Macabre (1958 film)

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Macabre

Directed by	William Castle
Produced by	William Castle
Written by	Robb White Theo Durrant (novel)
Starring	William Prince Jim Backus Christine White Jacqueline Scott Susan Morrow
Music by	Les Baxter
Cinematography	Carl E. Guthrie
Editing by	John F. Schreyer
Distributed by	Allied Artists
Release dates	October 1958
Running time	72 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$90,000 (estimated)
Box office	$5,000,000 (USA) ( January 1970) (sub-total)

Macabre is a 1958 thriller film directed by William Castle, written by Robb White, and starring William Prince, Jim Backus, Christine White, Jacqueline Scott, and Susan Morrow.

It involved one of Castle's first forays into using the promotional gimmicks that later made him famous.^[1] Some critics call this a suspense film, rather than a horror film, having established a "racing against time" plot-line.^[2] A certificate for a $1,000 life insurance policy from Lloyd's of London was given to each customer in case he/she should die of fright during the film.^[1]^[3] Some showings also had ushers dressed in surgical garb with an ambulance parked outside.

Plot

Doctor Rod Barrett's (William Prince) young daughter has been kidnapped by a mysterious maniac who has buried her alive "in a large coffin". The doctor has five hours in which to find and rescue her before her air runs out and she suffocates. The maniacal killer apparently, also murdered Doctor Barrett's wife and sister.

Various family members and friends become potential suspects as they help in the search, wandering through dark graveyards, crypts, thunder and lightning, and red-herrings. The somewhat muddy plot leads to a surprise conclusion that reveals the guilty party and the motive. At the film's end, the voice of William Castle is heard throughout the theater, requesting that the audience not reveal the unexpected ending to others.

Production

Castle mortgaged his house to make the thriller independently.^[1] Filming took place from August 15 to 23, 1958.

Cast

William Prince as Doctor Rodney Barrett
Jim Backus as Jim Tyloe, the town constable
Christine White as Nancy Wetherby
Jacqueline Scott as Polly Baron
Susan Morrow as Sylvia Stevenson

Reception

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Patrons Reading This Article Must Be Insured in Case of Death by Fright!!!". Metroactive.com.
↑ Craig Butler. "Macabre (1958): review". Allrovi.
↑ "The William Castle Story". Horror-Wood.com.

External links

Macabre at the Internet Movie Database
Macabre at allmovie

v t e Films directed by William Castle

1940s	Black Marketing The Chance of a Lifetime Klondike Kate The Whistler She's a Soldier Too When Strangers Marry The Mark of the Whistler Crime Doctor's Warning Voice of the Whistler Just Before Dawn Mysterious Intruder The Return of Rusty Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven Crime Doctor's Gamble Crime Doctor's Man Hunt The Gentleman from Nowhere Johnny Stool Pigeon Undertow

1950s	It's a Small World The Fat Man Hollywood Story Cave of Outlaws Fort Ti Serpent of the Nile Conquest of Cochise Slaves of Babylon Charge of the Lancers The Battle of Rogue River Jesse James vs. the Daltons Drums of Tahiti The Iron Glove The Saracen Blade The Law vs. Billy the Kid Masterson of Kansas The Americano New Orleans Uncensored The Gun That Won the West Duel on the Mississippi The Houston Story Uranium Boom Macabre House on Haunted Hill The Tingler

1960s–1970s	13 Ghosts Homicidal Mr. Sardonicus Zotz! 13 Frightened Girls The Old Dark House Strait-Jacket The Night Walker I Saw What You Did Let's Kill Uncle The Busy Body The Spirit Is Willing Project X Shanks

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