The Boston Strangler

Starring:Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, George Kennedy, Mike Kellin, Hurd Hatfield, Murray Hamilton, Jeff Corey, Sally Kellerman, William Marshall, George Voskovec, Leora Dana, Carolyn Conwell, Jeanne Cooper, Austin Willis, Lara Lindsay, George Furth, Richard X. Slattery, William Hickey, Eve Collyer, Gwyda Donhowe
Director: Richard Fleischer
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The unexpected casting of Tony Curtis as the presumed Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, is only the first of the attractions of this hard-nosed suspense picture. Although the style of The Boston Strangler looks dated today, with its split-screen experiments and post-Bonnie and Clyde permissiveness, the film still has the clean, strong lines of a methodical policier. For the first hour, we don't focus on the Strangler, instead following the Beantown cops (led by Henry Fonda) as they track down leads; the best sequence is the near-accidental connection made between burglary suspect DeSalvo and the killings. Director Richard Fleischer had a forceful hand with true-crime material (Compulsion, 10 Rillington Place) and he takes an unblinking look into the then-taboo subject of sexual pathology. Curtis's physical transformation into a dumpy, dull-eyed brute is the best aspect of his performance; it's a role he lobbied hard for, but it did not lead to more challenging work. --Robert Horton

Description

A schizophrenic plumber is responsible for strangling several boston women, but goes undetected until he is arrested for breaking and entering.

Customer Reviews:

ALMOST LIKE COLD CASE FILES.......2007-05-10

THIS MOVIE WAS INTERESTING.ALL THESE MURDERS ARE HAPPENING,AND THE DETECTIVES ARE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF WHO DID IT AND WHY.IT'S LIKE YOUR TV DETECTIVE SHOWS OF TODAY.I LIKED THIS MOVIE.

Stranglers in the Night----Tony Curtis Shines in this Fiction-Thriller........2007-05-02

(This was the best satirical comedy,i think i've ever seen yet.)Well,Tony was looking for a different type of film ,that would bring out the best he had to offer as an actor.His previous film,'Don't Make Waves',co-starring Sharon Tate,bombed at the box office.This Strangler film was a vastly different genre film,that his fans and public viewers,had difficulty accepting.Eventhough the story-line is based on the false statements of the con-artist Albert DeSalvo,this is an interesting sado-thriller nevertheless.The real DeSalvo's notoriety was waning and his plaguey prison-life was becoming a drag for Albert.He wanted out and wanted to confess his innocence.He had made-up the story of being the Boston Strangler.DeSalvo had wanted instant fame and an entertainment contract.His weak crooning was even recorded on wax,during the his trial phase.He was running a small drug network throughout the prison.In 1973,Albert was stabbed to death under the guise of a hit ordered by a rival dealer,within the prison.When in fact,the hit was ordered from the outside to quiet DeSalvo the Stool-pigeon.It's not unfathomable,to speculate that the arch-killer 'Zodiac' may have been involved in the Boston stranglation deaths.He simply was being amused by the drama surrounding DeSalvo's media cavalcade and false claims. At any rate,this film is an intriguing suspense flick,venerating the versatile qualities of the legendary actor Tony Curtis.

A Masterpiece in the True Crime Genre.......2006-08-10

In a time where direct-to-video movies about serial killers (Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Gacy, Ed Gein, Evilenko, etc. The list goes on) are stocked onto Blockbuster's shelves; It's a movie that was made in 1968, before The Boston Strangler had reached the final chapter of his story, to be a masterpiece of its genre. This movie is easily one of the most accurate, entertaining, and well-acted movie about a serial killer in existence. I don't really know a lot about the case; What I do know is that a man named Albert DeSalvo was caught for attempting to break into a house and was committed to a hospital. He was believed to be The Boston Strangler, but was never tried for the crime. He eventually died in the hospital, at the hands of a fellow inmate. This movie doesn't have every detail of DeSalvo's commitment and demise, but other than that...It's accurate. It also has extremely innovative camera work and a dynamite performance by Tony Curtis (who previously had appeared in comedic films like Some Like It Hot). The movie beings from the cops perspective; Elderly women are suddenly being killed by an unknown assailant, whom they've invited into their homes. We don't actually witness the killings, but the way they're filmed is pretty effective. Eventually a lawyer, named John Bottomly (Henry Fonda), is brought in to head up the team to track down the killer. After a bunch of false leads, they finally catch the killer Albert DeSalvo (Curtis) by chance. The movie doesn't show Albert DeSalvo until much later in the movie and I think it would've been more effective to not show him until he was in the victim's house, rather than at his own. Whatever...It's still good. Tony Curtis did not get an Oscar nomination for this film, which only proves to me further that the Academy Awards don't always pay attention to really good performances (although, I can't say I know who the 5 nominees were for that year). Henry Fonda is also good as Bottomly, but Curtis owns the movie. Since the film begins with the title card "This film is based on actual events, involving murderer Albert DeSalvo" (or something to that effect), it seems unrealistic that the movie could be good. You know where it's leading. But even when the cops follow up the wrong leads (or even when they bring in a swami), it still keeps your attention. The cinematography is, as I mentioned, innovative. Movies like "Hulk" wouldn't look the same if not for this movie. It's not horrifying and it's pretty tame as far as graphic content, but it still can deliver the occasional chill.
GRADE: A-

