  |
|
|
|
Director and Producer, William Castle, was known for using simple gimmicks to fill the theaters.
William Castle directed, prodeced and wrote more than 50 films during his hollywood career. He used gimmicks to encourage audiences to see his films. Macabre-1958 Gimmick: A $1,000 Fright Insurance policy from Lloyd's of London was given to each customer in case he/she should die of fright during the film. A small-town doctor’s daughter is kidnapped and buried alive. He is given a few hours to find her before she runs out of air. House on Haunted Hill-1959 Gimmick: "Emergo": An inflatable skeleton floated over the audience during the final moments of the film. Starring Vincent Price as Frederick Loren, an eccentric millionare who has invited five guests to his house for a party.This house has reputation for murder. He offers each of them $10,000 if they can survivr the night in the house. At midnight all the doors are locked and the guests are left to fend for their lives. The Tingler-1959 Gimmick: "Percepto": Some seats were equpped with electric buzzers to simulate an attack of the Tingler. Vincent Price stars as coroner and scientist Dr. Warren Chapin. Dr. Warren discovers that the tingling of the spine in states of extreme fear is due to the growth of a tingler, a spinal parasite which can kill the host unless it is destroyed by screaming. Dr. Warren is introduced to Ollie Higgins, the relative of a criminal sentenced to the electric chair and his wife Martha, deaf-mute. When Martha dies of fear, Dr. Warner discovers the tingler is an actual creature that lives inside every human being. When the creture is removed from Martha it escapes into a crowded theater. 13 Ghosts-1960 Gimmick: "Illusion-O!": A hand held ghost viewer was given out to use during certain parts of the film. By looking through top or bottom of the viewer the audience was able to either see or remove the ghosts. Dr. Zorba has died and left his eerie mansion to his nephew Cyrus and his family. Their new furnished residence comes complete with a spooky housekeeper, plus a fortune in buried treasure and the occultist's collection of 12 ghosts, who can only be seen through Zorba's special goggles. The family must find the 13th to free them. Homicidal-1961 Gimmick: "Fright Break": Allowed cowards to flee the theatre and receive a full refund if they were too frightened to see the end of the film, however in order receive the refund the patron had to stand in the "Coward's Corner" until the film was over. They were then given a "Coward's Certificate" which they had to present to get thir refund. The story centers on a murderous scheme to collect a rich inheritance. The object of murder is Miriam Webster, who is to share in the inheritance with her half brother Warren. Warren lives with his guardian, Helga, who has recently suffered a stroke and is tended to by Emily, her nurse. Mr. Sardonicus - 1961 Gimmick: "Punishment Poll": Each member of the audience was given a card with a glow in the dark thumb they could hold either up or down to vote to kill or spare the villain. Mr. Sardonicus digs up his father’s grave to retrieve a winning lottery ticket. He gets so scared that his face is frozen in a hideous sort-of grin. He tries all kinds of things to correct this, but nothing works. By the end he is a unable to function. Zotz!- 1962 Gimmick: Magic "Zotz" coins were handed out to audiences. Jonathan Jones finds a cursed amulet. He obtains powers to cause pain, slow movement, or death. He discovers that when he points at another living creature, it causes it great pain, thus preventing any intimate contact. When he tries to warn the US Government they take him as a madman. Strait-Jacket- 1964 Gimmick:Plastic bloody axes were given to the audience. After a 20's in an asylum, former ax murderess Lucy Harbin returns to stay with her daughter, her brother and his wife. Carol is seemingly unaffected by the grisly murder she witnessed her mother commit. Carol and her fiancé, Michael, are planning on getting married. Unfortunately gruesome axe-murders begin to occur in the town. As a twist, Lucy turns out not to be the killer. I Saw What You Did-1965 Gimmick: Seat belts for those who might be frightened out of thier seats. The Mannerings are going out of town on business. Mr. Mannerings decides that teenaged Libby is old enough to take care of her little sister. Libby’s friend Kit comes over and the two girls begin making prank calls. They start saying, "I saw what you did, and I know who you are." Most people hang up. Unfortunately, the next call is to Steve Marek, who has stabbed his wife to death. Libby decides that she wants to meet the man. When they get to his house, Libby is confronted by Steve’s neighbor, Amy who is in love with Steve, Amy knows that Steve has killed his wife and when she confronts him, he kills her as well. The girls must then deal with Steve coming after them.
The copyright of the article William Castle's Gimmicks in Horror Films is owned by Sage Meehan. Permission to republish William Castle's Gimmicks in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
