William Castle

William Castle

1914-04-25 New York City, New York, USA 84 Credits

Biography

William Castle  (April 24, 1914 – May 31, 1977) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Castle was known for directing films with many gimmicks which were ambitiously promoted, despite being reasonably low budget B-movies. Castle began directing films in the early 1940s, and later television, before moving on to the "gimmick films". Description above from the Wikipedia article William Castle, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Known For

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Complete Filmography

Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story

Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story

2007

as Self

7.7
Acting

Chronicles the last great American showman, filmmaker William Castle, a master of ballyhoo who became a brand name in movie horror with his outrageous...

Battle-Axe: the Making of 'Strait-Jacket'

Battle-Axe: the Making of 'Strait-Jacket'

2002

as Self (archive footage)

Acting

A look back at the classic 1964 film of horror and suspense starring Joan Crawford as an axe-murderer just released from the mental hospital. Includes...

Hollywood Rated 'R'

Hollywood Rated 'R'

1997

as Self (archive footage)

5.1
Acting

A roller-coaster ride through the history of American exploitation films, ranging from Roger Corman's sci-fi and horror monster movies, 1960s beach mo...

Bug

Bug

1975

Screenplay, Producer

5.3
Writing Producing

An earthquake releases a strain of mutant cockroaches with the ability to start fires, which proceed to cause destructive chaos in a small town. The s...

The Day of the Locust

The Day of the Locust

1975

as Director

6.4
Acting

Hollywood, 1930s. Tod Hackett, a young painter who tries to make his way as an art director in the lurid world of film industry, gets infatuated with ...

Shampoo

Shampoo

1975

as Sid Roth

6.0
Acting

A Beverly Hills hairdresser runs around town on the eve of the 1968 presidential election trying to make heads or tails of his financial and romantic ...

Shanks

Shanks

1974

as Grocer

4.9
Acting

Malcolm Shanks is a sad and lonely man, deaf, mute and living with his cruel sister and her husband, who delight in making him miserable. His only ple...

Shanks

Shanks

1974

Executive Producer, Director

4.9
Producing Directing

Malcolm Shanks is a sad and lonely man, deaf, mute and living with his cruel sister and her husband, who delight in making him miserable. His only ple...

The Sex Symbol

The Sex Symbol

1974

as Jack P. Harper

3.0
Acting

A thinly-disguised version of the life of Marilyn Monroe, detailing her ups and downs in life and how her erratic behavior contributed to her deterior...

Riot

Riot

1969

Producer

5.3
Producing

A riot in a state prison is staged to cover up an escape attempt, during which many inmates and guards are killed. Shot on location at Arizona State P...

Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary's Baby

1968

as Phone Booth Man (uncredited)

7.8
Acting

A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by frightening legends and mysterious events, with the pur...

Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary's Baby

1968

Producer

7.8
Producing

A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by frightening legends and mysterious events, with the pur...

Project X

Project X

1968

Director, Producer

5.6
Directing Producing

A spy is brought back from cryogenic suspension after being almost killed in a plane crash returning from a mission to learn about a deadly new weapon...

The Spirit Is Willing

The Spirit Is Willing

1967

as Mr. Hymer (uncredited)

5.4
Acting

When Ben and Kate Powell rent a haunted New England house by the sea, their son Steve gets blamed for the destruction caused by three unruly ghosts.

The Spirit Is Willing

The Spirit Is Willing

1967

Director, Producer

5.4
Directing Producing

When Ben and Kate Powell rent a haunted New England house by the sea, their son Steve gets blamed for the destruction caused by three unruly ghosts.

The Busy Body

The Busy Body

1967

Producer, Director

7.1
Producing Directing

Sid Caesar is a bumbling gopher to a mob boss who must recover a fortune in cash stowed in the suit of a corpse.

Let's Kill Uncle

Let's Kill Uncle

1966

as Russell Harrison (in car wreck) (uncredited)

5.5
Acting

A 12-year-old orphan who has just inherited a fortune is trapped on an island with his uncle, a former British intelligence commander who intends to k...

Let's Kill Uncle

Let's Kill Uncle

1966

Director, Producer

5.5
Directing Producing

A 12-year-old orphan who has just inherited a fortune is trapped on an island with his uncle, a former British intelligence commander who intends to k...

