True Crime Movies

[Zodiac]

The oldest true crime film I've been able to find, perhaps stretching the definition a bit, is The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots from 1895 so 116 years for the genre.

Hi Stan,

Thanks, a really good find, regardless of one's opinion as to what extent Mary's execution could be considered a crime or otherwise. We have a long and proud tradition of "offing" unwanted Monarchs over here. Maybe if we had only had the forsight to dish out the same treatment to George III we would still all be one big happy family!!!???

I hope that you may find these clips of some interest. While they are not exactly examples of true crime film, they are, in all probability THE earliest examples of FILM, period!!! They were shot in 1888!!! In my home city, Leeds!!! Also, the genious who filmed them, Louis Le Prince, would go on to disappear "under mysterious circumstance" in 1890, just as he has about to take his invention to America!!! True crime indeed???

This first example is, almost certainly, the first, or at the very least the earliest surviving example of "Film" ever taken!!! While "Horse Cycle" of 1878 can be described as, perhaps, the first "Motion Picture" as that is indeed what it was, a series of pictures in motion, the method and equipment used had much more in common with the classic "Flick Picture Books" and the saucy "What the butler saw" fairground attractions than the technology that would become "Film" or "Cinema". Where as Le Princes MKI and MkII Cameras are the direct ancestors of the film/cinema cameras of the 20th century.
This then is, in all probability, the very first ever film footage ever taken!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkUKC7xCO2A

And this is the second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59xD2jA4T1E

Here it is again, having been digitally restored for the 2005 Leeds Film Festival.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQuHiRlhUGI

Wiki link for Louis Le Prince

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Le_Prince

And finally, poor old Mary, losing her head, from 1895

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgDG_wc19aU

Best wishes,

Zodiac.

[sdreid]

The oldest true crime film I've been able to find, perhaps stretching the definition a bit, is The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots from 1895 so 116 years for the genre.

[sdreid]

Yes Abby, I guess we are lucky that there are two good Zodiac movies.

[Abby Normal]

I recently came across a list of the top grossing True-Crime movies in raw dollars, that is unadjusted for inflation. Number one was Catch Me If You Can which is technically a True-Crime film but is on the margins in my view because there's no murder as a focus of the story. The next movie is American Gangster which has murders but I still don't consider it a hardcore True-Crime movie because the slayings aren't by a private individual for their own personal gain or just for killing sake. The first to meet those criteria is Changeling about Northcott at #7 then Monster at #8 about Wuornos. Next up at #10, and the first regarding and unsolved case, is Zodiac. The film listed at #11 is From Hell.

I just saw Zodiac and liked it. Pretty much historically accurate, creepy, good acting-overall a good film. it was based on the book which I also read and thought was very good.

[sdreid]

I recently came across a list of the top grossing True-Crime movies in raw dollars, that is unadjusted for inflation. Number one was Catch Me If You Can which is technically a True-Crime film but is on the margins in my view because there's no murder as a focus of the story. The next movie is American Gangster which has murders but I still don't consider it a hardcore True-Crime movie because the slayings aren't by a private individual for their own personal gain or just for killing sake. The first to meet those criteria is Changeling about Northcott at #7 then Monster at #8 about Wuornos. Next up at #10, and the first regarding and unsolved case, is Zodiac. The film listed at #11 is From Hell.

[sdreid]

Thanks for the clue-in Rob. I also recommend The Sniper which you would swear was about Zodiac right down to the San Francisco location until you notice it was made in 1952. Almost seems like the real killer could have been somehow been inspired by the film.

[Rob Clack]

The other night, I watched a 1952 movie about a serial killer called The Sniper. In the audio commentary, a chap named Eddie Muller states that the 1945 film Hangover Square is essentially a remake of The Lodger but I have never seen it listed as a Ripper inspired movie. Does anyone know anything about this production? I don't recall seeing it. A motion picture guidebook I have says its, "Similar to The Lodger".

Hangover Square is a great film and starred Laird Cregar and George Sanders who both appeared in The Lodger and the film is also set in the Victorian era. It's not a Ripper inspired movie and the two films have no connection story wise. I would say it was more of a companion piece to the The Lodger and was only made to try and duplicate the success of The Lodger.
Worth tracking down and is available in a box set 'Fox Horror Classics' which also has The Lodger and The Undying Monster (a werewolf movie).

Rob

[sdreid]

I see there's a movie entitled Lizzie about the Borden murders due out next year. Gary Busey plays Andrew.

[sdreid]

The other night, I watched a 1952 movie about a serial killer called The Sniper. In the audio commentary, a chap named Eddie Muller states that the 1945 film Hangover Square is essentially a remake of The Lodger but I have never seen it listed as a Ripper inspired movie. Does anyone know anything about this production? I don't recall seeing it. A motion picture guidebook I have says its, "Similar to The Lodger".

[sdreid]

It should probably be mentioned that Tony Curtis of The Boston Strangler died yesterday. He was 85. I remember going to see the film at a 1400 seat theater when the movie first came out and not being able to get in because it was sold out. My wife, at the time, and I came back for the late show and barely made it in that time. There were just a few seats left and we had to sit apart. God speed Tony.

[sdreid]

It could have also been Histories Crimes and Trials or American Justice which, despite its name, also occasionally covered crimes in other countries I believe.

[sdreid]

It would have been E! Mysteries and Scandals or something of the sort.

[sdreid]

I haven't Magpie but I think I might have seen it covered on a crime program. If not, it was some other woman suspected of being thrown out of a window.
On IMDb, it looks like the movie was from Canadian TV.

[Magpie]

Anyone seen "Murder Most Likely", about former undercover RCMP officer who allegedly murdered his wife by throwing her off a balcony? It's supposed to be quite good.

[sdreid]

Thanks Zodiac.

Yes, that first one was #3 on my list in my first post on this thread.

Your second movie, I was not familiar with.

The third one, I have heard of but have not had the opportunity to see.