Refocus: The Films of William Castle - (Refocus: The American Directors) by Murray Leeder (Paperback)

About the Book

With an influence felt on directors like Joe Dante, Robert Zemeckis and John Waters, this volume reappraises Castle's legacy as an innovator as much as a showman.

Book Synopsis

Often described as 'the Master of Gimmicks', William Castle is best known for the outrageous publicity stunts that characterised his genre films in the 1950s and '60s, including offers for an insurance policy against death by fright, vibrating seats, a skeleton that flew over the audience, and a 'punishment poll' to determine a film's conclusion. But far from being 'the world's craziest filmmaker', Castle was also a dependable studio director who made more than 50 films between 1944 and 1974, and who produced films for Orson Welles and Roman Polanski. ReFocus: The Films of William Castle assembles fourteen essays on the full sweep of Castle's career, including his horror films, westerns, film noirs and more. With an influence felt on directors like Joe Dante, Robert Zemeckis and John Waters, this volume reappraises Castle's legacy as an innovator as much as a showman.

From the Back Cover

'It's often forgotten that before redefining himself as the King of the Gimmicks, William Castle directed over forty motion pictures in virtually every genre. Accounts of his career are traditionally lightweight and bemused, but Murray Leeder has produced what must be the definitive analysis of the colourful showman's diverse oeuvre in the form of collected essays. I never thought I'd ever see words like diegetic and epistemic applied to Castle's work, but hey, why not? Really, it's about time.' Joe Dante, director of Gremlins and The Howling 'Fans of William Castle will delight in this celebration of one of the twentieth century's great showmen. There's more to Castle's films than meets the eye, and this collection makes a compelling case for the schlockmeister as auteur.' Jeffrey Schwarz, director of Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story Often described as 'the King of Gimmicks', William Castle is best known for the outrageous publicity stunts that characterised his genre films in the 1950s and 60s, including offers for an insurance policy against death by fright, vibrating seats, a skeleton that flew over the audience, and a 'punishment poll' to determine a film's conclusion. But far from being 'the world's craziest filmmaker', Castle was also a dependable studio director who made more than fifty films between 1944 and 1974, and who produced films for Orson Welles and Roman Polanski. ReFocus: The Films of William Castle assembles fourteen essays on the full sweep of Castle's career, including his horror films, westerns, films noir and more. With an influence felt on directors like Joe Dante, Robert Zemeckis and John Waters, this volume reappraises Castle's legacy as an innovator as much as a showman. Murray Leeder is an Instructor in Film Studies at the University of Calgary. Cover image: William Castle on the set of The Day of the Locust (1975) directed by John Schlesinger (c) Paramount Pictures Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-2426-4 Barcode

Review Quotes

Fans of William Castle will delight in this celebration of one of the 20th century's great showmen. There's more to Castle's films than meets the eye, and this collection makes a compelling case for the schlockmeister as auteur.'--Jeffrey Schwarz, director of SPINE TINGLER! THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY

It's often forgotten that before redefining himself as the King of the Gimmicks William Castle directed over forty motion pictures in virtually every genre. Accounts of his career are traditionally lightweight and bemused, but Murray Leeder has produced what must be the definitive analysis of the colorful showman's diverse ouvre in the form of collected essays. I never thought I'd ever see words like diegetic and epistimetic applied to Castle's work, but hey, why not? Really, it's about time.'--Joe Dante, director of Gremlins and The Howling

Murray Leeder's collection is a truly perceptive study that examines the films from a variety of angles as well as including a commentary on the aspects of popular entertainment and audience appeal they represented. Unsurprisingly, given the provenance of the book - Edinburgh University Press -- there is writing here of perception and ambition. Some will argue that Castle's films do not merit such attention, but those of us who fell under the late director's spell will find much to entertain and stimulate.--Barry Forshaw "Crime Time"

Texts on Castle are far from dime-a-dozen, so fans who take the filmmaker seriously owe it to themselves to get this.--Rod Lott "flickattack.com"

About the Author

Murray Leeder is Instructor in Film Studies at the University of Calgary.