Mr. Sardonicus (1961)

Set in 1880, a prominent British physician (Ronald Lewis) visits the estate of the mysterious Baron Sardonicus (Guy Rolfe) at the request of the Baron's wife (Audrey Dalton), a former love of the doctor. It seems the Baron is disfigured, his face in a perpetual frozen grin and he wants the doctor's help in restoring his face back to normal. Based on the short story SARDONICUS by Ray Russell, who adapted it for the screen and directed by horror schlockmeister William Castle (STRAIT JACKET) known for his gimmickry in hyping his films. The gimmick here is a "punishment poll" in which the audience decides the fate of the sadistic Baron. As to the movie itself, it's an engaging B horror with a lot of dubious psychobabble. The film owes much to Paul Leni's THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (also an influence on Batman's The Joker). With Oscar Homolka, Vladimir Sokoloff and Erika Peters.