After Mrs. Barton moves Celia's placemat, Malcolm cocks her body to her left. In the following shot, she's cocked to her right. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Right before the closing credits roll, a quote from William Makepeace Thackeray is featured: "Let us shut up the box and the puppets, for our play is played out." See more » |