I Saw What You Did

I Saw What You Did

1965

Director, Producer

6.2
Directing Producing

Teenage friends Kit and Libby make prank phone calls for fun but then find themselves involved in a brutal double murder committed by one of their tar...

The Night Walker

The Night Walker

1964

Producer, Director

6.6
Producing Directing

A woman is haunted by recurring nightmares, which seem to be instigated by her late husband who supposedly was killed in a fire.

Strait-Jacket

Strait-Jacket

1964

Producer, Director

6.6
Producing Directing

After a twenty-year stay at an asylum for a double murder, a mother returns to her estranged daughter where suspicions arise about her behavior.

How to Plan a Movie Murder

How to Plan a Movie Murder

1964

as Self

4.0
Acting

The writer, director and star of the 1964 horror film Strait-Jacket in a humorous featurette in which they plan "the perfect murder."

The Old Dark House

The Old Dark House

1963

Producer, Director

5.9
Producing Directing

An American car salesman in London becomes mixed up in a series of fatal occurrences at a secluded mansion.

13 Frightened Girls

13 Frightened Girls

1963

Director, Producer

5.4
Directing Producing

While attending a Swiss school for diplomats' daughters, the teenage daughter of the American ambassador uses her access to various embassies to engag...

Zotz!

Zotz!

1962

as Himself (prologue)

5.7
Acting

Jonathan Jones, a professor of ancient languages, comes into possession of an ancient coin. He translates its inscription, which gives him three power...

Zotz!

Zotz!

1962

Director, Producer

5.7
Directing Producing

Jonathan Jones, a professor of ancient languages, comes into possession of an ancient coin. He translates its inscription, which gives him three power...

Mr. Sardonicus

Mr. Sardonicus

1961

as Self (uncredited)

6.3
Acting

In 1880, Sir Robert Cargrave, a London physician known for his experimental work in paralysis treatment, is summoned to Gorslava by the mysterious Bar...

Mr. Sardonicus

Mr. Sardonicus

1961

Producer, Director

6.3
Producing Directing

In 1880, Sir Robert Cargrave, a London physician known for his experimental work in paralysis treatment, is summoned to Gorslava by the mysterious Bar...

Homicidal

Homicidal

1961

as Self, Prologue Host (Uncredited)

6.5
Acting

A woman named Emily checks into a hotel and offers the bellboy $2000 to temporarily marry her. We soon find out Emily is the caretaker of a wheelchair...

Homicidal

Homicidal

1961

Director, Producer

6.5
Directing Producing

A woman named Emily checks into a hotel and offers the bellboy $2000 to temporarily marry her. We soon find out Emily is the caretaker of a wheelchair...

13 Ghosts

13 Ghosts

1960

as Himself (uncredited)

5.7
Acting

Reclusive Dr. Zorba has died and left his mansion to his nephew Cyrus and his family. They will need to search the house to find the doctor's fortune,...

13 Ghosts

13 Ghosts

1960

Director, Producer

5.7
Directing Producing

Reclusive Dr. Zorba has died and left his mansion to his nephew Cyrus and his family. They will need to search the house to find the doctor's fortune,...

The Tingler

The Tingler

1959

as Prologue Host (uncredited)

6.4
Acting

A pathologist experiments with a deaf-mute woman who is unable to scream to prove that humans die of fright due to an organism he names The Tingler th...

The Tingler

The Tingler

1959

Director, Producer

6.4
Directing Producing

A pathologist experiments with a deaf-mute woman who is unable to scream to prove that humans die of fright due to an organism he names The Tingler th...

House on Haunted Hill

House on Haunted Hill

1959

Director, Producer

6.8
Directing Producing

Frederick Loren has invited five strangers to a party of a lifetime. He is offering each of them $10,000 if they can stay the night in a house. But th...

Macabre

Macabre

1958

Director, Producer

5.9
Directing Producing

After his wife and her blind sister have died under his care, a doctor's small daughter is kidnapped and reported as buried alive, and he is given jus...

Uranium Boom

Uranium Boom

1956

Director

6.0
Directing

Ex-lumberjack Brad Collins (Dennis Morgan) and mining engineer Grady Mathews (William Talman) find uranium in the Colorado badlands. While Grady guard...

The Houston Story

The Houston Story

1956

Director

5.5
Directing

A Texas oil driller schemes to steal millions of dollars in oil.

Duel on the Mississippi

Duel on the Mississippi

1955

Director

6.5
Directing

In bustling era of 19th-century Louisiana, sugar is as valuable as gold, and pirates like Lili Scarlet will do anything to get it. After robbing Jules...

