MR. SARDONICUS (1961) – Episode 128 – Decades Of Horror: The Classic Era
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
Release Date: 07/02/2022
Decades of Horror | Horror News Radio
“Tear him up!” That’s not as hard as you might think when you have a mischief of rats at your command. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they try their hand at rat wrangling as they cover (1971). Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 244 – Willard (1971) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! Decades of Horror 1970s is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL () which now includes video episodes of the podcast and is...
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“You must seize the only specimen of the Mariphasa plant in England in the private laboratory of Dr. Wilfred Glendon. That flower is the only known antidote for werewolfery. Lycanthrophobia is the medical term for the affliction I speak of.” Werewolfery? Lycanthrophobia? Is this an example of lexical innovation? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they stalk the original (1935). Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 206 – Werewolf of London (1935) Join the Crew on the...
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“Billy, they were the biggest things I ever saw, and they had tattoos on them. You know, I may be in love. I might just go right back in there and ask her out on a date.” It’s curious how Deputy Charlie was so enthralled with the biker chick’s big feet. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they discover what kind of science fiction, horror movie stars Chuck Norris? The answer? (1982). Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 287 – Silent Rage (1982) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel!...
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“You’re asking me questions, Harry, and I hear you. A scientist cannot afford the indulgence of guilt. And after all, if God doesn’t want me to continue, the means of my disposal are always at his command.” If you want to communicate with God, talking to a snake might be the wrong approach. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdroff, and Jeff Mohr – as they try their hand at snake wrangling while they finally get the chance to cover (1973). Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 243 – Sssssss (1973) Join the Crew on the...
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“Yes, most distressing, but, alas, inevitably, you can’t have operations without screams. Pain and the knife, they’re inseparable!” But apparently not that distressing as long as some strong blokes are there to hold folks down? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Doc Rotten, and Jeff Mohr – as they walk the (1958) with Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee. Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 205 – Corridors of Blood (1958) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get...
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“Now, you said he touched your boobie. What else did he do?” Fixed the TV? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they view the bizarre family dynamics and bigoted police detective as portrayed in (1981). Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 286 – Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL () which now includes video episodes of...
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“I know you think I’m crazy, but you must listen to me. You won’t want to believe what I’m telling you here, but you have to.” An ominous warning that no one heeds or even understands. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, Gregory Crosby, and Jeff Mohr – as they try to decipher the mysterious message from the research station in (1973). Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 242 – A Cold Night’s Death (1973) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! Decades of...
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“Our psycho-controls upset the balance of the neuroglandular system, causing incredible distortions in the skin, hair, and teeth. In this state, the patient cannot be saved.” Again with the glands? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they make a reservation for a night with a (1961). Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 204 – Werewolf in a Girls’ Dormitory (1961) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! ...
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“Don’t you see? I’m just crazy ’bout this store.” Crazy enthusiastic or crazy deranged? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Crystal Cleveland, Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, and Jeff Mohr – as they brave a grocery store in search of its (1989). Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 285 – Intruder (1989) Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL () which now includes video episodes of Decades of Horror 1980s and is available on...
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“Well, they will have to get un-unanimous and un-choose her. Now, I’ve been going on Safari most of my life, and I’ve never taken a woman. And I’m not going to change now, Barney.” Spoken like a true dinosaur of the human variety. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Bill Mulligan, Chad Hunt, Gregory Crosby, and Jeff Mohr – as they discuss (1977), a movie whose title refers to two different kinds of last dinosaurs: one is the man-in-suit Tyrannosaurus Rex variety and one is the obsolete human variety. Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 241 – The Last Dinosaur (1977)...
info_outline‘I’m a man of all works, sir. When my Master says, “Krull, do this thing,” I do the thing, whatever it may be.’ And then there are the things Krull does that his master doesn’t tell him to do. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Whitney Collazo, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, and Jeff Mohr – as they experience the Punishment Poll (or is it “Pole?”) in William Castle’s Mr. Sardonicus (1961).
Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 128 – Mr. Sardonicus (1961)
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ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/
Synopsis: A search for a winning lottery ticket in his dead father’s grave causes Sardonicus’ face to freeze in a horrible grimace until he forces a doctor to treat his affliction–with even more grotesque results!
- Director: William Castle
- Writer: Ray Russell (screenplay, from his novella, “Sardonicus,” Playboy, Jan ’61)
- Music by: Von Dexter
- Cinematography by: Burnett Guffey (director of photography)
- Makeup Department: Ben Lane (makeup supervisor)
- Selected Cast:
- Audrey Dalton as Maude Sardonicus
- Guy Rolfe as Baron Sardonicus
- Oskar Homolka as Krull (credited as “Oscar Homolka”)
- Ronald Lewis as Sir Robert Cargrave
- Vladimir Sokoloff as Henryk Toleslawski
- Erika Peters as Elenka
- Lorna Hanson as Anna
Mr. Sardonicus, an underrated William Castle film, is Chad’s pick; he had not seen the movie all the way through until now. He doesn’t appreciate Castle interrupting the buildup to the climax by delivering his Punishment Poll gimmick, but Chad still thinks this is one of the Castle’s best movies. For him, Mr. Sardonicus has a different feel from Castle’s earlier films and he loves the makeup.
Daphne agrees with Chad regarding the break right before the climax and she also observes that Mr. Sardonicus deals with some sensitive subjects, making it more mature than much of Castle’s work. She loves the mask Sardonicus wears and finds his character to be really evil – a proper bad guy. The story is a bit confusing to Whitney even though she finds the movie to be well-paced. The use of light and shadow also draws her attention in several scenes. Jeff is impressed with Ray Russell’s screenplay, the cast, the cinematography, and both the mask and the makeup.
Check out these other Decades of Horror podcasts on William Castle’s work:
- THE TINGLER (1959) – Episode 5 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
- HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959) – Episode 17 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
- 13 GHOSTS (1960) – Episode 111 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
- BUG (1975) — Episode 46 — Decades of Horror 1970s (Produced by)
Also, if you’re so inclined, check out Grue-Believer Scot’s “erratically published” blog, Saturday Mad Theater.
If you’ve never viewed Mr. Sardonicus, or haven’t seen it for a while, the Classic Era Grue-Crew recommends you remedy that situation. At the time of this writing, Mr. Sardonicus is available to stream from the Classic Horror Movie Channel. As physical media, the film is available as a bare-bones Blu-ray in William Castle Double Feature – Homicidal & Mr. Sardonicus from Sony Pictures Home.
Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule is one chosen by Jeff: The Crawling Eye (1958, original title: The Trollenberg Terror).
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To each of you from each of us, “Thank you so much for listening!”