Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007)

Chronicles the last great American showman, filmmaker William Castle, a master of ballyhoo who became a brand name in movie horror with his outrageous audience participation gimmicks.

Director:

Jeffrey Schwarz

Stars:

Forrest J Ackerman, John Badham, Diane Baker

3 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Forrest J Ackerman	...	Himself
John Badham	...	Himself
Diane Baker	...	Herself
Sidney D. Balkin	...	Himself
Steve Bickel	...	Himself
Robert Bloch	...	Himself (archive footage)
Budd Boetticher	...	Himself
Bob Burns	...	Himself
Kathy Burns	...	Herself (archive footage)
Terry Castle	...	Herself
William Castle	...	Himself (archive footage)
Harry Cohn	...	Himself (archive footage)
Roger Corman	...	Himself
Joan Crawford	...	Herself (archive footage)
Joe Dante	...	Himself

Storyline

Documentary on famed Hollywood director and producer - and supreme showman - William Castle. Castle made his mark in the decade from the mid-1950s to the mid 1960s with a series of low-budget but highly popular and profitable horror films. The list includes Macabre, House on Haunted Hill, Homicidal and many others. Castle always had to have a gimmick to go with his movies. These included having nurses on duty in the lobby should anyone need medical assistance or giving everyone a $1000 insurance policy should anyone die of fright. Castle's greatest success came as he producer of Rosemary's Baby. All in all he is fondly remembered by those who knew and worked with him.

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Plot Keywords:

gimmicks | b movie | movie director | movie producer | schlock | 

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Taglines:

He was just another movie director...until he found himself a gimmick.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 2009 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Automat Pictures, Spine Tingler

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References I Saw What You Did (1965)

User Reviews

An Affectionate and Deserving Tribute

A very well received and insightful Documentary. This warm and glowing tribute to the legendary B-Movie Director/Producer is wonderful and heartfelt. There are many well known and peripheral Filmmakers and Fans on screen touting the talent and the quintessential showmanship of this Professional.

The Film is a must see for Fans of the Director, Horror Movies, young Auteurs, and anyone with a curiosity about the industry and the behind the scenes "manufacturing" of Art as Product or Product as Art or whatever it was that he perpetuated in his long career.

There are unexpected and unknown stories told here from family members and Friends and the whole thing seems welcome and comprehensive. As far as the Movies by themselves minus the signature gimmicks that drew audiences by the Millions, in retrospect, some of them, you decide which ones, are extremely entertaining and yes, shocking.

There is one thing that must be said. If you are just beginning to seek out these Films, it is recommended that you see them first before viewing this Documentary. You will appreciate the Man and even the Movies much more. There are some spoiling scenes shown that give away much of His underrated work.