THE BOSTON STRANGLER
This is a ‘Film Only’ review of the film – ‘The Boston Strangler’ released in 1968.There is what could be called a spoiler in this review, but when you watch the film, you realise that I am not spoiling anything for you, it will become fairly self explanatory.
Somehow ... Read review
One by one, the victims fell, each death more gruesome than the last. The actual murders ... more
that rocked Boston in the 60's are the gripping subject matter of this unforgettable police thriller. Henry Fonda stars as the investigating police detective. Tony...
Why did 13 women willingly open their doors to the Boston Strangler? With 13 women ... more
murdered Boston is held under siege by a madman. One by one they fall each death more gruesome than the last. The actual murders that rocked Boston in the 60's are th...
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The unexpected casting of Tony Curtis as the presumed Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, is ... more
only the first of the attractions of this hard-nosed suspense picture. Although the style ofThe Boston Stranglerlooks dated today, with its split-screen experime...
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Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Some good acting especially from Curtis Disadvantages: A bit dated
== THE BOSTON STRANGLER ==
This is a ‘Film Only’ review of the film – ‘The Boston Strangler’ released in 1968.There is what could be called a spoiler in this review, but when you watch the film, you realise that I am not spoiling anything for you, it will become fairly self explanatory.
Somehow I had never seen the film starring Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis and George Kennedy. I was a bit of a wimp back then ... ...another case of ‘nothing on the telly’, left me looking through Sky Anytime for something to watch and decided to give the old film a watch.
When the film was first released it was very controversial. It was directed by Richard Fleischer and produced by Richard F. Zanuck for Fox. It was one of the first R rated films in America - the same as our 18 .By today’s standards it would certainly be no higher than a 15, it contains ... more
THE BOSTON STRANGLER
This is a ‘Film Only’ review of the film – ‘The Boston Strangler’ released in 1968.There is what could be called a spoiler in this review, but when you watch the film, you realise that I am not spoiling anything for you, it will become fairly self explanatory.
Somehow I had never seen the film starring Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis and George Kennedy. I was a bit of a wimp back then and probably thought that the 18 rating meant that it would be a violent film. Last night, another case of ‘nothing on the telly’, left me looking through Sky Anytime for something to watch and decided to give the old film a watch.
When the film was first released it was very controversial. It was directed by Richard Fleischer and produced by Richard F. Zanuck for Fox. It was one of the first R rated films in America - the same as our 18 .By today’s standards it would certainly be no higher than a 15, it contains a tiny bit of nudity, some rough language and of course a pretty horrific subject matter. But I’ve seen far worse on the News at Ten!!
So, is the film worth taking the time to watch in the 21st century? My opinion is that if you would like to watch some really constant and good performances from Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis and George Kennedy it is well worth a watch. You probably however want to rent and not buy the DVD – or, better still, like me, watch it on Sky It’s not a film imploring you to watch it again.
The film was based on the book written by Gerold Frank, that told the true story of the 1963/1964 Boston Strangler case. This case saw 13 women in suburbs of Boston brutally strangled, stabbed and usually sexually assaulted. It presents the story first from the viewpoint of the police who investigate the murders and then shows in suspense-thriller style how the murderer kills his victims and then how he is caught and interrogated.
Most of the film is really basic police routine. The first half of the film shows the killings and the feeble police manhunt to catch the Strangler. These proceedings are led by Henry Fonda and George Kennedy. The director tried to make it more interesting by using a split screen technique – rather like is done in today’s Trial and Retribution. Through the split screens, we see the victims, then the discovery of the bodies of brutally murdered women (well usually just their feet!!)
In 1963, when three bodies are discovered an FBI director (William Marshall) picks State Attorney Joseph Bottomly (Henry Fonda) to be in charge of the case. He will supervise the Boston Police efforts in capturing the serial killer the press has christened The Boston Strangler. During their investigation the police interview every known sexual deviant on their records , there is even a little humour in this section.
It is around half way through the film that we first see Tony Curtis as Albert De Salvo watching the 1963 funeral of President John F. Kennedy with his two young children and wife. This is a 42-year-old Curtis playing a decent hard-working husband and father (but also one who occasionally turns into a brutal sadistic serial killer.) I was really surprised by the solid performance that Curtis gave.It was a performance completely different to what he normally gives. I found that as I am more used to a suave or funny Tony Curtis seeing him in this role gave the character a lot more edge. This film isn’t about suspense—audiences in the 60’s and now knew that the murderer was caught and that Tony Curtis was playing the bad guy. The intensitity in the film is the how and when and the final interrigation. Bottomly finely does catch g his man. It is during the interigation scenes that Curtis really delivers a powerful performance.
Will any of the victims live through their ordeals ? How will the police catch the Strangler? How will De Salvo cope with interigation?
As the film ends, you are told that DeSalvo never stood trial for the murders but was institutionalised and was still alive.
The true facts on DeSalvo are that he was sentenced to life in prison in 1967. The next day he gave himself up and was transferred to the maximum security Walpole State Prison where he was found murdered six years later in the infirmary. He had been stabbed. The killer or killers were never identified .
BOTTOM LINE
The film was rather dated with regards to cars, clothes, attitudes etc but you soon got used to that. I found the film to be strangely gripping despite its odd structure. It's hardly a whodunit, since De Salvo barely appears until the second half, and then it's immediately clear that he is the Strangler. I did enjoy the film, and for a fourty year old film it wasn’t too bad at all. As I said earlier I wouldn’t recommend buying it, but certainly worth hiring.
Boston, 1962. Several elderly women are strangled, apparently by the same unknown assailant. An investigation ensues, but clues lead nowhere. Then the strangler starts to attack younger women. John Bottomly is assigned to direct a more intense investigation, interviewing even the remotest suspects. Meanwhile, the murders continue...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Deluxe Video Service - Fox
Release date
23/04/2007, 18/10/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
0101501009, 01015 DVD
Barcode
5039036020749, 5039036016445
Languages
Main Language
English
Hearing Impaired Language
English
Subtitle Language
Danish, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
Technical information
Special Features
Interactive menu
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo English
Sound
Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Aspect Ratio
2.35 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD Description
Boston, 1962. Several elderly women are strangled, apparently by the same unknown assailant. An investigation ensues, but clues lead nowhere. Then the strangler starts to attack younger women. John Bottomly (Henry Fonda) is assigned to direct a more intense investigation, interviewing even the remotest suspects. Meanwhile, the murders continue. Dianne Cluny (Sally Kellerman) survives an attack but remembers only that she bit her attacker's hand. When Albert DeSalvo (Tony Curtis) is caught breaking into an apartment, his mental capabilities are questioned. He goes to the hospital for observation, and there someone notices a bite mark on his hand... Director Richard Fleischer forgoes his usual flexible but unobtrusive style in THE BOSTON STRANGLER. Shooting in Cinemascope, he makes flamboyant use of the wide screen--splitting it to show multiple images and multiple action as the police pursue leads and hunt for suspects. As a suspect recounts events in a long interrogation sequence, Fleischer imaginatively shows the suspect and his interrogator in flashbacks. With a fine and uncharacteristic performance by Curtis and vivid appearances by Hurd Hatfield and William Hickey, THE BOSTON STRANGLER is a fine addition to Fleischer's series of movies based on real-life murders, following THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING and COMPULSION.
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