Strait-Jacket

"This is Joan Crawford, I urge you to see my new motion picture Strait-Jacket, from the beginning."...Lucy Harbin took an axeShe gave her husband 40 whacksAnd when she saw what he had doneShe gave his girlfriend 41This movie is so incredibly over-the-top. I love how, in the beginning they just have to say that Lucy is "7 years older than her husband.""Strait-Jacket " was one of the very first movies that I ever saw with Joan so there's a special place in my heart for it. When I first saw this movie I knew very little about Joan and just assumed that it was one of her movies from her MGM days. And of course it didn't help that the picture on the DVD was one of Joan's Lucy Harbin dressed up with that "Mildred Pierce" looking wig. I also loved that bangle bracelet that Joan wore. Didn't she look like such a sexy mama? It totally reminded me of the way Joan looked as Sadie Thompson. Although, I don't think Lucy had any tricks up her sleeve!I still love this movie though. Much like the ever-strong and powerful Joan, "Strait-Jacket" has totally withstood the test of time. Yes, it's a ludicrous story that would never have seen the light of day if Joan weren't in it but I can't get enough of it. The story is so dramatic and theatrical, not to mention over-the-top and incredibly foolish.The tagline for this movie was: HER HUSBAND...HER ROOM... ......AND ANOTHER WOMAN. That really describes the beginning but it also leaves a lot to be desired because this is not a love story, at all. Joan plays Lucy Harbin, an axe murderer, who paid her dues and is now released in the care of her brother. Unfortunately once Lucy gets out murder still seems to follow her! This certainly isn't an Alfred Hitchcock type of suspense (maybe "Murder She Wrote?") But that doesn't matter because all of the performers give strong support to Joan.Some of Joan's costars include:Diane Baker (who was also in "Della" and "The Best of Everything" with Joan) played Carol (Lucy's daughter)Leif Erickson played Bill Cutler (Lucy's brother)Rochelle Hudson played Emily Cutler (Lucy's sister-in-law)This black and white movie was released by Columbia on January 19, 1964 and is a total of 89 minutes long. It was actually filmed the prior year and Joan started promoting it from the following spring when she appeared on "I've Got A Secret" with Betsy Palmer (her costar from, "Queen Bee.") I enjoy this movie very much because it's a fine example of a 60's horror movie. There's no blood or violence but that didn't stop the producers from claiming that: Strait-Jacket vividly depicts axe murders! It certainly wasn't done vividly, it looked more like Barbie's head getting popped off.Joan made "Strait-Jacket" right after her 1963 picture "The Caretakers." She also appeared in a slew of other fine suspense and horror projects throughout the 60s and into the 70s which are pretty good. Joan enjoyed acting in movies and later on television. But I think she also chose this particular genre because she always enjoyed science fiction and the supernatural. In 1972 during one of her final interviews Joan said, "it's interesting how many people have had experiences they're convinced are ESP." If you're interested in some more of Joan's later projects, I recommend both  I Saw What You Did  and "Dear Joan: We're Going To Scare you to Death."I found Joan's performance in this movie (like all of her films) to be perfect. Incidentally, many years later, when asked about this movie Joan refused to comment. Only saying, "they were all terrible [referring to all of the movies she made after  What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? ], even the few that I thought might be good. I made them because I needed the money or because I was bored or both. I hope they have been exhibited and are never heard from again. If I weren't a Christian Scientist, and I saw  Trog  advertised on a marquee across the street, I think I'd contemplate suicide."Joan was a perfectionist who was always a constant professional that never gave anyone anything less than all of herself. Joan must have had a natural ability to act because she is one of the most compelling actresses of the twentieth century, however she received no formal training or education in this field. Joan always knew how to make lemonade out of lemons. There are 2 qualities about her that I really respect. First, she always played such versatile roles, running the gambit of high society to street walker. From westerns to comedy to silents to musicals and horror. But what I also appreciate about Joan is that she knew how to bring an otherwise dead script to life. Let's see Bette Davis do that! Sure, Bette Davis and Greta Garbo are much more respected. But they always got the best scripts and best directors and best of everything else. Poor Joan had to make due with what she had. And I think she did pretty well.If you haven't seen this movie yet, what are you waiting for? Go out and get the DVD or wait for it to come on TCM. Remember, don't reveal the surprise shock ending. Don't reveal the surprise shock ending. Don't reveal the surprise shock ending...

