Helter Skelter |
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Staring:
George DiCenzo, Steve Railsback, Nancy Wolfe, Marilyn Burns, Christina Hart
Director:
Tom Gries
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: $19.98
Our Price: $6.79
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Description
The investigation of two horrific mass murders leads to the capture and trial of the psychotic pseudo-hippie Charles Manson and his "family".
Amazon.com
Based on the bestselling book by Vincent Bugliosi, the two-part TV movie Helter Skelter is a clinical but often chilling recount of the arrest and trial of Charles Manson and his cult for a pair of horrific murders in 1969. Character actor George DiCenzo is a bit dry as prosecutor Bugliosi, who must patch together a series of far-flung clues to incarcerate Manson for the murder spree, which claimed the life of actress Sharon Tate, among others; he and the rest of the capable cast (which includes Marilyn Burns from the '74 Texas Chainsaw Massacre) are completely overshadowed by Steve Railsback's disturbing performance as Manson. Railsback is the main reason to revisit this feature, which shocked many during its network run in 1976, but now seems methodical in its pacing and direction. Warner Bros.'s DVD is the longer 184-minute version of the film, which should please viewers accustomed to the 119-minute rebroadcast cut; otherwise, the disc is disappointingly supplement-free. --Paul Gaita
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Simply amazing, 2010-07-01
It's fascinating to read other viewpoints about this movie, but mostly because everyone seems to notice what I did - Steve Railsback. I've never seen any actor in any role portray a character better than this. Railsback was so good that it's almost surreal. His 'look', his hair, tone of voice, body shape and size, even the eerie shine in his eyes - so close to Charley that when I saw Railsback in various other roles years later I didn't even recognize him. Then, when you read Bugliosi's vastly detailed book, today's version more than 500 pages, then you will be equally surprised at how accurate the film is. TV films are notorious for being underfunded, but in this case the producers were so familiar with Bugliosi's account that it isn't a necessity to read the book. In just 3 hours you get the full story and full impact of a totally bizarre, inexplicable murder case that wasn't closed until 2 years and 2 months after it happened. Top it off with Steve Railsback uncannily portaying Manson and "Helter Skelter" is incontestably the best docudrama ever made.
Manson!, 2010-07-23
Charlie!
What can you say?
A really sick dude!
Interesting "made for TV" film/mini-series.
Was originally on CBS (I think) in two parts, 2 hrs each!
A great book and film!
Steve Railsback is very good as Charlie!
 Book Is Better But Steve Railsback Brilliant as Manson, 2010-01-19
The book upon which this is based is my absolute favorite true crime book. It is huge too. I couldn't put it down and learned every detail of the murders perpetrated by the Manson family in the late 1960s of Sharon Tate and friends plus the La Bianco family. I watched this miniseries too and I enjoyed it. Steve Railsback does the best Charles Manson anyone could ever do. However, it has to omit so much because the book is so huge and the show so short. So I really enjoyed watching Steve Railsback but my heartiest endorsement is still to go read the book. The actor who plays the author, the prosecutor of the case, is dry as dust in televised version whereas in the book he was not that way at all.
Review or Rearview, 2010-03-31
I give HELTER SKELTER a Review gotta have it!
If your into crime watch, this is for you.
True story, eerie, creepy, you'll watch over
and over.
Helter Skelter - Media Myth and the Cult of Spin, 2009-09-06
I give this high marks as far as a time line of events and telling the truth about the bungling of the investgation. But Bugliosi over sold the race war as a way to establish motive and used straights vs. counter culture paranoia as a way to get a quick conviction.
Race wars i.e. the protest and riots had been going on for several years so the idea that a few murders would put whites and blacks more at each other was very slim at best. Second writing off Mason and family as "drug crazed" is silly, lots of people took (take) drugs and very few turn into multiple killers.
Read Susan Atkins - The Myth of `Helter Skelter' at susanatkins (dot) org for some counter spin to the Bugiosi version. It shows Manson to be more of a basic drug dealer than a cult leader and the family as a group of trusting, somewhat stupid, 15-25 year old people that got caught in a vortex of events.
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 9780790789200
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Miniseries, Full Screen, NTSC
ISBN: 0790789205
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2004-04-20
Running Time: 184
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1976-04-01 |
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