True Crime Movies

[sdreid]

Does Longford cover the murders at all of just the appeals process?

[Magpie]

Does Longford cover the murders at all of just the appeals process?

It's pretty much all post murder. It's mostly the battle for parole, up to the point where she confesses to the other murders, then there's a break while he watches porn, then back to Myra up until she gets new lawyers and dumps him as a liability.

[sdreid]

OK - Well, maybe I'll get to see it someday.

[Magpie]

OK - Well, maybe I'll get to see it someday.

I could PM you a link, if you'd like.

[sdreid]

Sure - please do.

[sdreid]

Hopefully the in the works remake of The Town That Dreaded Sundown will live up to expectations.

[RivkahChaya]

Has anyone else seen Death Scream? It's based on the Kitty Genovese murder, and was made-for-(US)-TV in 1975 (I saw it years later, maybe 88 or 89). It's a pretty amazing who's who of American television in the mid-1970s, because so many actors were willing to lend themselves to the film's message of "getting involved."

I remember first hearing about Kitty Genovese case in high school psychology, the story of all the people who watched a murder, and did nothing. I remember feeling oddly let down, when I learned the story was mostly hype-- the number of witnesses was exaggerated by about 100%, and no one apartment overlooked the space of the entire attack, which was pretty wide, but even more importantly, Genovese was essentially attacked twice, and the first time appeared to shake off the attacker, who then came back, leading some witnesses to first of all think she wasn't seriously hurt, and second that it might be an argument between people who knew each other; no one thought it was a murder, or even a crime like a mugging was taking place. Most important: the only person who actually saw Genovese "go down," so to speak, did call the police, but it was before the US has a 911 (emergency response) system, and a caller, after looking up the police switchboard in the phone book, was told by an operator which precinct to call, and given another number, to hang up and dial-- which was often wrong, and the person had to call the switchboard back, in the days of rotary phones and party lines. There was a very long gap between the neighbor's first call, and the arrival of the police.

I don't know why I felt let down-- I should have been happy that it was a misunderstanding, and not deliberate callousness-- well, happy is the wrong word, because Genovese is just as dead. I guess I felt lied to, and also a little mad, because 20 years after the crime (which happened in Queens), people would still mention it as an example of the unfriendliness of New Yorkers, of which I am one, and I love New Yorkers.

[RivkahChaya]

Hopefully the in the works remake of The Town That Dreaded Sundown will live up to expectations.

And yet, I'm not holding my breath.

[sdreid]

Has anyone else seen Death Scream? It's based on the Kitty Genovese murder, and was made-for-(US)-TV in 1975 (I saw it years later, maybe 88 or 89). It's a pretty amazing who's who of American television in the mid-1970s, because so many actors were willing to lend themselves to the film's message of "getting involved."

I remember first hearing about Kitty Genovese case in high school psychology, the story of all the people who watched a murder, and did nothing. I remember feeling oddly let down, when I learned the story was mostly hype-- the number of witnesses was exaggerated by about 100%, and no one apartment overlooked the space of the entire attack, which was pretty wide, but even more importantly, Genovese was essentially attacked twice, and the first time appeared to shake off the attacker, who then came back, leading some witnesses to first of all think she wasn't seriously hurt, and second that it might be an argument between people who knew each other; no one thought it was a murder, or even a crime like a mugging was taking place. Most important: the only person who actually saw Genovese "go down," so to speak, did call the police, but it was before the US has a 911 (emergency response) system, and a caller, after looking up the police switchboard in the phone book, was told by an operator which precinct to call, and given another number, to hang up and dial-- which was often wrong, and the person had to call the switchboard back, in the days of rotary phones and party lines. There was a very long gap between the neighbor's first call, and the arrival of the police.

I don't know why I felt let down-- I should have been happy that it was a misunderstanding, and not deliberate callousness-- well, happy is the wrong word, because Genovese is just as dead. I guess I felt lied to, and also a little mad, because 20 years after the crime (which happened in Queens), people would still mention it as an example of the unfriendliness of New Yorkers, of which I am one, and I love New Yorkers.

I saw it a long time ago on TV.

[Beowulf]

"10-Lonely Hearts (2006-U.S.-1:48) The murders by Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck"

Is this the same as the Honeymoon Killers? It's a good movie.

If not named, Helter Skelter, made for tv movie, from the 1976 version.

[sdreid]

"10-Lonely Hearts (2006-U.S.-1:48) The murders by Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck"

Is this the same as the Honeymoon Killers? It's a good movie.

Yes, both movies were about the same case and both are good. There is at least one other film that was inspired by the case that was made in the early 50s. I don't recall its name at the moment.

[sdreid]

I believe, there was a Mexican movie that was based on the case as well.

[Mayerling]

Hi Stan,

I don't know if you have included this one (somewhat forgotten today) that came out in the middle 1950s: "The Phenix City Story". It was based on one of the most corrupt towns in America which was going to be subject to a full cleaning-up operation led by the newly elected Attorney General. Instead the mobsters and crooks running the town assassinated the Attorney General elect. This backfired as the state tore the town leadership apart to get those responsible. Edward Andrews was one of the actors in it (as one of the villains, of course). The son of the martyred Attorney General became Governor of Alabama a few years later, and one of his then protogees, was George Wallace.

It is one of those "forgotten assassinations" in our history (i.e.: the victim or target was not the President of the United States or a candidate for that office: Gov. Goebel of Kentucky, ex-Governor Steunenberg of Idaho, ex-Governor Edward Ward Carmack of Tennessee, Mayor William Gaynor (mayor of New York City - shot and badly wounded in 1910, but died in 1913), Mayor Carter Harrison I of Chicago).

Jeff

[Magpie]

I saw "Fall Of The Essex Boys" this week.

This is the fourth movie based on the Rettondon Triple Murders, and is neither the worst nor the best.

Would have been a lot better if not for the shouting narration.

[Magpie]

Saw the Phil Spector movie last week. Al Pacino was surprisingly good, and of course Helen Mirren is Helen Mirren.

The film was well-made, but is marred by it's attempts to suggest that Lana Clarkson killed herself--actually the filmmakers should be ashamed of how Clarkson is treated throughout.