Leif Erickson's '60s Cult Horror Classic Is Worth Revisiting For Free This Weekend

William Castle was the king of the gimmicky B-movie. The producer-director enticed audiences into lining up for low-budget horror movies like "House on Haunted Hill," "The Tingler," and "13 Ghosts" with immersive, in-theater effects like "Emergo," "Percepto" and "Illusion-o" — which amounted to, respectively, a skeleton flying on a pulley system above the audience, a mild vibrating device placed in select seats, and glasses with cellophane lenses that allowed brave viewers to see the film's ghosts. It was good, cheap fun, and it proved profitable.

Castle also developed a penchant for working with stars who, due to classic Hollywood ageism, were considered past their prime. It was savvy and sincere. Castle knew that actors like Joan Crawford and Barbara Stanwyck still had fan bases, and was confident that they could still deliver powerhouse performances. Still, when it came to his first collaboration with Crawford, "Strait-Jacket," she actually wasn't his first choice.

"Strait-Jacket" was a play at semi-respectability for Castle. Written by Robert Bloch, who penned a novel called "Psycho" that was turned into a fairly significant motion picture by Alfred Hitchcock, Castle initially pursued celebrated stage actor Grayson Hall for the part of ax-murderer Lucy Harbin. He eventually pivoted to Joan Blondell, who, after injuring herself at home, was forced to drop out. Joan Crawford stepped in, at which point Castle told Columbia Pictures he didn't need to resort to gimmicks. The studio disagreed, but Crawford's presence attracted a number of screen veterans like character actor Leif Erickson, and wound up turning the film into a camp classic with, yes, a gimmick. And you can currently lap it up for free on YouTube!

"Strait-Jacket" opens with Crawford's Lucy finding her husband (Lee Majors) in bed with his mistress. Lucy retrieves an ax and decapitates them. Unfortunately, her daughter, Carol, witnesses the beheading of the Six Million Dollar Man, which could lead to some repressed drama that might just boil over later in life. In any event, Lucy is committed to an asylum for 20 years while Carol is raised by her Uncle Bill (Erickson) and Aunt Emily (Rochelle Hudson).

When Lucy is declared fit to return to society, she moves in with Bill, Emily and Carol. While Carol is eager to resume a relationship with Lucy, the latter exhibits signs of potential relapse. When her doctor (Mitchell Cox, a Pepsi executive cast at board member Crawford's behest) suggests she might need to be re-institutionalized, he turns up decapitated.

Lucy's bloody history complicates Carol's desire to marry her wealthy boyfriend, Michael (John Anthony Hayes), as his parents would prefer their son to wed someone who doesn't come from ax-murdering stock. Meanwhile, the decapitations continue (one victim is George Kennedy, who plays a sleazy handyman). It's all played broadly and bloodily, with Crawford hamming it up to the heavens as the disturbed Lucy. Though the movie received scathing reviews upon its release in 1964, Castle, bowing to Columbia's pressure, distributed plastic axes to theaters. The studio also arranged for Crawford to drop in at multiple New York City cinemas on opening day. These efforts helped turn "Strait-Jacket" into a B-horror hit.

So if you enjoy watching screen legends make a meal out of lurid material, "Strait-Jacket" is the disreputable cinematic feast for you. And you should also explore Castle's other fright sensations, like "House on Haunted Hill!"