Post #55527 by TheMuggler on Thu, Oct 16, 2003 10:47 PM

On 2003-10-16 16:58, kctiki wrote:
"Mr. Sardonicus", a very old movie about a guy with a grotesque, ear to ear grin (sardonicus means smile in Greek I think).

Another classic William Castle flick. If you are interested in B movies try and pick up a copy of his autobiography "Step Right Up! I'm Gonna Scare The Pants Off America." It's out of print but you can find used copies:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0886876575/ref=lpr_g_1/103-4628184-0088644?v=glance&s=books

The things he did to promote his movies were hysterical, often better than the movies themselves.

For Mr. Sardonicus, he created something called "The Punishment Poll" moviegoers were given glow in the dark "thumbs up/thumbs down" signs and right before the last reel audiences were asked to vote whether Sardonicus should live or die. They shot both endings but audiences were always bloodthirsty, so the ending where he lives has NEVER been seen.

The first "interactive" movie!

William Castle's original version of 13 Ghosts is available on DVD and it comes with a "Ghost Viewer" just like audiences were given to see the "hidden" ghosts in the movie.

For The Tingler, staring Vincent Price, he had theater seats wired to give small electrical shocks during certain parts of the movie. Genius!

I wish they still did stuff like this today.