WILLARD (1971) – Episode 244 – Decades of Horror 1970s

“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 Willard (1971).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 244 – Willard (1971)

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Decades of Horror 1970s is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of the podcast and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

Synopsis: A social misfit uses his only friends, his pet rats, to exact revenge on his tormentors.

• Director: Daniel Mann
• Writers: Gilbert Ralston (as Gilbert A. Ralston); Stephen Gilbert (novel, Ratman’s Notebooks, 1968)
• Rat Wrangler: Moe Di Sesso (trainer: “Socrates” and “Ben”); Nora Di Sesso (trainer: “Socrates” and “Ben”) (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Bruce Davison as Willard Stiles
  • Sondra Locke as Joan Simms
  • Elsa Lanchester as Henrietta Stiles
  • Ernest Borgnine as Martin
  • Michael Dante as Brandt
  • Jody Gilbert as Charlotte Stassen
  • William Hansen as Barskin
  • John Myhers as Carlson
  • J. Pat O’Malley as Jonathan Farley
  • Joan Shawlee as Alice
  • Almira Sessions as Carrie Smith
  • Pauline Drake as Ida Stassen
  • Helen Spring as Mrs. Becker
  • Alan Baxter as Walter Spencer
  • Sherry Presnell as Mrs. Spencer

First covered eight years ago in audio-only Episode 53, the 70s Grue-Crew decided to revisit Willard (1971). Chad chose it as his pick, and who wouldn’t want to discuss it again? Elsa Lanchester as Willard’s clinging, passive-aggressive mother? Ernest Borgnine as Willard’s unprincipled bully of a boss? Sondra Locke as Willard’s concerned co-worker and possible love interest? Bruce Davison as Willard, the sensitive, immature, socially inept lord of the rats? Incredible character actors providing support? All of whom are surrounded by a rather large mischief of rats, two of which are named Socrates and Ben? Count us in!

At the time of this writing, Willard (1971) is available to stream from Kanopy, Tubi, Plex, Prime, and Peacock. It’s also available on physical media as a Blu-ray-formatted disc from Scream Factory.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next ‘70s episode, chosen by Bill, will be Zardoz (1974), directed by John Boorman (Deliverance), and starring Sean Connery and Charlotte Rampling. Hmm… how did they come up with that strange title?  

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