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. Castle cited the film in his memoir as one of his favorites to produce. 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. Sir robert cargrave ronald lewis, a gifted london doctor researching experimental treatments for paralysis, receives a mysterious letter written in a. Sardonicus has married cargraves childhood sweetheart, maude audrey dalton, and threatens to harm her should the good doctor fail to cure him of his bizarre affliction. Posts about mr sardonicus 1961 written by monstergirl. Sardonicus, released in 1970, to be spirits finest hour, though i still find their initial self titled album to be their crowning moment. Ray russell was working in the editorial offices of playboy when he wrote this little gem. I root for mill creek in general because they release interesting product and maintain a budget price point. The original lp was released in november 1970 by epic. Sardonicus has the reputation of being spirits most farout album, it actually contains the most disciplined songwriting and playing of the original lineup, cutting back on some of the drifting and offering some of their more melodic tunes. While there, he meets the cruel and sinister baron sardonicus.
Such innovative promotional campaigns gave castle the nickname king of the gimmick. Producerdirector william castle was browsing through playboy magazine one day and what caught his eyes of all things was a novella titled sardonicus by ray russell. Sardonicus is the fourth album by the american psychedelic rock group spirit. 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 was as good as any record coming out in 1970, certainly up there with the eras very best.
Sardonicus doesnt quite reach the dizzying brilliance of either the tingler or straitjacket, but its a gem in its own right. Castle purchased the rights to the story and gave us one of his most memorable efforts. Risus sardonicus medical definition merriamwebster. Sardonicus movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. Sardonicus, homicidal, the old dark house, frightened girls. Sardonicus synonyms, sardonicus pronunciation, sardonicus translation, english dictionary definition of sardonicus. Sardonicus is directed and produced by william castle and written by ray russell. The audience gets an opportunity to votevia the punishment pollfor the penalty sardonicus must pay for his deeds. The water prices werent set right or the coin gains werent right but i best the entire event without gems in a few hours. Posts about mr sardonicus written by manuel paul arenas. 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.
Sardonicus definition of sardonicus by the free dictionary. Sardonicus doesnt rate as high as some of castles other films for the tingler, vibrating devices would be affixed to the bottom of a few of the theater seats and activated during certain thrilling sequences, as it involved patrons being given cards with a glow in the dark hand printed on them. Search, discover and share your favorite mr sardonicus gifs. Risus sardonicus or rictus grin is a highly characteristic, abnormal, sustained spasm of the facial muscles that appears to produce grinning. A curious letter from his former love, maude audrey dalton, draws him to europe where she lives in a remote castle with her brooding husband, his badly. Another clever gimmick film from william castle, mr. The makeup for sardonicus, once his face is revealed, seems a little hokey by todays standards, but the rest of the film is for the most part spot on in comparison to the novella. The william castle film collection frightened girls ghosts homicidal straitjacket the old dark house mr. Sir robert cargrave is a genius researcher into treatments to relax muscles stiffened in cases of tetanus. It stars ronald lewis, oskar homolka, audrey dalton, guy rolfe, vladimir sokoloff and erika peters. The audience gets an opportunity to votevia the punishment pollfor the penalty sardonicus must.
Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. 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 film about a man whose face is frozen in a horrible smile who forces a doctor to treat him. Sardonicus 1961 faq add to faq coming soon showing all 1 items jump to. Sardonicus 1961approved 1h 29min drama, horror, mystery 12 february 1962 denmarka search for a winning lottery ticket in his. I root for mill creek in general because they release interesting product and maintain a. I stand alone in my tower in the sky with my creations always at my side the manyheaded, deformities of limb i watch them dreaming of a life i cannot give i tried. May 10, 2017 william castles films never live up to their trailers. Rivaled only by the insanity of shaolin drunkard, buddhas palm delivers scene after scene of surreal sorcery, courtesy of taylor wong and shaw studios. Msn new zealand latest news, hotmail, outlook, photos and. 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.
Risus sardonicus may be caused by tetanus, strychnine poisoning, or wilsons disease, and has been reported after judicial hanging. Castle, who unveiled his latest potboiler yesterday, is no edgar allan poe, opined the new york times. Its been reissued many, many times and originals on vinyl are easy to find. Sardonicus 1961, in which a disfigured, evil count played by guy rolfe has his fate decided at films end by the audiences vote during a punishment poll.
Check out our mr sardonicus selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Sardonicus is a 1961 horror film produced and directed by william castle. Buy the william castle film collection frightened girls ghosts homicidal straitjacket the old dark house mr. The william castle film collection frightened girls ghosts. Youd think a fella who won the lottery would have a lot to smile about, right. It was produced by david briggs, who is best known for his work with neil young. If you dont know how william castle is, you must immediately seek out his movies and watch them fervent glee. Subsequently, one sees 30second to 2minute periods of severe generalized muscular rigidity, sometimes leading to opisthotonus in response to the most minimal stimuli. Sardonicus later that same year, with russell himself doing the screenplay. Sardonicus is a gothic short story that was printed in playboy magazine in 1961. Nevertheless, spirit, a nearly mythical band, arrived at the apex of experimental classic rock, lacing their music with jazz, rock, folk, and bathing all of that in the. Ronald lewis stars as sir robert cargrave, a brilliant doctor who is. A human statue made of living stone a paradox etched in human bone if you could look behind his thin disguise theres a hidden glint of madness in his eyes many men are. William castles films never live up to their trailers.
Join facebook to connect with risus sardonicus and others you may know. Baron sardonicus baron sardonicus tank top teepublic. With ronald lewis, audrey dalton, guy rolfe, oskar homolka. See more ideas about horror films, horror movies and castle movie. It appeared in the january 1961 issue and william castle produced and directed the film adaptation mr. We follow a prominent english doctor who is called to europe on the request of his exlover. The story is a sort of combination of the story lines of nosferatu or dracula, the man who laughs and les yeux sans visage among others. The audience gets an opportunity to votevia the punishment poll.
195 973 877 940 1547 204 821 648 594 1062 1175 1497 1477 410 580 429 455 693 273 266 814 1184 1602 1367 28 390 1081 376 347 987 523 567 1078 1332 1031