Buying the DVD of Joan Crawford's STRAIT JACKET was a gamble on my part since I've never seen it and I've only seen three of her previous films  The Women (Keepcase) , Mildred Pierce (Keepcase) , and my favorite  What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Two-Disc Special Edition) , so I didn't really know what to expect from this film.As you can tell by my rating I really enjoyed this movie! STRAIT JACKET was written by Robert Bloch who wrote the novel "Psycho," which was then turned into the classic horror film by the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock, and according to IMDB, Bloch was also a writer for many of the episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" so the movie has a strong whodunnit type storyline that will keep you guessing.In the film, Crawford plays "Lucy Harbin," a woman who is just getting out of a mental asylum after spending 20-years there for hacking up her cheating husband (played by a young Lee "Six Million Dollar Man" Majors) and his girlfriend with an ax. Lucy comes to stay with her brother and his wife, and the young daughter she left behind so many years before. Suddenly, the bodies start piling up again and it seems that Lucy is coming apart at the seams.Although the movie is campy at times, particularly when Crawford is playing her character as an older woman trying to reclaim her youth, she and the rest of the cast take the storyline and their respective roles seriously, so it never comes off as a farce. In fact, you'll get to see Crawford's range as an actress as she goes from a bawdy broad to a vulnerable, recluse wall-flower to a murderess psychopath, and it's really amazing. One can only wonder how  Hush... Hush Sweet Charlotte  would have turned out had Crawford stayed on and if the roles were reversed...Surprisingly, to me anyway, Crawford is just as good playing the crazed bully as she is playing the helpless victim.Anyway, the film is great if you like suspenseful type movies and Crawford and the rest of the cast keep this movie on the razor's edge, between camp and cult. Quality of the picture is good on the DVD, nice and sharp with no noise or dust/scratches, and the audio is fine too.***** EXTRAS ****** "Battle Ax: The Making of Strait-Jacket" - 14:41-minute FeaturetteBehind the scenes footage including costume tests, and interviews conducted in 2002 with actress Diane Baker, who plays "Carol" Crawford's daughter in the movie, and film historians Don Glut, Michael Schleisinger(?), David Del Valle (?) -- I might have spelled their names wrong -- on how the movie came about.* "Costume & Make-up Tests" - 3:29-minutesJoan Crawford's costume and makeup tests. No sound; just the film's score playing over Joan as she poses in different outfits and expressions.* "Ax-Swinging Screen Test" - :39-secondsCrawford swinging the ax for a closeup.* Trailers - 3 trailers including STRAIT JACKET. Normally I don't watch the trailers or describe them in my review but these were really good! 1. Strait Jacket - :23-secondsCrawford's voice over explaining why you should see the movie. 2. Mr. Sardonicus - 03:36Producer and Director William Castle provides an introduction to this movie and touts it as the first film where the audience has a say in the ending of the movie. There was a way for movie goers to vote on which outcome they wanted when this film was in theaters way back then, which sounds like great fun. 3. 13 Ghosts - 02:28Another Castle film and Castle introduces it. This turns out to be another interactive movie and Castle explains that patrons will get special "ghost viewer" glasses in the theater to see the ghosts in the movie. It probably sounds better than it actually was but for that time I'm sure it was a big draw.Anyway, if you enjoy black & white suspense movies that have cult/camp status or a fan of Joan Crawford, I would say buy the DVD.

It was an OK movie. Love the old Joan Crawford movies and I'd never heard of this one.

This is actually an Italian release from Sinister Film and,like other William Castle films from this company, very well presented on DVD. Released from prison, for the axe-murder of a former lover, Lucy, played by Joan Crawford returns to live with her daughter, Diane Baker.Before long, people are being dispatched by an axe, in one very creepy scene in a wardrobe. Guess who's the main suspect? Like all of William Castle's films, you get full value in the suspense stakes. Not to the standard of Hitchcock, but close enough. There's a sort of twist ending, that might be obvious to some early on, and a nice touch of humour from the Columbia Lady right at the end.Acting honours are shared between Ms Crawford and Miss Baker, with Diane actually stealing the last section completely. There is a trailer, and an excellent presentation from Luigi Cozzi. Would play great at a Halloween party, or your very own Midnight Movie.

Good quality works as expected

An "Strait-Jacket", oder im Deutschen "Die Zwangsjacke", wurde ja schon viel herumgezupft. Manche finden ihn widerwertig und abstoßen andere einfach nur dumm. ich jedoch betrachte ihn als Frühwerk des 80er-Slasherfilms, denn der Film weist einige Paralelen zu den 80er-Horrorstreifen auf. Ich glaube, dass William Castle genau das wollte - "Psycho" schlug 1960 bei den Kinobesuchern so ein, weil es vorher noch nie soetwas gegeben hat. Nun wollte William Castle einen Schritt weiter gehen und hielt die Kamera bei jeden Mord noch eine Sekunde länger drauf (Man sieht hier, wie einem Mann ein Kopf abgetrennt wurde und, wie das Blut aus dem hals spritzt.Ich kann diesen Klassiker nur jeden empfehlen und Joan Crawford ist wirklich eine klasse Schauspielerin

For Joan Crawford fans that is rarely seen, I really enjoyed this filmSaw it in the cinema when I was a teenager, brought back great memories ofReal good old melodramatic films still think it good l.

Over-the-top. Over-acted. Beyond believable. One of the BEST cult films featuring the great Ms. Crawford. Love it!