Sardonicus not once but twice, neither to good effect. In this 1961 william castle film based on ray russells novel sardonicus, guy rolfe stars as the wicked sardonicus, a wealthy count who wears a mask because his face is frozen in a horrifying death. Sardonicus is a 1961 horror film starring ronald lewis as sir robert cargrave, a london physician who calls on the mysterious baron sardonicus, a wealthy man with a terrible condition. The old dark house is a labouring affair as castle teams up with hammer, and produces a comedy horror which features little comedy and no horror. Ronald lewis stars as sir robert cargrave, a brilliant doctor who is at the top of his field in the early 20th century. Sardonicus is a 1961 horror film directed by william castle and starring guy rolfe in the title role. Sardonicus wants nothing more than to wipe that frozen rictus from his. Castle cited the film in his memoir as one of his favorites to produce.
This film is best known for one of castles gimmicks, where audiences were given the chance to vote toward the films closing scenes, to decide the fate of mr. It tells the story of sardonicus, a man whose face becomes frozen in a horrifying grin while robbing his fathers grave to obtain a winning lottery ticket. Complete with a seque intro by castle, the film would also end on the note of giving the viewers a choice as to mr. The 1996 encore vhs release was complete and uncut. She always talks about his sardonic smile and after watching it again after all these years we got a great laugh and many great memories. A search for a winning lottery ticket in his dead fathers grave causes sardonicus face to freeze in a horrible grimace, until he forces a doctor to treat his afflictionwith even more grotesque results. Sardonicus 1961 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Sardonicus are coming to bluray in two double features from mill creek entertainment.
Sardonicus is a 1961 film about a man whose face is frozen in a horrible smile who forces a doctor to treat him. This point was brought home to me recently when i had the chance to watch mr. We physicians have a name for that chilling grimace, a latin name, and as it entered my mind, it seemed to dispel yet another mystery, for the term we use to describe the lockjaw smile is risus sardonicus. Sardonicus at the south hills theater in dormont when it first came. With ronald lewis, audrey dalton, guy rolfe, oskar homolka. Sardonicus the old dark house 1961 starring tom poston and oscar homolka on dvd and bluray. Mr sardonicus is brilliant about a man who steals a lottery ticket from a corpse and then is cursed with a huge grin fixed to his face. Sardonicus 1961 full movie download full hd youtube. Sardonicus 1961 isnt my favorite castle film ive always been partial to house on haunted hill and the tingler, its still a lot of fun, especially if youre a fan of schlocky, sleazetinged, lurid spectacles like i am. Sardonicus, the tale of a man whose face is frozen into a horrifying grimace, and the old dark house, in which an auto salesman tom poston delivers a car to his client, only to find the man dead on arrival. Ronald lewis stars as sir robert cargrave, a brilliant doctor who is. Sardonicus 1961 in january of 1961, those readers of playboy who werent looking at the pictures might have taken some time out to savor a very spooky story within the magazines glossy pages. It tells the story of sardonicus, a man whose face becomes frozen in a horrifyi. Sardonicus later that same year, with russell himself doing the screenplay.
Sir robert sends for a deadly south american plant and uses it to experiment on dogs. The story involves a recluse, baron sardonicus played by guy rolfe, needing facial repair. Sardonicus 1961 drama, horror, mystery video dailymotion. Sardonicus is a 1961 horror film produced and directed by william castle. May 27, 20 this point was brought home to me recently when i had the chance to watch mr. It is based on the short story sardonicus by ray russell.
The audience gets an opportunity to votevia the punishment poll. Sardonicus full movie in hd visit movie 29402 a search for a winning lottery ticket in his dead fathers grave causes s. A very good no frills doublebill for william castle fans. The film was initially refused a uk cinema certificate by the bbfc, and only passed 4 months later after considerable precuts which included shots of sardonicus face and the entire leech torture of anna. He will inject sardonicus with plant extract, then recreate the trauma that caused sardonicus condition. For a wonderful, and creepy, classic film experience, mr. Differences in the films comparative impact had less to do with the size of the respective screens than with the viewing environment. He even gives us a dictionary definition of them so we know what were in for, in the salacious castle manner of course.
