Well, dear readers, what do you do if you make a movie, have a good title, but the movie is boring, not the shocker you want everyone to think it is. Well, if you’re William Castle, you SELL it – you say in the ads that everyone in the theater has an insurance policy against dying in the theater from fright. Yes, you heard that right – dying from fright. Then you slap on “No one seated during the last ten minutes!” You get people in the theater and then – you bore them to tears. The film in question is Macabre, and the barnstorming worked, with the film grossing a million bucks on an 80K budget. For me, it’s Castle’s worst movie and he was clearly feeling his way – all that came after were gimmick pictures, but at least they were entertaining on some level. Lloyds of London obviously never had to pay off on the insurance policy, and the registered nurses never had to do anything but stand in the lobby wearing their nurse costumes. The performances are pretty bad, but one can’t blame the actors – they’ve all done fine work. It is a little unnerving seeing a pretty young William Prince in the lead role, well he was in is mid-forties at the time, but I knew him from his later roles in The Stepford Wives, Family Plot, and especially Network. Well, here are some quotes from the L.A. Times review: “Well, you can throw away those Lloyds of London policies – they don’t cover death from boredom – and any tranquilizers you may be planning to bring with you. Don’t, however, forget to bring a good supply of Benzedrine when you go down to see Allied Artists’ Macabre, which is now ‘stunning audiences.’” It gets worse from there. I’m pretty sure I saw it at one of my neighborhood theaters back in the day because I definitely remember trying to pronounce the title. I was ten at the time. Had I had different parents, I might have been taken to see The Most Happy Fella starring Robert Weede and almost the entire Broadway company. But noooo – I didn’t have those parents. Or Cyril Ritchard in Visit to a Small Planet at the Huntington Hartford. Other happenings around town, movie-wise – Vertigo was about to open its exclusive run at the Paramount. Seven Wonders of the World was at the Warner Cinerama. Bridge on the River Kwai was playing all over town after its post-Oscar wins. The Young Lions was in its sixth big week at four theaters. Around the World in Eighty Days was still wowing them in ToddAO at the Carthay Circle two years later. Premiering the same night that Macabre opened was South Pacific in ToddAO at the Egyptian. Desire Under the Elms and God’s Little Acre were both in their second week exclusive runs. Maracaibo opened in nine theaters. Windjammer was at the Chinese in Cinemiracle – I saw it there. Ten North Frederick was at the Pantages and Too Much, Too Soon was ending its run at the Paramount in a week to make room for Vertigo.
Now, if I were home sick from school on this Wednesday May 21, 1958, I’d have watched Tic-Tac-Dough at nine in the morning, followed by Chef Milani Cooks, followed by Treasure Hunt with Jan Murray, followed by The Price is Right, followed by nothing, then at noon Sheriff John, then Dick Whittinghill presenting an episode of Ramar of the Jungle, then Al Jarvis, then Abbott and Costello, then a nap, then My Little Margie, Wild Bill Hickock, Mickey Mouse Club, Topper, Cartoon Express with Engineer Bill, dinner, and then in the evening, Leave it to Beaver, Wagon Train, if I didn’t like Wagon Train I’d switch over to The Millionaire or Susie, I’ve Got a Secret, and finally either Tombstone Territory, Ozzie and Harriet, or Racket Squad. Then bed.
I had a very irritating day yesterday, although I did get a good nine and a half hours of sleep. I did have a wonderful conversation with the female higher-up at the publisher, who assured me she would personally walk my books through with no issues. I shan’t go into the other nonsense with my friend’s book that she now is dealing with (having to do with Amazon), I had a pulled pork sandwich from Doctor Hoggly-Woggley’s Texas Barbecue – it was good save for the soggy bottom piece of bread, which made it impossible to pick up, causing me to have to eat it with a knife and fork, which is not the way I enjoy eating a sandwich. We got the news that the guy I wanted for the play does not sing at all – cannot carry a tune even – so that won’t work. We’re still looking for that role. Then somehow I dozed off for over two and a half hours of sleep, then I watched Macabre, had two little pizza slices for the snack, and here we are. I did forget to mention that Sal Mineo had his pants stolen by some fans while he was working out at the Beverly Hills Health Club the day before Macabre opened. He ended up in a barrel. Apparently, his publicist was working overtime to set up that story and the photo op with a policeman. That darn Sal.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll send my neurologist a note about the shortness of breath issue and see what he has to say, I may go out and do a couple of errands and whatnot, I’ll figure out food and eat whatever it is, but mostly I really must take it easy and watch, listen, and relax.
The weekend is more of that and then next week we really must wrap up casting so I can begin getting people the music to learn. Also, many other things happening next week.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, send my neurologist a note, do a couple of errands and whatnot, figure out food and eat whatever it is, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray/streaming player? I’ll start – CD, John Barry’s The Chase. Blu-ray, Odds Against Tomorrow. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have pontificated on how to sell a movie.