William Castle's top 5 movie gimmicks

[_____V_____]

Interesting read.

http://www.fearnet.com/news/list/william-castles-five-top-movie-gimmicks

[metternich1815]

I agree this was a very interesting read. Although, I have done a great deal of reading and research on the subject and therefore was aware of much of the information presented in the article. But, interesting nonetheless.

[neverending]

It's nice to see Castle remembered, but the article is sloppily written. The Tingler wasn't an alien. And we don't remember Castle because of these gimmicks he used, we remember him because the films themselves were entertaining. Long after these gimmicks are mere memories, we're still watching the films.

I should be pitching articles to Fearnet if this is what they're accepting.

[metternich1815]

While it is true that we still watch Castle films today because they were really good. William Castle was best known for his gimmicks. In fact, that is why the studio refused to allow him to direct Rosemary's Baby (despite him finding and buying the script with his own money).

[Ferox13]

I have to agree there is much more to Castle than the gimmicks he used to promote his film.

[metternich1815]

Again, I agree. I especially liked the original House on Haunted Hill. But, he was really famous for the gimmicks he used to promote his films.

[Straker]

I watched a bunch of Castles films before I really knew who he was or fully realised about the gimmicks he employed. The gimmicks are part of the package I guess, but take away the gimmicks and you still have a quality catalogue of work.

[_____V_____]

A lot of the audience today who has watched and appreciated Castle's films sees quality stuff in his work. I bet many of them still don't know the innovative ways he used in marketing his films in the 50s and 60s. Labeling him as just a "gimmick maker" is unfair to the man - he's given us a body of films which are solidly original and a great inspiration for makers over the years.

[metternich1815]

I agree that William Castle's movies were brilliant, but one of the reasons he goes down in horror movie history was due his campaigns. He had a great deal of influence on many horror movies in the future due to this. I agree it is not fair to reduce him to that. But, it should be noted that I have never read a book or watched a documentary (that talked about William Castle) that did not have a great deal of discussion on his gimmicks (I have read and seen a lot of things on horror). Sadly, I would have to agree it was the are he influenced the genre the most, although in recnt years he has become popular for his films only (I myself discoverred him with no knowledge of these gimmicks). Besides the article was merely recounting the five best William Castle gimmicks, I don't think it reduced him.

[crabapple]

Interesting article! I suggest reading Castle's autobiography "Step Right Up! I'm Gonna Scare the Pants Off America"...it's a marvelous book; I only wish it was twice as long and told more stories about the making of his horror classics. But as an overview of his entire career, it's a treasure trove, and priceless.

[Ice Pik]

Interesting article. Wish they still do things like that. They should do a whole cult movie thing like they do for rocky horror picture show for his movies.

[Monkey Astronaut]

Macabre is the only film of the five I haven't yet watched. I really need to get around to seeing it. Fearnet has been showing a bunch of William Castle movies On Demand all month.

[FryeDwight]

It certainly is an interesting read!!!!!!! I love Castle's films and as mentioned by many posters already, although he's known for the gimmicks, A LOT of his films are still fun as hell to watch, especially MR. SARDONICUs, HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, HOMICIDAL, STRAIGHT-JACKET and the incomparable THE TINGLER.
He was a first class huckster, but he seemed like a genuinely nice guy who loved what he did. How much fun he would have had/been at a horror convention!