In this 1961 william castle film based on ray russells novel sardonicus, guy rolfe stars as the wicked sardonicus, a wealthy count who wears a mask because his face is frozen in a horrifying. Sardonicus movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. May 27, 2007 trailer to the 1961 horror film, directed by william castle. The audience gets an opportunity to votevia the punishment pollfor the penalty sardonicus must pay for his deeds.
Like most of castles efforts, it came with a gimmick, the punishment poll. Mr sardonicus 1961 william castle was born in the big apple in 1914, but here he is in the fog shrouded london of 1880 introducing this ray russell story about ghouls. The film is a great addition to any classic horror film collection. The bravados classic western, full movie, gregory peck, english free full western films duration. Sardonicus is a 60s horror movie based around the story of a search for a winning lottery ticket in his dead fathers grave that causes sardonicus face to freeze in a horrible grimace, until he forces a doctor to treat his afflictionwith even more grotesque results. The film was initially refused a uk cinema certificate by the bbfc, and only passed 4 months. Sardonicus 1961 william castle on allmovie william castle brings his usual bag of. Castles gimmick for this film consisted of an introduction prior to the credits and then a reappearance at the conclusion in which he asked audiences to vote thumbs up or thumbs down as to whether or not the evil sardonicus should be dealt further. As we get closer and closer to halloween, the film festival has been running more and more of my favorite movies. Sardonicus, castle gives us a film that resembles our modern thrillers more than horror cinema, but it still has eerie moments and of course, tons of suspense. Final third suffers a bit but this is a quality film. In this 1961 william castle film based on ray russells novel sardonicus, guy rolfe stars as the wicked sardonicus, a wealthy count who wears a mask because his face is frozen in a horrifying death grimace. Find movie and film cast and crew information for mr. Set in the year 1880, the film follows sir robert cargrave, a renowned surgeon who specializes in paralysis, who receives a letter from his past love maude and is invited to the mansion of her husband, baron sardonicus, in the.
Sardonicus is a lesser known william castle classic. Sardonicus is played by guy rolfe, who looks like dick miller would after a few turns on the rack, but wed hardly know that, because he constantly wears a mask akin to that. The audience gets an opportunity to votevia the punishment pollfor the penalty sardonicus must. Sardonicus 2006 cast and crew sir robert cargrave ronald lewis, a gifted london doctor researching experimental treatments for paralysis, receives a mysterious letter written in a familiar. He lives in a remote castle, naturally, complete with padlocked doors, empty portrait frames hanging on the wall and a complete absence of mirrors.
William castle was either a frustrated actor or an incurable ham, appearing in mr. William castles ghosts 1960, frightened girls, homicidal, and mr. This is a zone a product so a suitable only for appropriate players. Sardonicus 1961 is a horror film produced and directed by william castle. The man with the xray eyes and produced and directed by. Mr sardonicus bluray from william castle at columbia vol.
Set in the year 1880, the film follows sir robert cargrave, a renowned surgeon. This time the inspiration came from the studio brass, who were unhappy with the decidedly downbeat ending to the movie. True to the gothic genre, this story takes place in a dark castle and tells the story of a physician lots of physicians in the gothic who is held by his will to fix the deformed face of the master sardonicus. Sardonicus, because it was my sisters favorite horror movie when she was young. Sardonicus full movie in hd visit movie 29402 a search for a winning lottery ticket in his dead fathers grave causes. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. The movies themselves are excellent example of castles approach to horror with homicidal having a fright break before the finale so only brave viewers will keep their seats all of us in fact as nobody would wish to leave at such a point and mr sardonicus. Sardonicus displays henryks open coffin, giving sir robert an idea.
Sardonicus wouldnt be complete without one of william castles trademark marketing gimmicks. It appeared in the january 1961 issue and william castle produced and directed the film adaptation mr. The operation is a success, and sardonicus face is restored. Trailer to the 1961 horror film, directed by william castle. Tuesday, july 19th doesnt boast a ton of new home entertainment choices for genre fans, but as the saying goes, sometimes its quality over quantity, and there are a few releases to be more than excited for. Jan 10, 20 the bravados classic western, full movie, gregory peck, english free full western films duration. Sardonicus 2006 sir robert cargrave ronald lewis, a gifted london doctor researching experimental treatments for paralysis, receives a mysterious letter written in a familiar hand.
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