William Castle

Director

About

Also Known As

William Schloss

Birth Place

New York City, New York, USA

Born

April 24, 1914

Died

May 31, 1977

Cause of Death

Heart Attack

Biography

Filmography

Shanks (1974)

Director

The Spirit Is Willing (1967)

Director

The Busy Body (1967)

Director

Let's Kill Uncle (1966)

Director

I Saw What You Did (1965)

Director

Strait-Jacket (1964)

Director

Photos & Videos

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Masterson Of Kansas (1954) -- (Movie Clip) No Peace In Dodge City

Masterson Of Kansas (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Hard, Fast Or Dead

Bibliography

"Step Right Up! I'm Gonna Scare the Pants Off America"

William Castle (1976)

Biography

Eccentric director of low-budget horror films, with a flair for self-promotion. William Castle's standout efforts include the B thriller, "When Strangers Marry" (1944), with Robert Mitchum in his first important role and the camp gem, "House on Haunted Hill" (1958). Like a latter-day P.T Barnum, upon whom he modeled himself, Castle lured audiences to his chillers by appearing in their trailers and psyching the audience up to be scared. Most of his films included outrageous gimmicks such as an insurance policy against death by fright for "Macabre" (1957), skeletons that whistled over the audience in a process called "Emergo" during critical scenes in "House on Haunted Hill" and his most audacious stunt, "Percepto," which literally shocked the audience by wiring selected seats in the theater with electricity and administering mild jolts during moments in "The Tingler" (1959). Castle is also noted as the producer of the psychological thriller "Rosemary's Baby" (1968).

Filmography

Life Events

1929

Broadway acting debut at age 15

1932

Directed Bela Lugosi in a Broadway production of "Dracula"

1932

Worked as director and actor on Broadway and in summer stock

1937

Film acting debut

1939

Brought to Hollywood by Harry Cohn; worked for Columbia (1943-1963)

1943

Film directing debut with the short, "Mr. Smug"

1943

Directed first feature film, "The Chance of a Lifetime"

1948

First film as producer (co-associate with Richard Wilson), Orson Welles' "The Lady from Shanghai"

1955

Formed own production company

1968

Produced "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Riot"

1972

Produced TV series, "Circle of Fear"

1975

Played a producer in the film, "Shampoo" and a director in "The Day of the Locust"

Photo Collections

13 Ghosts - Ghost Viewer

Here is the ghost viewer handed out to audience members during theater showings of 13 Ghosts (1960), produced and directed by William Castle.

The Tingler - "Percepto" Pressbook Supplement

Here is a supplement to the pressbook for The Tingler (1959), produced by William Castle. This manual explains for theater owners the hardware and installation of PERCEPTO, the gimmick that Castle used to give a vibrating "tingle" to theater seats during showings of the film.

The Tingler - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from The Tingler (1959). Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Let's Kill Uncle - Behind-the-Scenes Photo

Here is a photo taken behind the scenes during production of Universal Pictures' Let's Kill Uncle (1966), starring Pat Cardi and Mary Badham and produced and directed by William Castle.

The Houston Story - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from Columbia Pictures' The Houston Story (1955), starring Gene Barry. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

13 Ghosts - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for 13 Ghosts (1960), produced and directed by William Castle. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Mr. Sardonicus - Lobby Card

Here is a Lobby Card from Columbia Pictures' Mr. Sardonicus (1961), produced by William Castle. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Homicidal - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Homicidal (1961), produced and directed by William Castle. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.