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Columbia Pictures
Not part of a collection.
The crime that shocked a nation.
After a botched robbery results in the brutal murder of a rural family, two drifters elude police, in the end coming to terms with their own mortality and the repercussions of their vile atrocity.
CinemaSerf
Oct 27, 2024 · via TMDB
This is one of those stories that really does epitomise the venality and cruelty of man! For the sum of $10,000 allegedly hidden in the safe of the rural "Clutter" family, two parolees come up with a plan to relieve them of their cash. "Dick" (Scott Wilson) is the architect of their plan. He's a nasty piece of work who is quite capable of manipulating the slightly less outwardly aggressive "Perry" (Robert Blake) into raiding the place then absconding for a life in comfort in nearby Mexico. Of course, the best laid plans etc., and pretty soon these two men top a most wanted list and are pursued by the doggedly shrewd cop "Dewey" (John Forsythe). It's based around a true story as interpreted by Truman Capote and essentially comes in two chapters. The first establishes the characters and the crime, the second the pursuit and it's consequences - and Richard Brooks adapts the story and directs these two chunks with considerable aplomb. There are also strong performances from the two men whose aspiration becomes desperation in double quick time, but who still struggle to display any semblance of human decency - except, maybe, when collecting refundable glass. There's precious little graphic violence here, but there's plenty of it implied and left to our imagination. Perhaps that's more potently delivered when it's mixed, especially by Blake, with at times a sort of gentleness and consideration - an almost childish style of behaviour. There are plenty of psychological aspects of their persona to evaluate as this progresses and that's as much of interest to "Dewey" as it becomes to us. The scoring also adds powerfully to the general menace, as does the frequently mobile and intense photography and at times there's almost a temptation to feel just a little sorry for these obviously flawed men as fate takes it's inevitable steps. Well worth a watch, I'd say - it's a complex analysis of two men with few boundaries.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Robert Blake
Perry Smith
Scott Wilson
Richard 'Dick' Hickcock
John Forsythe
Alvin Dewey
Paul Stewart
Jensen
Gerald S. O'Loughlin
Harold Nye
Jeff Corey
Mr. Hickock
John Gallaudet
Roy Church
James Flavin
Clarence Duntz
Charles McGraw
Tex Smith
Will Geer
Prosecutor
John McLiam
Herbert Clutter
Brenda Currin
Nancy Clutter
Vaughn Taylor
Good Samaritan
Duke Hobbie
Young Reporter
Sheldon Allman
—
Raymond Hatton
—
Ted Eccles
—
Rhonda Fultz
—
Mary Linda Rapelye
—
Conrad Hall
Director of Photography
Jerry Brutsche
Stunt Double
Richard Brooks
Director
Quincy Jones
Original Music Composer
Truman Capote
Novel
Richard Brooks
Screenplay
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180
Dec 14, 1967
New York City, New York
Dec 15, 1967
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Bicara Cinta
2020
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1965
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
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Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
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2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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