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Step Right Up!: I'm Gonna Scare the Pants off America
From the heyday of the '50s B-movies through the disaster genre of the '70s, William Castle was an extraordinary movie mogul who produced such classic thrillers as Straight Jacket, Homicidal and Rosemary's Baby. Here are the outrageous memoirs of an American original whose life was every bit as outlandish as his movies. Photographs. Filmography.
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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593 people want to read
About the author
William Castle
15 books10 followersWilliam Castle was born in 1914 in New York. His birth name was William Schloss. Schloss is German for “castle”, and when he decided at a young age to go into show business, he changed his last name to the English translation.
Even as a young boy, Castle was an entertainer, often performing daredevil stunts to entertain his friends. He seemed destined to want to scare people. At the age of 15, he found employment on Broadway building sets, and doing other tasks. He even did some acting. One of the things that helped him find work was that he told people he was the nephew of Samuel B. Goldwyn. William Castle was not going to be kept from doing what he loved, and nothing did.
Even as a young boy, Castle was an entertainer, often performing daredevil stunts to entertain his friends. He seemed destined to want to scare people. At the age of 15, he found employment on Broadway building sets, and doing other tasks. He even did some acting. One of the things that helped him find work was that he told people he was the nephew of Samuel B. Goldwyn. William Castle was not going to be kept from doing what he loved, and nothing did.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 5, 2008
William Castle is a brilliant raconteur. Reading this book is like standing next to him at a cocktail party, listening to one hilarious and fascinating anecdote after another, unable to get a word in edgewise but not caring one bit.
Step Right Up!: I'm Gonna Scare the Pants off America is divided into roughly three parts. The first is all about his early life in the theater, before he became a filmmaker. There's a nearly unbelievable, wonderful story in this section about how he secretly trashed his own theater a few days before opening night, drawing graffiti to make it look as if Nazi sympathizers in the U.S. were against him, guaranteeing a load of free publicity for himself. The second part is all about his life in Hollywood in the '50s and '60s. This section will be the most familiar to readers who already know all about his classic thrillers from this period, as well as the gimmicks he came up with to promote them. (For instance, to promote his 1959 film The Tingler, starring Vincent Price, he wired theater seats to joybuzz patrons' spines while a silhouette of the centipede-like "Tingler" crawled over the screen and Price giddily intoned, "The Tingler is loose in the theater! Scream! Scream for your lives!") The third part is all about working with Roman Polanski on Rosemary's Baby, which Castle produced, since the studio wouldn't let him direct it himself due to his reputation as a schlock filmmaker.
I'm a huge fan of William Castle's films, especially The Tingler, Homicidal, Strait Jacket, and Mr. Sardonicus. It's a shame more of his films aren't available on DVD. He made a picture early in his career, for instance, starring Robert Mitchum, called When Strangers Marry that I would love to see. It's also a real shame that this book is no longer in print. It's time for a third edition, people!
Step Right Up!: I'm Gonna Scare the Pants off America is divided into roughly three parts. The first is all about his early life in the theater, before he became a filmmaker. There's a nearly unbelievable, wonderful story in this section about how he secretly trashed his own theater a few days before opening night, drawing graffiti to make it look as if Nazi sympathizers in the U.S. were against him, guaranteeing a load of free publicity for himself. The second part is all about his life in Hollywood in the '50s and '60s. This section will be the most familiar to readers who already know all about his classic thrillers from this period, as well as the gimmicks he came up with to promote them. (For instance, to promote his 1959 film The Tingler, starring Vincent Price, he wired theater seats to joybuzz patrons' spines while a silhouette of the centipede-like "Tingler" crawled over the screen and Price giddily intoned, "The Tingler is loose in the theater! Scream! Scream for your lives!") The third part is all about working with Roman Polanski on Rosemary's Baby, which Castle produced, since the studio wouldn't let him direct it himself due to his reputation as a schlock filmmaker.
