Helter Skelter (1976) (TV)

Director:

Tom Gries

Writers:

Vincent Bugliosi (book) and
Curt Gentry (book) ...

Release Date:

1 April 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

The investigation of two horrific mass murders leads to the capture and trial of the psychotic pseudo-hippie Charles Manson and his "family".

Plot Keywords:

Manson | Murder | Charles Manson | Trial | Cult

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

George DiCenzo	...	Vincent Bugliosi
Steve Railsback	...	Charles Manson
Nancy Wolfe	...	Susan Atkins
Marilyn Burns	...	Linda Kasabian
Christina Hart	...	Patricia Krenwinkel
Cathey Paine	...	Leslie Van Houten
Alan Oppenheimer	...	Aaron Stovitz
Rudy Ramos	...	Danny DeCarlo
Sondra Blake	...	Ronnie Howard
George Garro	...	Rosner
Vic Werber	...	Lt. Brenner
Wright King	...	Friend
Jon Gries	...	William Garretson
Edward Bell	...	Sgt. Hank Kruger
Roy Jenson	...	Punchy

Also Known As:

Massacre in Hollywood (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

119 min | USA:194 min (original version) | USA:184 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lorimar Productions

Trivia:

The film almost was not shown in Los Angeles because network executives were afraid that the film would stir up bad memories, especially since the film came out only seven years after the murders.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the opening scene, Sharon Tate is shown sitting up in bed after hearing shouts from downstairs. This is inaccurate for two reason: (1) The Tate residence was a one-story house; there was no upstairs. (2) Sharon Tate was not asleep when the killers arrived; she was sitting on her bed talking to Jay Sebring.

Quotes:

Housekeeper: MURDER! MURDER! MURDER!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Liar Liar (1997)

Soundtrack:

Garbage Dump

Still Chilling 30 Years Later

I found this to be one of the more interesting made-for-TV films I'ever watched, thanks to the sensationalism of the true-life story and the mesmerizing performances of the lead villain (Steve Railsback) and his followers. Railsback's eyes alone are frighteningly haunting to this viewer, 30 years after first seeing it. By the way, my VHS tape has one f-word in the film, which would never be allowed on TV. What gives with that?

Actually, the most frightening people, as a whole, were the women who did Manson's killing for him. I was creeped out more by Nancy Wolfe's chilling performance of Susan Atkins than I did was by anyone else, including the famous "Charlie."

The film has turned out to be a pretty good piece of American history, the kind of crime history we'd like to forget.