True Crime Movies

[Magpie]

I saw "Savage Grace" and "Wonderland" a couple of weeks ago. The former was good, but a little slow. Wonderland was pretty intense--they actually included some of the gruesome crime scene footage into the movie.

[sdreid]

Did anyone see the Jody Arias movie on Lifetime?

[sdreid]

I was hoping there would be a documentary on the case included (minimum 20 minutes).

[sdreid]

I hear that there's a second Pierce movie on the Town That Dreaded Sundown Blu-ray but I don't know if that's the only extra feature.

[sdreid]

Hopefully, that The Town That Dreaded Sundown Blu-ray contains some good extras.

[Mayerling]

The Enforcer

This excellent film is strongly suggested by the "Murder Inc. " case of the 1930s and 1940s. Bogart is in the A.D.A. Burton Turgis role. Ted de Corsia is in the "Abe Reles" part. The part suggested by Louis Lepke is played by Everett Sloane, and is renamed "Mendoza". It is a good example of film noir, and has some nice supporting work by Zero Mostel, and several others.

[Rob Clack]

'The Town that Dreaded Sundown' should be available any down now from the U.S.


'The Enforcer' supposedly based on true events. A superb film and one of my favourite Bogart films. It's available from the U.S. I have this blu ray and the picture and sound quality is excellent.


'The Boston Strangler' available from France. The blu ray quality is very good and is a step up from the DVD. Has some nice interviews with William Friedkin, who is very enthusiastic about the film and there are some interviews with a couple of cast and crew members (Richard Kline and Sally Kellerman)


Rob

[Smoking Joe]

Watched "Rise of the footsoldier" last week.I found it surprisingly good.

[sdreid]

Hopefully this Spector production will be out on DVD soon.

[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.

[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.

[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

[sdreid]

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

[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.

[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.