I'm a huge fan of William Castle's films, especially The Tingler, Homicidal, Strait Jacket, and Mr. Sardonicus. It's a shame more of his films aren't available on DVD. He made a picture early in his career, for instance, starring Robert Mitchum, called When Strangers Marry that I would love to see. It's also a real shame that this book is no longer in print. It's time for a third edition, people!
November 13, 2012
William Castle’s book is a pure joy to read. Unlike most autobiographies, Mr Castle makes no apologies, offers no long winded excuses for the choices he made and continues on his way with fantastic anecdotes and stories.
The misadventures he had with Errol Flynn and Orson Wells is a hoot and the episode where he is on a train with Judy Garland and Marjorie Main made me smile from ear to ear.
He gives such insight on the films that he directed and produced such as ‘THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI’, ‘THE TINGLER’, ’13 GHOSTS’, HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL’ and ‘ROSEMARY’S BABY’ to name just a few. He gives details on his different gimmicks like the one he used for the film ‘HOMOCIDAL’ and the classic PERCEPTO gimmick.
This really is a joy and he was a true gentleman and showman that the world has not been able to match since. This really is a fantastic autobiography and should be read for anyone interested in film making, old Hollywood or would like to touch back into the past and see what life was like when anything was possible.
I would like to thank William Castle for brightening my travels and time on set whilst on location shooting a new horror film. He has made the time spent sitting around waiting enjoyable and I am sure he is looking down on films with a cigar in one hand and a smile from ear to ear. A pure and utter genius.
The misadventures he had with Errol Flynn and Orson Wells is a hoot and the episode where he is on a train with Judy Garland and Marjorie Main made me smile from ear to ear.
He gives such insight on the films that he directed and produced such as ‘THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI’, ‘THE TINGLER’, ’13 GHOSTS’, HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL’ and ‘ROSEMARY’S BABY’ to name just a few. He gives details on his different gimmicks like the one he used for the film ‘HOMOCIDAL’ and the classic PERCEPTO gimmick.
This really is a joy and he was a true gentleman and showman that the world has not been able to match since. This really is a fantastic autobiography and should be read for anyone interested in film making, old Hollywood or would like to touch back into the past and see what life was like when anything was possible.
I would like to thank William Castle for brightening my travels and time on set whilst on location shooting a new horror film. He has made the time spent sitting around waiting enjoyable and I am sure he is looking down on films with a cigar in one hand and a smile from ear to ear. A pure and utter genius.
June 25, 2018
The book I'm reviewing does not contain any photographs. It's a 1991 reissure of the original 1976 edition. The book does not suffer without them but it sure would have been nice if Pharos Books had included them.
William Castle used to be a guilty pleasure. I enjoyed 'Macabre', 'Mr Sardonicus', and 'I Saw What You Did'. I totally loved 'Homicidal'. (Did you know Time magazine considered it one of the ten best pictures of the year?) In his on-screen appearances he came across as a nice guy trying to earn a buck and have a good time in the prosess. This book, his autobiography--and he really did write it, no ghosting here (wink-wink)--shows him to be exactly that sort of person. You get hilarious accounts of his getting started in show business, being arrested on suspicion of robbing a gas station, encounters and arguments with Harry Cohn. I never knew he directed so many other movies before establishing his own style. Then he tells of his movies and the gimmicks he came up with.
In the final third comes the part I didn't care for. The section about dealing with Roman Polanski making 'Rosemary's Baby'. It should have been interesting but I couldn't get past knowing he was a POS pedophile child rapist. The end part, about the curse attached to the movie, was interesting.
Castle is know today chiefly for his promotional gimmicks. That does him a disservice. His movies had solid plots, were well told, well acted, and could have done just as well without them. But he loved that sort of thing and it made the movies all the more fun. Like I said, William Castle used to be a 'guilty' pleasure. Today he is simply 'a' pleasure to be enjoyed whenever the opportunity presents itself.
