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IMDbPro

Willard

  • 19711971
  • GPGP
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
4.5K
YOUR RATING
Bruce Davison in Willard (1971)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:18
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Horror
A social misfit uses his only friends, his pet rats, to exact revenge on his tormentors.A social misfit uses his only friends, his pet rats, to exact revenge on his tormentors.A social misfit uses his only friends, his pet rats, to exact revenge on his tormentors.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
4.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Daniel Mann
  • Writers
    • Gilbert Ralston(screenplay)
    • Stephen Gilbert(novel "Ratman's Notebooks")
  • Stars
    • Bruce Davison
    • Elsa Lanchester
    • Sondra Locke
Top credits
  • Director
    • Daniel Mann
  • Writers
    • Gilbert Ralston(screenplay)
    • Stephen Gilbert(novel "Ratman's Notebooks")
  • Stars
    • Bruce Davison
    • Elsa Lanchester
    • Sondra Locke
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 64User reviews
    • 65Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Willard
    Trailer 2:18
    Willard

    Photos101

    Bruce Davison in Willard (1971)
    Willard (1971)
    Willard (1971)
    Ernest Borgnine, Bruce Davison, and Michael Dante in Willard (1971)
    Ernest Borgnine and Michael Dante in Willard (1971)
    Elsa Lanchester in Willard (1971)
    Bruce Davison and Jody Gilbert in Willard (1971)
    Jody Gilbert in Willard (1971)
    Bruce Davison in Willard (1971)
    Willard (1971)
    Ernest Borgnine in Willard (1971)
    Sondra Locke in Willard (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bruce Davison
    Bruce Davison
    • Willard Stilesas Willard Stiles
    Elsa Lanchester
    Elsa Lanchester
    • Henrietta Stilesas Henrietta Stiles
    Sondra Locke
    Sondra Locke
    • Joanas Joan
    Ernest Borgnine
    Ernest Borgnine
    • Martinas Martin
    Michael Dante
    Michael Dante
    • Brandtas Brandt
    Jody Gilbert
    Jody Gilbert
    • Charlotte Stassenas Charlotte Stassen
    William Hansen
    William Hansen
    • Barskinas Barskin
    John Myhers
    • Carlsonas Carlson
    J. Pat O'Malley
    J. Pat O'Malley
    • Jonathan Farleyas Jonathan Farley
    Joan Shawlee
    Joan Shawlee
    • Aliceas Alice
    Almira Sessions
    Almira Sessions
    • Carrie Smithas Carrie Smith
    Pauline Drake
    • Ida Stassenas Ida Stassen
    Helen Spring
    • Mrs. Beckeras Mrs. Becker
    Alan Baxter
    Alan Baxter
    • Walter Spenceras Walter Spencer
    Sherry Presnell
    • Mrs. Spenceras Mrs. Spencer
    Ben
    • Benas Ben
    • (uncredited)
    Lois Berkson
    • Party Guestas Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Bradley
    • Chemistas Chemist
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Daniel Mann
    • Writers
      • Gilbert Ralston(screenplay)
      • Stephen Gilbert(novel "Ratman's Notebooks")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The surprise box office success of this film would inspire a huge amount of animal-themed horror films in the early 1970s.
    • Goofs
      Toward the end of the film, when Willard is in the kitchen with Ben preparing to poison the rats, you can see the image of the rat wrangler putting Ben on the kitchen counter in the reflection of the glass cabinet.
    • Quotes

      Willard Stiles: Tear him up!

    • Connections
      Edited into Ben (1972)

    User reviews64

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Do unto others before they do unto you.
    Bruce Davison memorably portrays the title character in this entertaining animal-themed thriller that was a big hit back in its day. Willard Stiles is a wimpy, awkward doormat of a man, regularly chewed out by his demanding boss Martin (Ernest Borgnine) and harangued by his clingy, equally demanding mother Henrietta (Elsa Lanchester). He has zero friends in the world, until he decides to take pity on the scores of rats infesting his property. He even gives the two most dominant characters names: "Socrates" is a gentle white rat, "Ben" a more aggressive brown rat. Willard soon becomes able to get the rats to do his bidding, which comes in handy in such matters as revenge.

    It's not hard to see why "Willard" would have connected with audiences back in 1971. The relationship between the boy and his rodents is admittedly touching, and the head rats Socrates and Ben are very well trained (as well as rats can be trained). Now, granted, you don't always sympathize with Willard. Sometimes he comes off as a real jerk. But you feel bad for him often enough to enjoy his revenge. For example, getting the rats to ruin a backyard dinner party held by Martin. You also hope that his budding relationship with a lovely temp employee (the appealing Sondra Locke) will better his situation, or at least brighten him up a bit. For this viewer, it didn't matter so much that the film "lacked style"; it was still a reasonably entertaining story (based on the book "The Ratman's Notebooks" by Stephen Gilbert) told in capable enough fashion by screenwriter Gilbert Ralston and director Daniel Mann. The music score by Alex North is simply wonderful.

    Borgnine provides excellent support, obviously having fun with playing a mean, conniving boss who seems to take a perverse pleasure in humiliating Willard in front of others. Lanchester is just right during the amount of screen time that she gets. Michael Dante, Jody Gilbert, John Myhers, J. Pat O'Malley, and others comprise a fine supporting cast.

    The clear lesson to be learned from this one is simply this: if you have very few friends in this world, do NOT turn your back on them, no matter how small they may be.

    Followed by a sequel, "Ben", just one year later, and a second adaptation of the book in 2003 (with Crispin Glover as Willard, R. Lee Ermey as Martin, and Jackie Burroughs as Henrietta).

    Seven out of 10.
    helpful•10
    1
    • Hey_Sweden
    • May 14, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 30, 1971 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ratman's Notebooks
    • Filming locations
      • Higgins-Verbeck-Hirsch Mansion - 637 South Lucerne Boulevard, Windsor Square, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Bing Crosby Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $19,216,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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