The Capote masterpiece, with portions actually filmed in the real murder house on Oak Lane in Holcomb, Kansas. While reading the book years ago, I was unable to put it down and read until 3:30 AM, terrified. The film is also spellbinding in it's own right with bizarre music, extremely well-done segways and an unusual rapport between the felons. This is a must-own film of an early Robert Blake movie, who would later be charged for murder himself. What irony. Blake once said that this movie made him crazy because he became Perry Smith for the role. Just knowing you are in the same house where six years earlier, four good people were slaughtered must have been creepy. I have heard from some locals that the house is haunted to this day.
What can I say? There is a long story here. I first saw something about this film in an article about the making of the film in "LIFE" magazine. I was in junior high then and it was so interesting I went out and bought the book. It was the beginning of a life-long affection for true-crime books. The book was incredible. I re-read it several times over the years and as a matter of fact just purchased a new edition. When the film came out I was one of the first in line at our local theatre. I loved it because it stayed true to the truth. It took no liberties with the truth. It was brutal but real. Not gross like movies are today. The horror and terror was palpable without the gore. The interrogations were very interesting. Robert Blake as Perry Smith was brilliant. His reaction when he's told that Dick had spilled his guts was incredible. I loved it. No matter what you think of Blake he was great here. The film touches on both sides of the story but of course spends most of it's time on Perry and Dick. I do believe that Perry's character is written as though he was simply a lost soul rather than a cold-blooded killer which is really what he was. Anyone who has the capacity to shotgun four human beings to death is not just a lost soul. There is something basically evil in this character and I suspect it was a result of his service in Korea. This was never touched on other than a perfunctory mentioning of the service. I believe combat changes some people and not for the better. I didn't buy the references to his father as the cause of his violence. Dick was just a jerk-off. All mouth. A sissy boy. When it came time to do the real crime he could tie-em up but murder - no. Perry killed them simply as a pragmatic function - no witnesses. Dick's "There's gonna be blood and hair on those walls" was empty boasting without Perry. It's beyond most people's capacity to comprehend the abilty to kill someone. Although I believe the younger generation is becoming desensitized to this violence through the depiction of murder etc. in films, videos and computer games. When kids heroes are "gangstas" there's a problem. The new inner cities with the proliferation of gangs and drugs and the accompanying violence it brings tell young people they can be heroes here. Nothing could be further from the truth but no one wants to step in and stop the violence. There have been many Perrys and Dicks since 1959 and there will be many more. But because of the proliferation of media and graphic violence the shock that this crime produced in 1959 is not even a dot on the general public's radar today. When this crime was reported in newspapers across the country in 1959 there was a reaction of "Oh, My GOD!" Today it's business as usual. NYC, L.A., Miami, Chicago, Phila, D.C. - you name it, teenaged kids are dying everyday. Where's the uproar? Where's the "Oh, My GOD!" now? It doesn't exist. The shock and disgust are no longer the reactions people have. That fact is what is disgusting.Read full review
Spine chilling truth, Robert Blake's acting is so real one becomes a part of the scene. Capote wrote a masterpiece and Blake and the rest of the cast were perfect for it. Like Silence of the Lambs, you may not watch it more than once, but you will never forget it. I also bought Capote, it is the perfect companion piece. Both Oscar winners.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Robert Blake did a great job in this movie looking more like a documentary than a film. Going back to the proximity of the crime proved to be a fatal error for both of them. The detectives were just a stupid as the criminals and really did not solve the case as much as they practically gave themselves up. Nevertheless, it was a well executed movie that accurately mirrored the real events....a rarity among crime films that usually are embellished upon.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Good quality dvd. Excellent movie. Great double feature with “Capote”.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on DVDs & Blu-ray Discs