William Castle used to be a guilty pleasure. I enjoyed 'Macabre', 'Mr Sardonicus', and 'I Saw What You Did'. I totally loved 'Homicidal'. (Did you know Time magazine considered it one of the ten best pictures of the year?) In his on-screen appearances he came across as a nice guy trying to earn a buck and have a good time in the prosess. This book, his autobiography--and he really did write it, no ghosting here (wink-wink)--shows him to be exactly that sort of person. You get hilarious accounts of his getting started in show business, being arrested on suspicion of robbing a gas station, encounters and arguments with Harry Cohn. I never knew he directed so many other movies before establishing his own style. Then he tells of his movies and the gimmicks he came up with.
In the final third comes the part I didn't care for. The section about dealing with Roman Polanski making 'Rosemary's Baby'. It should have been interesting but I couldn't get past knowing he was a POS pedophile child rapist. The end part, about the curse attached to the movie, was interesting.
Castle is know today chiefly for his promotional gimmicks. That does him a disservice. His movies had solid plots, were well told, well acted, and could have done just as well without them. But he loved that sort of thing and it made the movies all the more fun. Like I said, William Castle used to be a 'guilty' pleasure. Today he is simply 'a' pleasure to be enjoyed whenever the opportunity presents itself.
January 25, 2025
Finished my first (full length) book of the year.
William Castle was a genius, and this autobiography is such a fun read. The whole thing felt like he was right there telling it to you. I need to go watch more of his movies now.
William Castle was a genius, and this autobiography is such a fun read. The whole thing felt like he was right there telling it to you. I need to go watch more of his movies now.
March 7, 2023
This book was good.
It was an easy read and the way the book is written, it kinda feels like you’re just having a fun conversation with William Castle and he’s telling his life’s story. It was nice to get to know the stories behind some of his most famous films and how the gimmicks came to be.
Definitely a recommendation for everyone that likes those old school horror movies !
It was an easy read and the way the book is written, it kinda feels like you’re just having a fun conversation with William Castle and he’s telling his life’s story. It was nice to get to know the stories behind some of his most famous films and how the gimmicks came to be.
Definitely a recommendation for everyone that likes those old school horror movies !
June 11, 2016
What comes to mind when you think of a William Castle movie? Low budget crapfests? Joan Crawford swinging an axe? Transvestites? Cheap gimmicks? Whenever I think of a William Castle film only one word comes to my mind and that's MAGIC!
So why then did I give this book only 4 stars?
For me the first part of this book is just meh, Castle discusses the usual things like his childhood and his struggles in the business. My interest started to pique when he shares stories about working with such Hollywood icons as Cary Grant, studio boss Harry Cohn and with Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth on The Lady From Shanghai (good film, if you haven't seen it, you need to)
This book turns into pure gold whenever he forms his own production company and starts writing and directing his own unique brand of horror sharing how he came up with the gimmicks that made his films memorable and so much fun. So thank you makers of Diabolique for helping spur William into making his wonderful films. I never knew that Castle bought the rights to and produced Rosemary's Baby. I must say that I now have a new appreciation for Rosemary's Baby. Sure the film bored me and I hated the book, but I loved reading about the behind the scenes drama and how Frank Sinatra tried to bully Castle into wrapping the film up just so Mia could start shooting a movie with him. I also loved reading about the aftermath of Rosemary, not because of the misery it caused Castle and others involved in it but because I love the whole "cursed movie" stories.
Hollywood needs to give us another William Castle and put a stop to all of the horrible remakes.
So why then did I give this book only 4 stars?
