Search - Strait-Jacket on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Violence, Not For Children Movie Release: 1964 DVD Release: 03/12/2002 Format: DVD - Black and White,Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 33 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 12 Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller

In this chilling blood-tale in "Psycho" style, Robert Bloch modernizes the Lizzy Borden story. A wife (Joan Crawford) literally axes her cheating husband and his lover, witnessed by her three-year-old daughter. Mom is packed off to the insane asylum for 20 years before reuniting with the daughter (Diane Baker). From this point, the axe murders continue along a contrived plot intended to lead the audience astray until the mystery is solved. Crawford's strong performance and the excellently constructed suspense are the best elements of the film -- and the chopping saves the show when the plot tends to slow. ~ Lucinda Ramsey, All Movie Guide

Joan Crawford - Lucy Harbin
Diane Baker - Carol Harbin
Leif Erickson - Bill Cutler
Howard St. John - Raymond Fields
John Anthony Hayes - Michael Fields
Rochelle Hudson - Emily Cutler

Columbia's DVD edition of Strait-Jacket has plenty to offer both fans of vintage horror and Joan Crawford aficionados. The disc's anamorphic widescreen transfer is nearly spotless and serves up Arthur E. Arling's vivid black-and-white cinematography in high style. The audio reproduces the film's original mono soundtrack, which lacks the vivid soundscape of a stereo recording, but manages to deliver an unexpected amount of punch (especially during the numerous murder scenes). The Strait-Jacket DVD also offers a surprising amount of extras that will delight Crawford fans. The most entertaining is "Battle Axe," a short documentary that combines interviews with star Diane Baker with the observations of horror film historians. It unearths plenty of tidbits about the film's production, including how the star got one of her husband's colleagues a major supporting role in the film and how she demanded the climax be reworked to give her equal screen time. There are also wardrobe and makeup tests that show off Crawford in a playful mood and an "ax-swinging" test that shows she could handle this weapon with skill. The package is rounded out by trailers for Strait-Jacket, 13 Ghosts, and Mr. Sardonicus. All in all, this DVD edition of Strait-Jacket does justice to this ax-swinging camp delight and is a must for the film's fans. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide