Mr. Sardonicus (1961)

William Castle: William Castle

Photos 

Quotes 

• William Castle : [breaking the fourth wall in speaking directly to the cinema-going audience]  That's how the story ends, with the lovers living happily-ever-after. But has Mr. Sardonicus been punished enough? Don't you agree with me that such a miserable scoundrel should be made to suffer, and suffer... and suffer, when you think what he did to his wife, and those girls. Tsk, tsk, tsk tsk. And about those leeches. I think ordinary punishment is too good for Mr. Sardonicus. If you feel that way too, if you want to show him no mercy, and punish hm as he deserves, then...

  William Castle : [holding up a card that has been given to cinema-going audience members displaying an option for a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down]  ... hold up your punishment poll ballot with the thumb pointing down... like this. If on the other hand you're one of those, "I wouldn't hurt a fly," kind of people...

  William Castle : [grimacing his face]  ... one of those sweet, nice, kind souls who would let Mr. Sardonicus go free, you should hold your ballot...

  William Castle : [he rotates the card one hundred eighty degrees]  ... with the thumb pointing up, like this. Now we're ready for the voting. No mercy. No mercy.

  William Castle : [pretending he can see into the audience]  Hold the ballots high, please. Oh come now, hold them up. Please. Now that's better. The lady in the ninth row, a little higher. The little boy in the back, will you please sit down so that I can count the cards behind you. That young couple on the left, is that one vote or two that you're casting? Two votes? Thank you. Thank you all very much.

  William Castle : [counting the ballots]  Mercy. No mercy.

  William Castle : [speaking to himself]  Seventeen, carry the three... subtract fourteen...

  William Castle : [gleefully as he has finished his tabulations]  No mercy! So be it. You have given a verdict. You have made a decision and a majority of you have sentenced Mr. Sardonicus to further punishment.

  William Castle : [looking upward to where the projection booth would be]  Mr. Projectionist. Let the sentence be carried out.

  [the scene switches back to Sardonicus in his castle] 

• [first lines] 

  William Castle : [breaking the fourth wall in a deep London fog as he tries to strike a match to light his cigar]  Oh, confounded fog. Makes the matches so damp...

  William Castle : [striking the match successfully and lighting his cigar]  Ah, there we are. This of course is London, and I am William Castle. Oh, it's good to see you again, my homicidal friends. This time, our story is a bit different. It's an old fashioned story, full of gallantry, and graciousness, and *ghouls*. You know about ghouls, don't you? They are... well let me find you an exact definition.

  William Castle : [pulling out and reading from a dictionary]  Let me see. "goom"... that's an odd word. It means, "to search for game in the dark." "ghost"... ah here it is. "ghoul: an evil being who robs graves and feeds on corpses." Ah yes, just an old-fashioned story. I hope you enjoy it... and I hope your nightmares are nice ones. So nice to have met you again.