For me the first part of this book is just meh, Castle discusses the usual things like his childhood and his struggles in the business. My interest started to pique when he shares stories about working with such Hollywood icons as Cary Grant, studio boss Harry Cohn and with Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth on The Lady From Shanghai (good film, if you haven't seen it, you need to)
This book turns into pure gold whenever he forms his own production company and starts writing and directing his own unique brand of horror sharing how he came up with the gimmicks that made his films memorable and so much fun. So thank you makers of Diabolique for helping spur William into making his wonderful films. I never knew that Castle bought the rights to and produced Rosemary's Baby. I must say that I now have a new appreciation for Rosemary's Baby. Sure the film bored me and I hated the book, but I loved reading about the behind the scenes drama and how Frank Sinatra tried to bully Castle into wrapping the film up just so Mia could start shooting a movie with him. I also loved reading about the aftermath of Rosemary, not because of the misery it caused Castle and others involved in it but because I love the whole "cursed movie" stories.
Hollywood needs to give us another William Castle and put a stop to all of the horrible remakes.
August 24, 2011
William Castle made some of the best mid-century horror films this side of Roger Corman and all the dirt about those movies can be found here. The chapter on Joan Crawford and the making of "Strait-Jacket" is worth the price of admission alone.
Other great items include Vincent Price balking at filming "The Tingler" because he didn't want to be typecast as a horror film star, Orson Welles' theft of Castle's "Lady From Shanghai" treatment, and the "Rosemary's Baby" curse, which easily rivals the "Poltergeist" curse. Too bad he left out the skinny on his midget classic, "It's A Small World".
By the way, please note the disturbing resemblance between the "Mr. Sardonicus" mask and Castle's younger facial appearance. Now that scares the pants off me!
Other great items include Vincent Price balking at filming "The Tingler" because he didn't want to be typecast as a horror film star, Orson Welles' theft of Castle's "Lady From Shanghai" treatment, and the "Rosemary's Baby" curse, which easily rivals the "Poltergeist" curse. Too bad he left out the skinny on his midget classic, "It's A Small World".
By the way, please note the disturbing resemblance between the "Mr. Sardonicus" mask and Castle's younger facial appearance. Now that scares the pants off me!
November 3, 2014
William Castle was a consummate entertainer. He directed some of my favourite movies - The Tingler (1960), Homicidal (1961) , Let's Kill Uncle (1966), etc. He was the master of gimmicks but his movies work just as well without them.
In his autobiography he shows the same talent for telling stories in a way which keeps us enthralled. You will want to share the lust for life of this merry prankster.
In his autobiography he shows the same talent for telling stories in a way which keeps us enthralled. You will want to share the lust for life of this merry prankster.
November 1, 2023
2023 - 12 Months of Biographies
October: “Not horror, my friend; 'fantastique' is the better word.” Perfectly said. Such an interesting biography about an individual whose movies were a part of my childhood. For me, the final 20% of the book, covering Castle’s involvement with Rosemary’s Baby, was worth the price of admission. I could have read a whole chapter comprised of the hate mail he received for producing the movie.
October: “Not horror, my friend; 'fantastique' is the better word.” Perfectly said. Such an interesting biography about an individual whose movies were a part of my childhood. For me, the final 20% of the book, covering Castle’s involvement with Rosemary’s Baby, was worth the price of admission. I could have read a whole chapter comprised of the hate mail he received for producing the movie.
September 2, 2011
A fun read about a cult film director. Reading a bit like The Kid Stays in the Picture, minus the sex, drugs and etc, the ballsy approach to stardom employed by William Castle belongs to a sadly forgotten age. Between the bullshit and the braggadocio, there are some great films and even better stories.
October 12, 2024
(This review is for the 2024 printing with the red and black cover. I am not familiar with other editions, and some of my complaints may have been exclusive to this edition.)
I am a tremendous fan of William Castle. I count him among the greatest showmen of all time, with an uncanny ability to entertain audiences, untapped wells of imagination, and a refined taste. That sounds like a surprising description for a director of exploitation films, but Castle’s work fills me with a certain giddy delight that is lacking in modern films; oh, to have lived in the era of the gimmick!
