Zotz! (Columbia Pictures) (1962)

(Review) William Castle, who succeeded in raising a bountiful crop of goose pimples on screen audiences when he brought forth such macabre masterpieces as “Mr. Sardonicus,” “Homicidal” and “13 Ghosts,” has turned to comedy. His latest production for Columbia Pictures’ release, “Zotz!”, RGIDS. cee es Theatre audiences “die laughing.” Even in comedy, Castle has not entirely eschewed the “gimmick” approach of his horror hits. Ray Russell’s screenplay for “Zotz!” deals with an unassuming college professor who dreams of becoming the Dean of Languages until super-secret “Zotz,” turns his life topsy-turvy. “Zotz” puts power at his fingertips, women in his arms and spies in his life. Tom Poston, one of the mainstays of the former Steve Allen show, proves a formidable comedian as the timid professor who flips when an ancient coin he possesses turns out to have magic powers. Julia Meade, a familiar face on TV screens as Ed Sullivan’s charming spieler of commercials, plays Poston’s fellow professor with more than an academic interest in Tom. Jim Backus, the voice of cartoon character Mr. Magoo, is Poston’s chief rival for both the job and the girl, while Fred Clark plays an apoplectic General and Cecil Kellaway is the retiring Dean of Languages. With “Zotz!”, Castle proves he knows his way around comedy and comedies and it is to be hoped there will be more. “Zotz!” is based on Walter Karig’s novel. Castle produced and directed. (Opening Notice) William Castle’s comedy production of “Zotz!”, a Columbia Pictures’ release, opens ....... at Che “s.r ee sos Theatre. Starring are Tom Poston, Julia Meade, Jim Backus, Fred Clark and Cecil Kellaway. Ray Russell’s. screenplay, based on Walter Karig’s novel, deals with a college professor who discovers the super-secret power locked in an ancient coin. Castle produced and_ directed “Zotz!”, his first screen comedy. (Fred Clark) Fred Clark, noted for his portrayals of blustery characters, is once again blowing his stack on the screen in William Castle’s comedy production, “Zotz!”, a Columbia Pictures’ release now at the 3 su8 : Theatre. Clark plays an apoplectic general who thinks Tom Poston a crackpot when the latter tries to demonstrate the magical powers of an ancient coin. (Mat 2A; Still No. R34) Tom Poston, left, tangles with spies, led by Albert Glazer, in the course of "'Zotz!"" new William Castle production also starring Julia Meade, Jim Backus, Fred Clark and Cecil Kellaway. The Columbia comedy is the story of a college professor who discovers an ancient coin with magic powers. (William Castle) William Castle, the man who brought the shudder back to movie audiences with his horror films, shelves his macabre motion pictures for comedy. Currently, the producer of such horror successes as “Mr. Sardonicus,” “Homicidal” and “13 Ghosts” has effected a drastic change of movie pace with his William Castle production of “Zotz!”, a Columbia release now at thes asecons Theatre. Comedy of a language professor who comes into possession of an ancient coin with magical powers, “Zotz!” stars Tom Poston, Julia Meade, Jim Backus, Fred Clark and Cecil Kellaway. “The trend is away from horror and back to comedy,” says Castle. “When I started making ‘Macabre’ some four years ago, there was a whole new generation that had not seen horror films and they loved ’em. Today,” says Castle, “that type of picture is passe and ‘Disney’s ‘Shaggy Dog’ and ‘AbsentMinded Professor’ have begun a new trend, a trend that tickles you under the chin with a feather instead of a knife.” Although Castle may be sold on doing comedy, he isn’t forgetting the macabre altogether. One of his next films will be an adaptation of J. B. Priestley’s “The Old Dark House,” happily combining horror and comedy. Based on the novel by Walter Karig, “Zotz!” was written for the screen by Ray Russell and produced and directed by Castle. COLUMBIA PICTURES presents LOTZ! starring TOM POSTON 50% JULIA MEADE JIM BACKUS 50% FRED CLARK CECIL KELLAWAY 50% Screenplay by RAY RUSSELL 15% Based on the novel by WALTER KARIG 10% Produced and Directed by William Castle 15% A WILLIAM CASTLE PRODUCTION 25% (General Advance) Producer-director William Castle, who turned out such motion picture shockers as “Mr. Sardonicus,” “Homicidal” and “13 Ghosts,” is said to have done a complete aboutface with “Zotz!”, his latest production for Columbia Pictures’ release. “Zotz!”, due Ree ctr dreds at the ........ Theatre, is an all-out comedy, starring Tom Poston, Julia Meade, Jim Backus, Fred Clark and Cecil Kellaway. In departing from his usual format of the macabre mixed with terror, Castle is said to have turned to comedy with a strain of whimsy. Ray Russell’s screenplay, based on Walter Karig’s novel, tells of a timid language professor who obtains an ancient coin with magical powers. According to advance report, plenty happens to the professor when his discovery of the coin’s super-secret puts power at his fingertips, women in his arms and spies in his life. A Broadway stage favorite and featured panelist on TV’s “To Tell the Truth,” Poston makes his motion picture debut in “Zotz!” as the language professor whose life is turned topsy-turvy by his newfound powers. Miss Meade, who handled the commercials on the Ed Sullivan Show, plays a fellow professor attracted to Poston. Jim Backus, the voice for the “Mr. Magoo” cartoon character, is Poston’s rival for the post of Dean of Languages. Fred Clark is cast as an obtuse general who doesn’t comprehend Poston’s “Zotz!” powers, while Cecil Kellaway is seen as the retiring Dean of Languages. (Jim