Watch The Boston Strangler For Free
The Boston Strangler
Boston is being terrorized by a series of seemingly random murders of women. Based on the true story, the film follows the investigators path through several leads before introducing the Strangler as a character. It is seen almost exclusively from the point of view of the investigators who have very few clues to build a case upon.
Release : | 1968 |
Rating : | 7.1 |
Studio : | 20th Century Fox, |
Crew : | Art Direction, Art Direction, |
Cast : | Tony Curtis Henry Fonda George Kennedy Mike Kellin Hurd Hatfield |
Genre : | Drama Thriller Crime |
Watch Trailer
Cast List
Related Movies
Reviews
Too much of everything
That was an excellent one.
Good concept, poorly executed.
Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.
A strikingly shot, often with a split screen, criticised by some, but I feel it was used when it enhanced the storyline, which is also structured beautifully. Several fine performances ( George Kennedy and Henry Fonda- reliable as ever) , two excellent cameos from William Hickey and Sally Kellerman and complex, subtle one from Tony Curtis. Also, a couple of observations on contemporary life( being gay and the Vietnam War). A plea at the end of the film for more early funding for psychiatric help for people is worthy but doesn't answer the question how you identify an often hidden condition.
I've seen this one twice before and thought it to be a really good film. Since then, I've gotten more familiar with the actual case of The Boston Strangler, and it is has become clear that the case will most likely never be completely solved. The fact that Albert DeSalvo was indeed found guilty of one rape and murder and the 'Green Man' rapes, still does not justify all of the assumptions that this film makes, particularly the one about DeSalvo supposedly suffering from DID (formerly known as MPD)...If you are willing to look past these glaring 'errors', you might find an artfully directed anthology of murder scenes and investigations, full of split-screens and haunting decors of a grim early '60s Boston; pretty good, but it hardly becomes a gripping story until the last part (when Bottomly and DeSalvo go 'head to head'). Then there is the acting of Tony Curtis, who is not seen until after 57 minutes into the film. I found his acting to be switching back and forth between very good, adequate and, at a few times (especially when he re-enacts the alleged first murder), totally unconvincing.All highs and lows considered, I'm still coming up with a very decent rating; 7 out of 10.
Despite being a one of a kind thriller, there are plenty of flaws that hold back Fleischer's 1968 film about the infamous Boston Strangler. Interesting filming concept, but lends itself to too many continuity errors and audio difficulties. Structurally very unconventional that simply doesn't work--there are fundamentals for a reason. Seems like two different films going on at once, and both lead characters are introduced so late that they have to rush to the audience's emotions. For the first half-hour, we're not even sure who we're rooting for. The film brings attention to social commentary that's applicable even today, but the fact that a lot of what's portrayed in the film didn't actually happen kind of contradicts its own statement. Entertaining, but drags on way too long with terribly dated and redundant interrogation scenes.**½ (out of four)
Excellent recount of the mass Boston murderer Albert De Salvo. Ironically, Tony Curtis, who appears in the main lead, does not come into the film until the first hour is over. When he does come in, he gave an absolutely mesmerizing performance that should have at least received an Oscar nomination.The first part of the film really deals with how off the police were in their assumptions of who the killer was. We see a variety of perverts questioned. They go by the board as the killings go on and on.Henry Fonda plays the criminologist who was able to break into Curtis's mind and finally get him to recognize what he had done.There is a fine supporting cast headed by "cops" George Kennedy and Murray Hamilton (Mr. Robinson in "The Graduate," the year before.) Look for William Hickey in an off-the-wall one scene steal grabber as a perverted for seminary student hauled in for questioning.In a way, the film reminded me of the great Rod Steiger hit "No Way To Treat A Lady"