Familiar with the man’s work, I scooped this book to become more familiar with the man himself: Where did his ideas come from? How did he collaborate with others? How did he react to criticism, failure, and frustration? I was pleased to find all that and more in this autobiography, in addition to lively accounts of the process behind his theatrics and intriguing glimpses into the psychology of a Master of Horror like Castle. As other reviewers have stated, this is an unapologetic memoir—it’s not about making him look better or worse than he really was. Castle systematically recites events and his reactions to them; conversationally, with enough sensation and hyperbole added to make it fun. It’s like hanging out with the most interesting person at a dinner party—in showbusiness, Castle has done it all and met everyone, and he gleefully delivers the gossip.
In this book are some unfortunate artifacts of a time when minorities and women were talked about and treated with less regard. One particular chapter describing Castle’s work on Orson Welles’s “The Woman from Shanghai” made me very uncomfortable. Would Castle have told it the same way today? Probably not, or it would have been smoothed by an editor. As a fan, I like to think the best, but who can say? These moments are fleeting, thankfully.
Speaking of editing, that’s my major complaint with this book. The editing is DREADFUL and it makes Castle seem like an incompetent writer. Missing or incorrect punctuation. Inconsistent formatting. A failure to properly establish setting (in time and geography) or even who is speaking at any given moment. Conversations sometimes require multiple rereads to understand. All of this would be easily remedied by an editor, so why wasn’t it done? It’s the editor’s job to make the author look brilliant. Castle comes off as confused, distracted, and manic.
The editing is so bad, in fact, that I could not recommend this book to anyone who isn’t a Castle fan already. In this memoir, there are a ton of entertaining anecdotes and charming humor. It’s a fascinating study of a man who often goes unappreciated. It’s a quick read (I found myself clearing 30-40 pages at a time in 20-minute sittings) and VERY entertaining. But be prepared: Your reading comprehension skills are in for a workout.
I am a tremendous fan of William Castle. I count him among the greatest showmen of all time, with an uncanny ability to entertain audiences, untapped wells of imagination, and a refined taste. That sounds like a surprising description for a director of exploitation films, but Castle’s work fills me with a certain giddy delight that is lacking in modern films; oh, to have lived in the era of the gimmick!
Familiar with the man’s work, I scooped this book to become more familiar with the man himself: Where did his ideas come from? How did he collaborate with others? How did he react to criticism, failure, and frustration? I was pleased to find all that and more in this autobiography, in addition to lively accounts of the process behind his theatrics and intriguing glimpses into the psychology of a Master of Horror like Castle. As other reviewers have stated, this is an unapologetic memoir—it’s not about making him look better or worse than he really was. Castle systematically recites events and his reactions to them; conversationally, with enough sensation and hyperbole added to make it fun. It’s like hanging out with the most interesting person at a dinner party—in showbusiness, Castle has done it all and met everyone, and he gleefully delivers the gossip.
In this book are some unfortunate artifacts of a time when minorities and women were talked about and treated with less regard. One particular chapter describing Castle’s work on Orson Welles’s “The Woman from Shanghai” made me very uncomfortable. Would Castle have told it the same way today? Probably not, or it would have been smoothed by an editor. As a fan, I like to think the best, but who can say? These moments are fleeting, thankfully.
Speaking of editing, that’s my major complaint with this book. The editing is DREADFUL and it makes Castle seem like an incompetent writer. Missing or incorrect punctuation. Inconsistent formatting. A failure to properly establish setting (in time and geography) or even who is speaking at any given moment. Conversations sometimes require multiple rereads to understand. All of this would be easily remedied by an editor, so why wasn’t it done? It’s the editor’s job to make the author look brilliant. Castle comes off as confused, distracted, and manic.
The editing is so bad, in fact, that I could not recommend this book to anyone who isn’t a Castle fan already. In this memoir, there are a ton of entertaining anecdotes and charming humor. It’s a fascinating study of a man who often goes unappreciated. It’s a quick read (I found myself clearing 30-40 pages at a time in 20-minute sittings) and VERY entertaining. But be prepared: Your reading comprehension skills are in for a workout.