The Gun That Won the West

The Gun That Won the West

1955

Director

4.0
Directing

In the late 1880s, Colonel Carrington and his command are assigned the job of constructing a chain of forts in the Sious Indian territory of Wyoming. ...

New Orleans Uncensored

New Orleans Uncensored

1955

Director

4.5
Directing

Discharged naval officer Dan Corbett moves to New Orleans and accepts a job as a longshoreman, unaware that the docks are run by an infamous racketeer...

The Americano

The Americano

1955

Director

5.2
Directing

An American Rancher takes a small herd of Brahma bulls to Brazil where he has sold them for a small fortune. There, he finds himself in the middle of ...

Masterson of Kansas

Masterson of Kansas

1954

Director

5.8
Directing

Western lawman Bat Masterson sets out to prove a man standing trial for murder is innocent.

The Law vs. Billy the Kid

The Law vs. Billy the Kid

1954

Director

4.3
Directing

Billy the Kid is forced to kill for the woman he loves, and is ultimately brought to justice by his old friend Pat Garrett.

Battle of Rogue River

Battle of Rogue River

1954

Director

5.7
Directing

In 1850 Oregon is trying to gain statehood, but a truce is needed with the Indians before it can be accomplished. A new Army commander, Major Archer, ...

The Saracen Blade

The Saracen Blade

1954

Director

4.8
Directing

Based on the book of the same name by Frank Yerby. Pietro is an orphan who is raised by a family friend in 15th century Italy. When the friend is kill...

Drums of Tahiti

Drums of Tahiti

1954

Director

Directing

A smuggler (Dennis O'Keefe) buys a bride (Patricia Medina) in San Francisco to help him run guns in 1877 Tahiti.

Jesse James vs. the Daltons

Jesse James vs. the Daltons

1954

Director

5.2
Directing

Joe Branch, reputed to be the son of Jesse James, comes riding into Coffeyville Kansas, looking for proof one way or the other regarding the question ...

The Iron Glove

The Iron Glove

1954

Director

4.0
Directing

Irishman Charles Wogan wields his sword in the cause of James Stuart who seeks to replace George I on the throne of England.

Charge of the Lancers

Charge of the Lancers

1954

Director

4.0
Directing

The downward spiral of the quality of films Paulette Goddard appeared in in the 1950's would cause a gravitational blackout to anyone viewing them in ...

Slaves of Babylon

Slaves of Babylon

1953

Director

4.7
Directing

The Jews are taken from Jerusalem and made slaves by King Nebuchadnezzar. In the meantime Cyrus, king of the Persians, who has been living as a shephe...

Conquest of Cochise

Conquest of Cochise

1953

Director

5.1
Directing

A cavalry officer tries to keep a lid on a volatile situation when Indian leader Cochise is being prodded into starting a war.

Serpent of the Nile

Serpent of the Nile

1953

Director

7.0
Directing

Cleopatra toys with Mark Antony who wants to merge his Rome with her Egypt.

Fort Ti

Fort Ti

1953

Director

6.5
Directing

Future horror-film entrepreneur William Castle warmed the director's chair for Fort Ti. Set in the 18th century, the film recounts the exploits of Rog...

Cave of Outlaws

Cave of Outlaws

1951

Director

5.2
Directing

Having served a prison sentence for robbery, Pete Carver decides to go back for the hidden loot. But someone is on his trail.

Hollywood Story

Hollywood Story

1951

as Himself (uncredited)

6.6
Acting

An independent producer unwisely opens a can of worms after he decides to make a movie about the unsolved murder of a famous silent film director.

Hollywood Story

Hollywood Story

1951

Director

6.6
Directing

An independent producer unwisely opens a can of worms after he decides to make a movie about the unsolved murder of a famous silent film director.

The Fat Man

The Fat Man

1951

Director

5.6
Directing

A innocent dentist is murdered and the only apparent motive seems to be to steal a set of dental x-rays. To the police it looks like an accident, but ...

It's a Small World

It's a Small World

1950

as Cop (uncredited)

5.3
Acting

Harry Musk is one in a million. That means that he's the one out of a million children who is perfectly proportioned but will never grow larger than a...

It's a Small World

It's a Small World

1950

Writer, Director

5.3
Writing Directing

Harry Musk is one in a million. That means that he's the one out of a million children who is perfectly proportioned but will never grow larger than a...

