In Cold Blood (1967)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Truman Capote (novel)
Richard Brooks (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 December 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | History

Plot:

After a botched robbery results in the brutal murder of a rural family, two drifters elude police, in the end coming to terms with their own mortality and the repercussions of their vile atrocity.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Execution | Police | Trial | Kansas

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Robert Blake	...	Perry Smith
Scott Wilson	...	Richard 'Dick' Hickock
John Forsythe	...	Alvin Dewey
Paul Stewart	...	Jensen
Gerald S. O'Loughlin	...	Harold Nye
Jeff Corey	...	Mr. Hickock
John Gallaudet	...	Roy Church
James Flavin	...	Clarence Duntz
Charles McGraw	...	Tex Smith
Will Geer	...	Prosecutor
John McLiam	...	Herbert Clutter
Ruth Storey	...	Bonnie Clutter
Brenda Currin	...	Nancy Clutter (as Brenda C. Currin)
Paul Hough	...	Kenyon Clutter
Vaughn Taylor	...	Good Samaritan
Duke Hobbie	...	Young Reporter
Sheldon Allman	...	Rev. Jim Post
Sammy Thurman	...	Flo Smith
Raymond Hatton	...	Elderly Hitchhiker
Sadie Truitt	...	Herself
Myrtle Clare	...	Herself
Ted Eccles	...	Young Hitchhiker (as Teddy Eccles)
Al Christy	...	Sheriff
Don Sollars	...	Luke Sharpe
Harriet Levitt	...	Mrs. Hartman
Rhonda Fultz	...	Nancy's Friend (as Ronda Fultz)
Mary Linda Rapelye	...	Susan Kidwell (as Mary-Linda Rapelye)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Collins	...	Judge Roland Tate (uncredited)
Pamela Crosley	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Nick Dimitri	...	Las Vegas Cop (uncredited)
John C. Flinn III	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Paul Frees	...	Radio announcer / officer asking for rap sheet (voice) (uncredited)
Bobby Johnson	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)
Richard Kelton	...	Nancy's Boyfriend (uncredited)
James Lantz	...	Officer Rohleder (uncredited)
Stan Levitt	...	Insurance Man (uncredited)
Gerry Okuneff	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Bowman Upchurch	...	Andy (uncredited)
Guy Way	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)
Darlene Williams	...	Little Girl on Bus (uncredited)
Odd Williams	...	Defense Attorney (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Brooks

Writing credits
Truman Capote		(novel)
Richard Brooks		(screenplay)

Produced by
Richard Brooks	....	producer

Original Music by
Quincy Jones

Cinematography by
Conrad L. Hall		(as Conrad Hall)

Film Editing by
Peter Zinner

Art Direction by
Robert F. Boyle		(as Robert Boyle)

Set Decoration by
Jack H. Ahern		(as Jack Ahern)

Makeup Department
Gary Morris	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Shaw	....	assistant director

Art Department
Robert Eaton	....	property master (as Bob Eaton)
Joe LaBella	....	property master

Sound Department
John H. Newman	....	sound effects
Arthur Piantadosi	....	sound (as A. Piantadosi)
William M. Randall Jr.	....	sound (as Wm. Randall Jr.)
Charles J. Rice	....	sound effects
Dick Tyler Sr.	....	sound (as Dick Tyler)

Special Effects by
Chuck Gaspar	....	special effects

Stunts
Lee Faulkner	....	stunt double
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Harry Sundby	....	chief electrician
Bernie Abramson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Jordan Cronenweth	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Michael A. Jones	....	best boy (uncredited)
Michael A. Jones	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jack Martell	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Earle Herdan	....	assistant editor (as Earl Herdan)

Music Department
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
Leo Shuken	....	orchestrator

Other crew
John Franco	....	script supervisor
Al Horwits	....	public relations
Joseph Satten	....	technical advisor (as Dr. Joseph Satten)
Alvin Dewey	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
James Post	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)

Thanks
Joseph Satten	....	acknowledgment (as Dr. Joseph Satten)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Pax Enterprises

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1967) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1968) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia Home Video (video)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• Division of Law and Psychiatry, The Menninger Foundation  technical assistance
• Kaiser Jeep Corporation  transportation
• Pacific Title  optical effects
• Pontiac Motor Division  transportation (as Pontiac Motor Division, G.M.C.)
• Technicolor  prints by
• Time  courtesy of

Also Known As:

Truman Capote's In Cold Blood (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

134 min | Poland:129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (release prints) | 3 Channel Stereo (original mix)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | France:-16 | West Germany:16 (re-rating) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | UK:15 | UK:X (original rating) | South Korea:15 (2006) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (Suggested for Mature Audiences) (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating) (1970)

Filming Locations:

Colorado, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Final film of Raymond Hatton.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Perry Smith is sent through the gallows trap at the end of the film, it is apparent that the rope is connected to the stand-in mannequin's middle back, rather than around its neck.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Little girl on bus: 'Scuse me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Radar Secret Service (#6.20)" (1993)

Gripping

I happened to be sitting in a lovely hotel room at a wonderful resort in the Ozarks, ready to go out on the boat after golfing 18 holes in fine weather, when I made the mistake of turning on the TV. One of the cable channels was screening "In Cold Blood." I watched the opening sequence. Despite the beautiful weather, and the girlfriend nagging at me to get up off the couch and go outside, I knew I wouldn't leave the room until the movie was over. I can't add much to the fine reviews by others, particularly the review by the gentleman from London, except to add that the dialogue in the movie is marvelous. The writer and director caught the laconic, spare speech of the Midwest. The questions and answers between the characters are perfect. (Paul Stewart, the reporter: "Don't the people in this town lock their doors?" John Forsythe, the detective: "They will tonight.") And the way Perry and Dick look at each other menacingly in critical situations gives one the chills. (Dick: "Don't worry baby; we left no living witnesses." Perry, staring at Dick: "I know one.") Of all the great performances in the film, my favorite is John Forsythe as the KBI detective who grows weary from contemplating the evil minds behind the murders of his Kansas neighbors, the Clutters. A close second among the great performances is Scott Wilson, who makes Dick a charming loser going nowhere in life, unable and unwilling to civilize himself to live in society.

Certainly this is one of the ten best movies ever made, and the best of all the "True Crime" movies. (The made-for-TV remake was a horrible, lame joke.) I just hope when it comes on again it's a miserable day outside so I don't miss out on the boating! Ed in St. Louis