November 28, 2023
A procedural trip through William Castle's filmography by the man himself. If you're a fan of his movies and want to know all about them, this is sure to delight. Castle relishes every detail of his productions, focusing on the fantastical and outrageous, no doubt with several embellishments. But if you want to know more about the man himself, this autobiography left me feeling like I didn't really know the man, and that we were just shown his showman side.
The first half is full of meaty details as he tells us how he rose in the studio ranks, but once we get to his thrillers, the book is almost itching to just move on from one production to the next, until it just...ends. No reflection of his past, few hints of his home life (at one point he talks about the birth of his daughter, where he puts the focus on a stomach cramp he had, and then I forgot he had a family at all until he mentions his wife took the kids trick or treating), and the book ends abruptly almost in the middle of talking about the promotional run of a movie he didn't even direct, but produced.
A light, entertaining read that's essential for every William Castle fan, but unfortunately fairly light, airy, and dare I say...feels phoney.
The first half is full of meaty details as he tells us how he rose in the studio ranks, but once we get to his thrillers, the book is almost itching to just move on from one production to the next, until it just...ends. No reflection of his past, few hints of his home life (at one point he talks about the birth of his daughter, where he puts the focus on a stomach cramp he had, and then I forgot he had a family at all until he mentions his wife took the kids trick or treating), and the book ends abruptly almost in the middle of talking about the promotional run of a movie he didn't even direct, but produced.
A light, entertaining read that's essential for every William Castle fan, but unfortunately fairly light, airy, and dare I say...feels phoney.
June 18, 2024
An autobiography from the shockmeister himself, William Castle. I've long been an admirer of William Castle, and his inventive movie gimmicks, and so I was looking forward to reading this book. It's a pretty decent autobiography, although it suffers a bit from a lack of structure, as Castle has a tendency, at least in the first half of the book, to go on digressions about his past, rather than just write about his past in a more linear fashion... if that makes any sense. For example, he'll be telling a story about rising through the ranks of the studio system, and the next chapter suddenly be about when he started out in theater years before.
Also, Castle glosses over the BTS stories of making his movies too much, although he does devote three whole chapters to the making of Rosemary's Baby. I'm far more interested in knowing more about his smaller, low-budget horror films. Overall, it was still a pretty decent read.
Also, Castle glosses over the BTS stories of making his movies too much, although he does devote three whole chapters to the making of Rosemary's Baby. I'm far more interested in knowing more about his smaller, low-budget horror films. Overall, it was still a pretty decent read.
February 19, 2021
Wm Castle is well known about B-movie fans. He moved the horror/thriller genre forward in the 1940s through the 1960s. This is his own story of how he got into the movie biz. He's definitely a self-promoter, and many of the vignettes read like they're significantly embellished to support a self-image. But what else would you expect from William Castle?
The book is horrendously edited, which is a huge distraction. Still, it's good to hear Castle's version of why he didn't get to direct Rosemary's Baby, how he got a big break from Orson Welles, his rivalry with Hitchcock, etc.
Worth reading if you're a B movie fan. If not, I'd pass.
The book is horrendously edited, which is a huge distraction. Still, it's good to hear Castle's version of why he didn't get to direct Rosemary's Baby, how he got a big break from Orson Welles, his rivalry with Hitchcock, etc.
Worth reading if you're a B movie fan. If not, I'd pass.
December 7, 2022
Last of the great film showman,his book is a self publicist dream.along with Michael Todd created some of the best and audacious publicity stunts to lure people into the cinema,before crossing into mainstream films with rosemary's baby.he admits to being trapped in the horror genre and people would stay away if there was no gimmick which had become his trademark/albatross.similar to m night shyamalan whose audience feel let down if there was no twist to his films.i got the impression some of what transpired could be taken with a huge pinch of salt but nevertheless made for an entertaining read.
