In Cold Blood (1996) (TV)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Jonathan Kaplan

Writers (WGA):

Truman Capote (book)
Benedict Fitzgerald (teleplay)

Release Date:

24 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

At the end of the 1950s, in a more innocent America, the brutal, meaningless slaying of a Midwestern family horrified the nation...

Plot Keywords:

Kansas | Murder | Family Relationships | Execution | Mother Daughter Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Anthony Edwards	...	Dick Hickock
Eric Roberts	...	Perry Smith
Sam Neill	...	Agent Alvin Dewey
Kevin Tighe	...	Herbert Clutter
Gillian Barber	...	Bonnie Clutter
Margot Finley	...	Nancy Clutter
Robbie Bowen	...	Kenyon Clutter
Bethel Leslie	...	Bess Hartmann
Gwen Verdon	...	Sadie Truitt
Leo Rossi	...	Agent Harold Nye
Troy Evans	...	Carl Duntz
Don S. Davis	...	Roy Church (as Don Davis)
L.Q. Jones	...	Tex Smith
Louise Latham	...	Eunice Hickock
Campbell Lane	...	Walter Hickock

Runtime:

240 min (including commercials) | Canada:178 min (2 parts)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

CL Ranch - 45001 Township Road, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Pacific Motion Pictures Corporation

Movie Connections:

Version of In Cold Blood (1967)

Soundtrack:

Race of Men

Good... Could've been great though

After reading the book, I happened across this DVD at Wal-Mart for 3 bucks and thought, sure, what the hell... I got the DVD and watched it last night. When I started watching it, I checked the run time and it was about 90 minutes. I thought, OK cool... It seemed to run rather slowly, knowing the story and how much of it there was. By the time I got to the actual killings, I was like, "how much time does this have left?" Checked. "One minute?! What the hell?!" I felt incredibly cheated, thinking that the movie only progressed through a third of the overall story.

But then, I happily noticed that the DVD's scene selection menu included a part 1 AND a part 2. I still had another hour and a half to go! I then sat very happily and enjoyed the second half of the movie, even more so than the first.

I admit that I have not seen the 1967 original film (despite my sincerest desire to), I have however read the novel and felt that this was a fairly descent film, for a two-part TV miniseries, that is. I think the casting of the role of Perry was completely wrong and a few minor inconsistencies jumped out at me, but still very well done. The first half drags on a bit, while the second half is much more gripping. I think they should have proportioned the movie more like Capote did his book: 1/3 before the murders, 1/3 after, and 1/3 after the killers are arrested. Instead, the film makes it more 1/2 before the murders, 1/4 after, and 1/4 after the killers are arrested. Again, this makes the second half more exciting, but at the same time, less compelling while making the first half drag on and on...

Now I look back and realize I have just made the same mistake about making things drag on and on, so I will shut the hell up. Go watch the movie and make up your own damn mind!

Nick Houston