P.S.,
I mentioned in the beginning that direct-to-video movies about serial killers are being released frequently. While movies about Dahmer, Bundy, Gacy, Chikatilo, Gein, Ramirez, and every other killer you can think of are on the market...It appears that distributors are running out of ideas. There's a recently released Boston Strangler movie available now.

Stylish But Somewhat Superficial.......2006-05-01

Although there had been numerous earlier cases, 20th Century America's fascination with serial killers really began in the early 1960s, when thirteen women were found strangled to death in their Boston homes. As the murders progressed, the city was gripped by fear--and then relieved by the capture of Albert Henry DeSalvo, who confessed to the crimes. DeSalvo was considered too emotionally disturbed to bring to trial for the murders; convicted of a variety of other, more readily provable offenses, he spent the remainder of his life under lock and key and was ultimately stabbed to death by a fellow inmate in 1973.

Even at the time of DeSalvo's capture, many investigators felt that more than one killer was at work, and later reviews of the case have raised doubts about whether DeSalvo killed all, some, or any of the victims. Nonetheless, the public was satisfied, and the 1968 film THE BOSTON STRANGLER, based on the book of the same name by Gerold Frank, reflects this point of view.

As scripted by Edward Anhalt and directed by Richard Fleischer, THE BOSTON STRANGLER falls into two portions. In the first, legal expert John S. Bottomly (Henry Fonda) is ordered to establish a central office to co-ordinate the investigation and soon finds himself working with every one from hardnosed Det. Phil DiNatale (George Kennedy) to celebrated psychic John Asgeirsson (Jeff Corey.) Various leads draw them to a number of "sexual deviates," including homosexual antiques dealer Terrence Huntley (Hurd Hatfield)--but their leads prove futile and frustrating.

At mid-point the film shifts focus to Albert DeSalvo (Tony Curtis in an extremely atypical role), a quite family man who works as a repair man--and who is, unbeknownst to all around, the Boston strangler. The film follows him through a number of attacks, most particularly an attack on Dianne Cluny (Sally Kellerman, in her film debut); when Cluny survives, she provides a tiny bit of evidence, and a later coincidence leads Bottomly and DiNatale to a final solution.

By and large, the performances are remarkably solid. In 1968, Tony Curtis was best known as a romantic leading man most often seen in light comedies. Curtis lobbied hard for the role of DeSalvo, hoping it would change the course of his career, and he offers a memorable performance, particularly in the film's final scenes. Supporting actress Sally Kellerman also gives what may be her single finest performance as pivotal victim and witness Dianne Cluny, and Curtis and Kellerman's scene together is truly harrowing.

Director Richard Fleischer was noted for his love of widescreen effects, and with THE BOSTON STRANGLER he frequently divides the screen into multiple scenes, often rather like overlapping tiles. The effect is very stylish, but I found that a little went a long way, and Fleisher tends to overplay the device; by the time it is at is most artful, near the end of the film, I found it most difficult to appreciate due to its constant and somewhat wearing repetition.

The script by writer Edward Anhalt is also stylish, but it too is significantly flawed in that it never seems to go quite far enough. This is particularly true re DeSalvo; granted the film takes the point of view that DeSalvo was guilty, and granted ideas about psychology have changed considerably since 1968, but all the same I never quite believed the film's internal logic. Although there was room for it, too much was left unexplored, and in the end I felt I knew little more about the personalities involved than I did when I came in.

The DVD print is quite good, but I have seen better (the film has recently received several television broadcasts where I found the print superior.) The bonus package is slight, but it does include a documentary originally created for the AMC Backstory series that is quite good and offers a number of interviews, including one with a somewhat gushing Tony Curtis, who clearly considers this to be the highwater mark of his career in an artistic sense. Generally recommended, but you may not find that it fully lives up to its reputation.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Somewhat dated but still impressive.......2006-03-23