February 12, 2019
I love old creepy movies and William Castle created some of the great ones. This book read just like he talked in interviews. Really interesting behind the scenes view of the world of a great B-movie director. I had no idea that he was the producer for Rosemary's Baby. My favorite movies by William Castle are: House on Haunted Hill with Vincent Price and Strait-Jacket with Joan Crawford.
My favorite quote from William Castle:
“An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused way in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own fault.”
My favorite quote from William Castle:
“An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused way in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own fault.”
June 8, 2023
Interesting. I am a fan of Mr. Castle's movies. This book tells a lot more about him than his horror films. Mr. Castle has had quite the career, both on the stage and in film. He had a lot of moxie. Maybe audacious would be a better word. He just could not, would not, take "no" for an answer. This book tells a lot about the movie industry as well as talking about the man himself. It was a quick read, that is for sure! I gave it four out of five stars based on the subject matter, not so much on the literary content. Nothing wrong with his style, it just isn't Faulkner or Hemmingway!
October 9, 2024
Not as gimmicky a book as the early chapters would have you think: Castle’s memoirs shift from rose-tinted nostalgia to hard-knocks schoolings to on-set shenanigans to the glorious burden of being a producer-director in demand with a life occasionally in need of juggling.
Self-congratulating at times, but it’s his memoir so who am I to begrudge him that framing?
Pretty much started and ended this in a day, so a solid quick read for any film or horror lovers.
Self-congratulating at times, but it’s his memoir so who am I to begrudge him that framing?
Pretty much started and ended this in a day, so a solid quick read for any film or horror lovers.
August 24, 2025
I’ve always enjoyed the films of William Castle, and knew he was sort of a huckster, but this really laid it all out for me. He was talented, charming, and a heck of a liar, and I mean that in the best way. I also was reminded of his truly expansive influence on the film industry, and his impressive achievements. He was a piece of work.
September 16, 2025
If you are a fan of Castle's, you can't go wrong with this book. Reading the book, I kept hearing his voice in my head. He was quite the showman. As for his most famous films, he talks more about his gimmicks for the films than he does the actual films. But the last section of the book is dedicated mostly to the making of "Rosemary's Baby," and that was quite interesting.
September 7, 2024
a real 'fake it til you make it' kinda guy
just a beautiful story about unapologetically creating over and over again. if I could have a quarter of the self esteem that Castle has for what he makes, I'd be a happy man. super inspiring.
just a beautiful story about unapologetically creating over and over again. if I could have a quarter of the self esteem that Castle has for what he makes, I'd be a happy man. super inspiring.
June 26, 2019
A small autobiography, with lots of horseshit, but somehow the true nature of Castle comes through crystal clear. Very poignant and informative for those who truly care about these things.
January 2, 2021
Obsessed with this man. Doubt I can believe every word he prints but what a storyteller, regardless.
October 3, 2021
Fantastic!
Any fans of classic horror need to read this book. From tales of Rosemarys Baby to working with Vincent Price, Castle was a master of gimmicks and a horror trailblazer
Any fans of classic horror need to read this book. From tales of Rosemarys Baby to working with Vincent Price, Castle was a master of gimmicks and a horror trailblazer
March 16, 2022
I'm not sure how much Castle "exaggerated" but I enjoyed this book regardless.
March 4, 2024
He talks about Riverside, Ca. Ya got to love it.
May 11, 2024
this book is hilarious, it is basically william castle saying how he made it anywhere in hollywood by lying and pretending he knew what he was doing until he figured it out, incredible stuff
January 6, 2025
Amazing albeit outdated language! Also, the Rosemary's Baby chapters heavily feature RP. However, I believe, that he had not been exposed as a major creep when this was originally published.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2025
A lot of typos and formatting issues but really feels like this cinematic madman is just free-spitting insane stories of tricking and pranking his way through show business.
February 17, 2025
A most entertaining autobiography from an incredibly driven and creative director and producer. Now I have to go watch all his movies...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews