Strait-Jacket

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Starring: Joan Crawford
Rated: Unrated
Type: DVD
Directed By: William Castle
Studio: Sony Pictures
Release Date: 2002-03-12
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 05/13/2008 Run time: 93 minutes Rating: Nr

Strait-Jacket Schlock
Low budget, B-grade slasher flick complete with cheesy special effects, heads-a-rolling, a transparent inplausible plot, and lots of screaming. At the end of Crawford's career she was clearly taking roles that she normally would not have bothered with, so even though many people rated this film highly, I think it's sad to see her in a movie like this, even though her performance is gutsy and interesting to watch. It's also pretty neat to see actors so early in their careers, like Lee Majors and George Kennedy. Best scene in the film: when the shrink from the asylum drops by for a visit and Crawford spontaneously lights a match on the turntable WHILE the record is playing (it reminds me of when Jack Lemmon strikes the match on his teeth in The Great Race). Not many actors could pull that off on camera, and it was perfectly in keeping with the character she was portraying. Sad to see her so deep in B-movie material such as this, especially when you compare it to her other great films like The Women, the 1927 silent movie with Lon Chaney called The Unknown, and Sudden Fear, but her performance here is certainly worth taking a look at, especially fans of Castle and Crawford or just of this movie genre.

Joan's last good movie after Baby Jane
After the success of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, Bette's career was revived, and she had several good roles after that film and continued to work until her death. Joan...eh, not so much. But this one is the most memorable and entertaining. Bette Davis who had filmed Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte and Dead Ringer the same year called this film "tacky," and I have to agree. However it is still enjoyable on a more campy level. Joan Crawford had cast and script approval on Strait-Jacket and there is even a "Pepsi" product placement shot in a kitchen scene because Joan was once married to a Pepsi Cola executive until his death. It is actually very fun watching Joan Crawford trying to get back to a "normal" life after being locked up in an asylum for 20 years for beheading her husband and his mistress with an ax. There is even an uncomfortable scene where she puts the moves on her daughter's boyfriend right in front of her after woofing down some booze. Directorial duties were handled by William Castle (an inferior compared to Hitchcock) who made several B-movie horror pictures through the years. I gave Strait-Jacket four stars because I consider Bette's films superior and worthy of 5 stars.

A Really Swinging Performance by Ms. Crawford
Ms. Crawford turns in a rather eccentric performance as Lucy Harbin in a movie made during the downward arc of her career. The movie opens with the axe murder of Lucy's philandering husband (played by a very young Lee Majors)and his lover. After spending around twenty years in an asylum for the criminally insane, Lucy is released and moves in with her brother and his wife at their farm. Lucy is also reunited with her daughter, played by Diane Baker, whom she hasn't seen since the double homicide.

Soon after Lucy arrives at the farm, she starts having nightmares about the double murder. A doctor from the asylum who has travelled to check on Joan disappears soon after visiting her. A creepy handyman, played by Lee Marvin, is brutally murdered on her brother's farm. Is Lucy the one responsible for the doctor's disappearance and the handyman's murder, or is she being set up? And what is with her daughter getting her mom to dress up in the tarty clothes, complete with black wig, that she used to wear twenty years ago?

While the performances by Ms. Crawford and Ms. Baker may be overwrought at times, they never descend to the level of camp. The movie evokes suspense and chills without being gory or excessively frightening. The ending evokes a sense of "Whoa! I didn't see that coming!" While this movie cannot be called a horror classic on the level of "Psycho", it is an entertaining way to spend an evening with friends. There is also some commentary about the making of the film which includes an interview with a much older Diane Baker along with some film of Joan doing some practice swings with an axe - I found that to be more bizarre than the movie.

strait jacket
when joan crawford became old she found the thrillers as bette davis and both of them,did it well,a fine example is whatever happened to baby jane,a real classic

This is Joan Crawford, I urge you to see my new motion picture Strait-Jacket, from the beginning
Lucy Harbin took an axe
She gave her husband 40 whacks
And when she saw what he had done
She gave his girlfriend 41


This 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...