- This event has passed.
Joan Crawford wields an ax in STRAIT-JACKET (1964)
May 29 : 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
“A stark, vicious little b-movie featuring a truly berserk and mesmerizing performance from bitch goddess extraordinaire Joan Crawford” – The Lobotomy Room Film Club
Film legend Joan Crawford is absolutely electrifying in this deliciously tawdry (yet disarmingly empathetic) shocker from B-movie maestro William Castle. Crawford stars as Lucy Harbin, who, upon discovering her husband in bed with another woman, chops up the couple with an ax — a brtual incident witnessed by her three-year-old daughter. After spending 20 years in a mental institution, Lucy is released into the care of her brother (Leif Erickson) with whom her still-traumatized daughter (Diane Baker) lives. But not long after she’s released, a spate of ax murders start occurring. Has Lucy returned to her Lizzie Borden-esque ways? Find out in STRAIT-JACKET’s rousing, blood-chilling finale!
Written by Robert Bloch (author of Psycho), and directed by Castle with gleefully lurid charm, it’s no wonder STRAIT-JACKET is a favorite of shockmeister John Waters, who excerpts this twisted mother-daughter psychodrama in his own film Serial Mom (which just so happens to be playing this Mother’s Day at Arkadin!).
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Arkadin presents INSTITUTIONALIZED: MENTAL INSTITUTIONS ON FILM, a series of movies that depict asylums, sanitariums, and psychiatric hospitals — some with unvarnished realism, others with surrealism, whimsy or horror. At several screenings, academics and mental health experts will introduce the film with a talk that unpacks the film’s treatment of mental healthcare and provides context on the history of psychiatric institutions.
Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.
Theater Policies
- All seats are first-come, first-served.
- The theater opens 30 minutes prior to showtime, except for “Happy Hour” events and pre-shows when the theater opens at the listed start time.
- All ages are welcome at Arkadin except for Drinkolas Cage events, which are restricted to 21+. We follow the MPAA rating guidelines for all other films.
- Tickets can be purchased using the BUY TICKETS link above. Upon ordering, you will receive a confirmation email from Square. Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the show at the concession counter.
- If you’ve purchased advance tickets, when you arrive, please give your name at the concession counter to check in.
- Tickets are returnable by sending a request through the contact form located on our About Us page prior to showtime.
- When an event is sold out, we reserve the right to release open seats to customers on the waitlist. If you have a pre-purchased ticket and arrive late and there is no seat for you, your ticket will be refunded.
- All screenings are held in our indoor theater unless indicated otherwise in the event description above.
- Please respect your fellow movie-goers by remaining quiet and refraining from using your cell phone throughout the screening.