The Boston Strangler has dated somewhat: as with all revolutionary films, what seemed groundbreaking in 1968 seems almost quaint at times today. Yet it's still interesting just how unjudgmental the film is, generally offering a tour of the city's moral underbelly without ever assuming the same prejudices of the detectives failing to deal with the murders. Like the same year's The Detective, also from 20th Century Fox, it's surprisingly level and sympathetic in its treatment of Hurd Hatfield's gay antique dealer who is automatically regarded as a prime suspect in any sex crimes (was it an in-joke that it's a portrait that gets him on the list, I wonder?), just as it resists the temptation to demonize William Hickey's obsessive pervert (lesbians, however, aren't quite so lucky). In many ways, this is a film more about attempting to understand and prevent further killings than a manhunt movie, with the eternally under-rated Richard Fleischer's psychiatric training making him an ideal choice for the material.
The matter of fact procedural nature of the film is at times too low-key to make for compelling drama, but the split-screen sequences are still quite impressive and Tony Curtis' performance is a remarkable piece of work from an actor who now seems all too content to play down to people's low expectations. It's also interesting to note the way that the interrogation scene, with Henry Fonda appearing in Curtis' memories as he works his way inside his head, was so comprehensively ripped off by Spike Lee in Clockers to much less effect.

Alongside a fine 2.35:1 transfer, the disc also boasts some good extras covering both the making of the film and the real murders.

Average customer rating:

Bad Movie...
THE BOSTON STRANGLER (2005) DVD 2 / 5
The Boston Struggler
CAPTIVATING !
Fantastic!

The Boston Strangler
Starring: Boston Strangler
Manufacturer: Anthem Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EBGFPO
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Customer Reviews:

Bad Movie..........2006-08-08

I don't care how much I hate a movie...I finish watching it. There's only two movies that I have stopped watching in the last 2 years. One was "The Phantom of the Opera." It's not that it was a bad movie, I just don't like musicals. The second one, is this film. I made it through twenty minutes before turning this off. What a piece of crap. That's not just because it's completely inaccurate and can't hold a candle to the original. This is just a poorly produced and poorly made film. First off, the dude playing Albert DeSalvo has a foreign accent. Not a Boston accent. Hell, I don't even mind the fact that he doesn't have a Boston accent...But the dude sounds like he's from Prague or something. The cinematography is awful...In the beginning, they list a hefty record (including rape) for DeSalvo. That's not true. Tony Curtis (who played DeSalvo in the original) was perfect; He made the character look like a family man, as well as an insane killer. This guy's crazy from the beginning and admitting to the murders right off the bat. Don't see this movie. See the the other one. This is a waste of time and a complete waste of money. I sat through Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Gacy, Evilenko, and Ed Gein. 4 of those 5 movies were bad. This is the worst. This movie deserves negative stars, OK?

GRADE: -Z

THE BOSTON STRANGLER (2005) DVD 2 / 5.......2006-06-25

Talk about a dull movie. The facts were not all drawn out right nor was the personal information about Albert De Salvo. In summary, boring movie with Albert's mind games about the thirteen women he supposedly killed in the 60's.

The Boston Struggler.......2006-05-03

And I really struggled.

I felt like I was watching a cast of porno stars taking a week off from their usual work to try more 'serious acting' which had a don't-give-up-your-day-job quality about it: unnatural and stilted. I guess the fluffers weren't around. I think a better job could have been done with a bunch of cardboard cut-out figures.

The background music was mostly cheesy synthesized stuff. Okay so they didn't have a big budget. A kazoo might have worked better.

Camera work: they had one technique that they used to death - the slow circular pan. And what was with all those overhead shots of modern day Boston? Oh, maybe we weren't supposed to notice that.

I wondered about the research done on the story. Near the beginning when the goodie-two-shoes dectective gets a grilling on how he's got to get DeSalvo's confession any way he can, he questions why the guy would admit to the killings. The response from one of the tough guys is 'they're all looking for their 15 minutes.' This comes from the famous quote of Andy Warhol which, oddly enough, wasn't uttered until 3 years after the events in the movie take place.

And why, if there was political advantage in getting DeSalvo's confession at any cost, would you send an honest person to get it?

Clipping room floor fodder, this one.

CAPTIVATING !.......2006-03-24

A goood indie film! A very interesting story with new evidence, yet the question still remains the same as who's The Boston Strangler. Great scenes between Mauro Lannini and Jason David, they really pull you in.

Fantastic!.......2006-03-10

This movie is like a good book that you can't wait til the end! The acting, the story-telling, the suspense, and the directing are all superb and I wish there were more movies done this well. It is definately a must-have DVD!

Lawbreakers - Who Was The Real Boston Strangler (History

Average customer rating:

Lawbreakers - Who Was The Real Boston Strangler (History

Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Courtroom Pack (Class Action / Runaway Jury / The Boston Strangler / Star Chamber)

Average customer rating:

Courtroom Pack (Class Action / Runaway Jury / The Boston Strangler / Star Chamber)
Starring: Michael Douglas , Hal Holbrook , Yaphet Kotto , Sharon Gless , and James Sikking
Director: Peter Hyams , Richard Fleischer , and Michael Apted
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Release Date: 2005-11-01

Description

Disc 1: "Runaway Jury" Disc 2: "Class Action" Disc 3: "Star Chamber" Disc 4: "Boston Strangler, The"

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