Undertow

Undertow

1949

Director

6.1
Directing

Undertow stars Scott Brady as a gambler just out of wartime military service. No longer interested in wagers and speculations, Brady wants only to ope...

Johnny Stool Pigeon

Johnny Stool Pigeon

1949

Director

6.2
Directing

A federal agent infiltrates a crime syndicate.

The Gentleman from Nowhere

The Gentleman from Nowhere

1948

Director

6.0
Directing

Security guard, wounded in a robbery of furs, arouses the suspicions of an insurance investigator.

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

1948

Director

5.3
Directing

Eddie Tayloe's grandfather leaves him six thousand dollars and the money belt it came in, freeing Tayloe to leave his dull newspaper job in Texas and ...

The Lady from Shanghai

The Lady from Shanghai

1947

Associate Producer

7.4
Producing

A romantic drifter gets caught between a corrupt tycoon and his voluptuous wife.

The Crime Doctor's Gamble

The Crime Doctor's Gamble

1947

Director

4.5
Directing

While visiting France, a criminal psychologist tries to clear a disturbed young man of his father's murder.

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

1946

Director

5.8
Directing

A criminal psychologist investigates the murder of a veteran with amnesia.

The Return of Rusty

The Return of Rusty

1946

Director

6.0
Directing

A young Czechoslovak orphan, Loddy Bicek, befriended by an American army sergeant, is brought into the United States as a stowaway by the soldier. He ...

Mysterious Intruder

Mysterious Intruder

1946

Director

5.9
Directing

A private detective is hired to find a young heiress but finds himself accused of murder.

Just Before Dawn

Just Before Dawn

1946

Director

6.3
Directing

In the 7th film of the "Crime Doctor" series based on the radio program, Dr. Robert Ordway is summoned to take attend a diabetic, and gives an injecti...

Voice of the Whistler

Voice of the Whistler

1945

Director, Writer

5.7
Directing Writing

A dying millionaire marries his nurse for companionship, only to experience a miracle cure.

The Crime Doctor's Warning

The Crime Doctor's Warning

1945

Director

5.5
Directing

A criminal psychologist treats an artist whose blackouts coincide with a series of murders.

Dillinger

Dillinger

1945

Writer

5.9
Writing

The life of American public enemy number one who was shot by the police in 1934.

The Mark of the Whistler

The Mark of the Whistler

1944

Director

6.0
Directing

A drifter claims the money in an old bank account. Soon he finds himself the target of two men who turn out to be the sons of the man's old partner, w...

When Strangers Marry

When Strangers Marry

1944

as Man in Photograph Given to Police (uncredited)

6.1
Acting

A naive small-town girl comes to New York City to meet her husband, and discovers that he may be a murderer.

When Strangers Marry

When Strangers Marry

1944

Director

6.1
Directing

A naive small-town girl comes to New York City to meet her husband, and discovers that he may be a murderer.

She's a Soldier Too

She's a Soldier Too

1944

Director

3.0
Directing

Wartime workers deal with homefront dramatics.

The Whistler

The Whistler

1944

Director

6.0
Directing

A guilt-ridden man blames himself for his wife's death and secretly pays an assassin to kill him. But then he finds out that his wife isn't dead at al...

Klondike Kate

Klondike Kate

1943

Director

5.8
Directing

A young man in Alaska finds himself accused of murder, and must fight to clear his name.

The Chance of a Lifetime

The Chance of a Lifetime

1943

Director

6.2
Directing

A mad scramble for stolen loot ensues after Boston Blackie has prisoners released for work in a wartime defence plant.

Black Marketing

Black Marketing

1943

Director

Directing

Documentary short film depicting government methods of detecting black marketeers during wartime rationing.

North to the Klondike

North to the Klondike

1942

Story

6.8
Writing

Based upon the novel by Jack London, two friends in the Klondike aid settlers being terrorized by outlaws.

He Stayed for Breakfast

He Stayed for Breakfast

1940

as Policeman

Acting

Set in Paris, this romantic comedy revolves around the beautiful estranged wife of a wealthy banker who hides a handsome and fiery Communist fugitive ...

The Lady in Question

The Lady in Question

1940

as Angry Juror #1 (uncredited)

6.6
Acting

When a jury member takes in the defendant he couldn't convict, she has a bad influence on his son.