Backus) Jim Backus, seen or unseen, is filmdom’s busiest actor. His voice, fitted to UPA Pictures’ nearsighted Mister Magoo, has breathed life and personality into that ever-popular character of animated cartoons. Currently, Backus is exhibiting his face, along with his voice, starring in William Castle’s production of “Zotz!”, Columbia Pictures release at the ....... Theatre. Also starred in the comedy, in which a college professor obtains an ancient coin with magical powers, are Tom Poston, Julia Meade, Fred Clark and Cecil Kellaway. Backus created the Magoo voice for a cartoon short called “Ragtime Bear” in 1949, when the myopic old codger had neither name nor billing. The force of his screen personality and the distinctiveness of Backus’ voice made Magoo a star overnight. Backus’ talent is not confined to unseen work. He has made his mark equally in radio, the stage, television, recordings, literature and films, but has been busiest in the latter category. Based on Walter Karig’s novel, “Zotz!” was penned for the screen by Ray Russell. (Tom Poston) Tom Poston, who became nationally famous on TV as the forgetful “man on the street” on “The Steve Allen Show,” makes his motion picture debut in William Castle’s production of “Zotz!”, a Columbia Pictures’ release at the .252. 045.23 Theatre. Poston stars as a college professor who comes into possession of an ancient coin with magical powers. Also starred in “Zotz!” are Julia Meade, Jim Backus, Fred Clark and Cecil Kellaway. One of the most versatile talents on Broadway and in television, Poston actually had no interest in acting until a magazine article stimulated him to enroll in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After running his own summer stock company at Rehoboth Beach, Md., with his brother, Tom graduated to Broadway when he was cast in Jose Ferrer’s production of “Cyrano de Bergerac.” During the next few years Tom acted in stock and on Broadway. He played in “Bell, Book and Candle” with Rosalind Russell and then became a TV star in Chicago. In New York, he clicked in Gotham night spots. “Zotz!” was written for the screen by Ray Russell and is based on Walter Karig’s novel. William Castle produced and directed the Columbia comedy. (Julia Meade) Julia Meade is known to millions of TV viewers as the “pitchwoman” for the Ed Sullivan Show. But TV is not the only medium in which the fair Julia has made her mark. In motion pictures, Julia has already appeared in “Pillow Talk” and “Tammy Tell Me True” and she currently is starred with Tom Poston in William Castle’s production of “Zotz!”, a Columbia Pictures release at the...... Theatre. Jim Backus, Fred Clark and Cecil Kellaway are also starred. On the Broadway stage, Miss Meade has been featured in “The Tender Trap” and in “Roman Candle,” and has starred in “Double in Hearts.” In summer stock, Julia demonstrated her talents as a dramatic actress, as a comedienne and as a song-and-dance-star. She has also taken a fling at the supper-club field. From the outset, Julia naturally followed in the footsteps of her mother, Caroline Meade, the famous actress and leading lady in Walter Hampden’s plays for a decade. The fact that her mother was an actress and all her friends were in the theatrical milieu, led Julia to believe all little girls just automatically became actresses. Based on the novel by Walter Karig, “Zotz” was written for the screen by Ray Russell. Castle produced and directed the comedy. (Mat 1A; Still No. 24) Tom Poston and Julia Meade star in William Castle's production of "'Zotz!," new Columbia comedy also starring Jim Backus, Fred Clark and Cecil Kellaway. Poston here is demonstrating the magic powers of the ancient coin he holds. e CAST Prot. Jongthan come, We 5B BR i. Bese ccc socvs secs Tom Poston ae Secli-m 0 7a ee. See fiom oe ee) ee Julia Meade monaco Melgg om... 7 Sea tek Gh Be pe Jim Backus Ohare oor oe cue iy i a Fred Clark Deatt Up 2 ir. a ce See ee eee Be... ee ae od Cecil Kellaway COVITHG SOROS BAW Be. 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George Moorman OOGNOT ANY: crank, Slits cic. usse chides .c Aeeee aN ie Elaine Martone Lb: men Ve ain ter ley Spice 8 needa SAM Bet ee Rite lea Susan Dorn @ CREDITS Screenplay by Ray Russell; Based on the novel by Walter Karig; Produced and Directed by William Castle; Assistant Director, Carter DeHaven, Jr.; Music Composed and Conducted by Bernard Green; Director of Photography, Gordon Avil, A.S.C.; Art Director, Robert Peterson; Film Editor, Edwin Bryant, A.C.E.; Set Decorator, James M. Crowe; Make-up Supervision, Ben Lane, S.M.A.; Sound Supervisor, Charles J. Rice; Sound, Josh Westmoreland; Associate Producer, Dona Holloway. A William Castle Production. A Columbia Release. STORY (Not for Publication) Jonathan Jones, professor of ancient languages, obtains an old coin with magical powers: it can cause a sudden sharp pain to people, make them move in slow motion and it can bring death when its owner points a finger and simultaneously says ‘'Zotz!'’ Jones’ preoccupation with his new-found power causes him to be observed with curiosity by Professor Kellgore, his rival for the soon-tobe-vacated post of Dean of Languages. Jones tries to interest the government in his Magic Zotz Coin, but is brushed off by General Bulliver. Jones is kidnapped by a foreign agent, who has observed his powers, but in the ensuing escape and chase, the coin disappears down a sewer and the agent is nabbed by the police. Back to normal, Jones becomes Dean of Languages and marries Virginia, new and lovely addition to the University teaching staff. Page 4