The Honeymoon Killers (1969)

Director:

Leonard Kastle
(more)

Writer:

Leonard Kastle (writer)

Release Date:

4 February 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

(A True Story)

Plot:

Based on the true story of Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck, who met through a lonely-hearts correspondence club...

Plot Keywords:

Lonely Hearts | Murder | Correspondence Club | Doomed Romance | Drugging

Cast

Shirley Stoler	...	Martha Beck
Tony Lo Bianco	...	Raymond Fernandez
Mary Jane Higby	...	Janet Fay
Doris Roberts	...	Bunny
Kip McArdle	...	Delphine Downing
Marilyn Chris	...	Myrtle Young
Dortha Duckworth	...	Mrs. Beck
Barbara Cason	...	Evelyn Long
Ann Harris	...	Doris
Mary Breen	...	Rainelle Downing
Elsa Raven	...	Matron
Mary Engel	...	Lucy
Guy Sorel	...	Mr. Dranoff
Michael Haley	...	Jackson (as Mike Haley)
Diane Asselin	...	Severns
William Adams	...	Justice of the Peace (as Col. William Adams)
Eleanor Adams	...	Mrs. Hand

Directed by
Leonard Kastle
Donald Volkman		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Leonard Kastle		writer

Produced by
Paul Asselin	....	associate producer
Warren Steibel	....	producer

Original Music by
Gustav Mahler

Cinematography by
Oliver Wood		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Richard Brophy
Stanley Warnow		(as Stan Warnow)

Production Management
Michael Haley	....	production manager

Sound Department
Tom Dillinger	....	sound mixer
Fred Kamiel	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Berger	....	assistant camera
Mike Grover	....	lighting assistant
Richard Tenneson	....	lighting assistant
Spencer Trova	....	assistant camera
Bobby Vercruse	....	head gaffer (as Robert Veracruse)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Martha Fogg	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Tikki Goldberg	....	assistant editor
Janet Lauretano	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Diane Asselin	....	script girl
John Haley	....	production assistant
Warren Steibel	....	presenter
Paul Sweeney	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Roxanne

Distributors

• Cinerama Releasing Corporation (1970) (USA) (theatrical)
• International Film Distributors (1970) (Canada) (theatrical)
• American International Pictures (AIP) (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• DV1 (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Media Cooperation One (MC-One) (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Palace Video (1982) (UK) (VHS)
• Palace Video (1982) (UK) (video) (Betamax)
• Vestron Video (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Dear Martha (USA) (working title)
The Lonely Hearts Killers

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (original rating) (uncut) | Finland:K-18 (re-rating) (cut) | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2005) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Australia:M (re-rating) (2004) | France:-16 | Norway:16 (1971) | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Company:

Roxanne

Trivia:

Originally to be directed by Martin Scorsese, but he was replaced after a week of shooting due to creative differences by Donald Volkman who was subsequently replaced by Leonard Kastle. Scorsese was fired because he was filming every scene in master shots and not shooting close-ups or other coverage, making the film impossible to edit. According to Kastle's interview with the Criterion collection, the ultimate moment that caused Scorsese's firing was trying to get close-up on a coffee-cup lit perfectly for the intended tone.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A copy of the album "Whipped Cream & Other Delights" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass is clearly visible in Martha's apartment. The album was released in 1965, while the movie takes place prior to 1951, according to the message at the end.

Quotes:

Martha Beck: Mama, I'm not your little girl!

Movie Connections:

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

Soundtrack:

Symphonies Nos. 5, 6 & 9

Awesome docudrama still packs a punch today

THE HONEYMOON KILLERS is a cult film, to be sure. One of those forgotten gems just begging for higher recognition (like SPIDER BABY and DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT!), the film is a realistic portrayal of the true-life murderers who preyed on Lonelyhearts column readers.

Shirley Stoler and Tony LoBianco play the two lovers, Martha and Raymond, who meet through a Lonelyhearts column. When Martha discovers that Raymond is a gigolo who planned on using her for her money, she ditches her job as a nurse, plants her mother in a rest home, and takes off to live with him, becoming his partner in crime. The two genuinely love each other, much like a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde...except Clyde has a heavy Latino accent and Bonnie weighs upwards of 200 pounds! The couple, using aliases, pose as brother and sister as Raymond marries women and Martha steals their valuables. Eventually, Martha's jealousy over Raymond's many women drives her to murder most foul.

Many have compared THE HONEYMOON KILLERS to HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER and BONNIE AND CLYDE. I can safely say that it beats BONNIE AND CLYDE into the ground and gives HENRY a run for its money. Shirley Stoler is absolutely fantastic and deserved much more fame and many more roles than she received. Tony LoBianco is pretty good, too, but is less memorable. In HONEYMOON KILLERS, Martha is in charge of the situation. She is the one who commits the murders, she is the one who bosses Raymond around, she is the one who controls Raymond's choices, and she is eventually the one who gets sentenced to death with her man.

Filmed in lush black and white on grainy film stock and featuring a classical music/public domain soundtrack, THE HONEYMOON KILLERS really does pack a punch today with its cheap documentary-like feel. It would make a perfect double bill with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! Though a little slow to begin with, HONEYMOON KILLERS eventually leaves its soap opera beginnings and delves into the deep, dark side of human nature. It is fascinating to view Martha at the start of the film and witness her drastic change to homicidal maniac. Absolutely essential viewing for any film fan!