H.H. Holmes - America's First Serial Killer

Starring:Tony Jay, Harold Schechter, Thomas Cronin, Marian Caporusso, Ed Bertagnoli, Cary Callison, Willy Laszlo, Rachelle Villarreal, Audrey Welling, Beka, Tom Ciappa, Sarah Mills, H.H. Holmes
Director: John Borowski
Studio: Facets Video
Product Type: DVD

Description

Erik Larson's bestselling book The Devil in the White City introduced America to one of the most horrific but little-known episodes in our nation's criminal history. When the shocking exploits of the mysterious Dr. H. H. Holmes became known, U.S. tabloids dubbed him the American Jack the Ripper. H.H. HOLMES: AMERICA'S FIRST SERIAL KILLER is the first film to tell the entire true story of this grisly episode. H.H. HOLMES: AMERICA'S FIRST SERIAL KILLER focuses on Holmes' entire life of crime and villainy, from childhood to his death sentence and ultimate execution. Original photographs and newspaper reports of the period create a chilling authenticity, while actor Tony Jay (Time Bandits, Disney's Beauty and the Beast) provides spooky, insightful narration to enliven the proceedings.

Customer Reviews:

I wish it was 2 hrs.......2007-05-17

This was full of information. I rented this after having read The Devil In the White City and was hungry for more details about H.H. Holmes and this DVD did fill me in. However, it is almost impossible to adequately do so in such a short amount of time.

More details about finding the Pitezel girls in Canada, the condition of the bodies, etc. since they didn't explain it like they did in one of the books I read which made me despise him even more that he could do that.

I know this is probably ridiculous to ask but a computer generated image of what the castle looked like from the inside to get a better idea of the horrors within.

I know I am sounding like a ghoul, but it is such a unique case. In any event, it was nicely done and worth watching again and again.

Holmes is an intersting character but not the 1st American serial killer.......2007-04-20

That the title states that H.H, Holmes is America's first serial killer indicates the lack of research the film crew did. I have read the H.H. Holmes book and am very familiar with his case. His level of deception and ability to move so fluidly and avoid the law is impressive. His torture chamber is also impressive. He is a Victorian Ted Bundy/Henry Lucas and Charlie Ng to various degrees. His success was based on a common thread to most serial killers- they feast on social upheaval and the subsequent displaced. The rocking 1960's/The Anarchist 70's or the movement of Americans from rural to urban at the turn of the century links all of these killers. Forgotten in the rush to "firstdom" is the Bender family of Cherryvale KS from 1871-1873. The Benders (Mother, Father, son and lovely daughter the spiritualist Kate) lured eleven men to their deaths for primarily economic gain although more ghastly deeds have been ascribed to them). They ran a modest boarding house to supply the western expansion in the post-civil war era. The Benders may not be the first in American history but they predate HH by more than a quarter century. They are unique even by modern standards for the fact that a seemingly cohesive family unit fully participated for an extended period of time. Shades of Sawney Bean in the Flint Hills. They were never caught as the son and Kate went to the Mexican border and Mr./Mrs Bender fled to St. Louis via Kansas City. Additionally the state of Kansas has erected a historical marker directing tourists to the Bender's infamy. I guess if Colorado can have their Donner Party and Missouri can eulogize Jesse James then Kansas can go on their Bender frenzy.

An engrossing docu-film!.......2006-08-04

Being a bit of a "true crime buff," it's always nice to see a well-constructed documentary about the life of a serial killer. Although it's impossible to reveal every little detail in a 60 minute film, writer/director John Borowski jam packs this one with tons of thoroughly-researched information.
Wonderfully narrated by Tony Jay and featuring actual photographs, newspaper articles from the time, and re-enactment footage, this docu-film really gives you a sense of the late 1800's (when these crimes took place).
The story unfolds in an engrossing fashion and keeps you intrigued for the entire 64 minutes.
I found it fascinating to learn that there were many similarities in this case to those of more modern serial killers. Sure you've heard of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, but have you heard of HH Holmes? Maybe not. But Holmes was first and it's great to see Borowski pull Holmes' story from out of the basement and reshare it with the world.
This is a well-made documentary film and a must-see for true crime buffs!

Creepy, thrilling, and frightening!.......2006-07-29

I watched this last night. For a new documentary filmmaker, John Borowski, is somebody to watch out for. This coumentary reminds you of old black and white thriller films but with great narration and commentary by Harold Schechter who wrote depraved about Dr. H. Holmes born Herman Mudgett. The criminal profiler reminds me of a blonde Chris Parnell and the forensics person is quite vague but explains the lack of forensics science during that time. Dr. H. Holmes was a frightening man who killed, slaughtered, dismembered humans and sold their skeletons for profit. He was truly a genius at manipulating poor men like Benjamin Pitezel and his family who were his greatest casualties. He was the first serial killer to become so notorious by the end of one century on par with England's Jack the Ripper.

Passable but lets its fascinating subject down.......2006-03-29

I read, with great enthusiasm, the book THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, and afterwards stumbled across the existence of this DVD documentary about H.H. Holmes. I eagerly rented it, hoping for more tidbits about Holmes.

If you aren't familiar with the story, the main thing to know is that this Holmes character was first a great con artist who constructed, in 1890's Chicago, a huge three story building housing businesses on the first floor, rental rooms on the third, and apparently a maze of "killing rooms" and "torture rooms" on the 2nd floor, where he may have killed 50-100 people, mostly visitors to the Chicago World's Fair. This documentary serves a rudimentary introduction to this story...but the book gives far better details.

The documentary has some advantages...mostly the photos: we see photos of Holmes and some of his assciates and victims. We see some of the locations where key events took place.

But the disadvantages are pretty huge: there are lots of cheesy shots of a very poor theatrical set serving as a hallway in the "murder castle." Various actors wander around it looking confused or scared, while underneath the voice of the narrator tells us more about Holmes. THere are also very tedious shots of a map of the US with a superimposed stock video of a steam locomotive...indicating that Holmes was traveling. I certainly understand that there isn't a lot of archival footage from 1893, but these poorly conceived substitutes give the whole thing a cheesy feeling and are sometimes laughable. Also, the documentary does have some commentary from "experts" who include a couple of odd-fellows, one of whom wrote a book called "Depravity" about Holmes and others. He is clearly a guy who has no problem stating his opinions about Holmes as fact, and this video in turn lets us take them as fact. But worst of all, the video also takes some of Holmes' own writings about his childhood as fact...these tidbits are drawn for the autobiography Holmes wrote while in prison...trying to win public sympathy. He was a proven liar of the first order, and yet the film takes his descriptions as fact, offering no supporting information. This is dangerous.

I can only recommend the video to someone who is intriqued by Holmes and wants a sketchy idea of who he was in one hour flat. But for a worthwhile study of this man and the times that made his deeds possible...start with THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY...which also beautifully educates about the Chicago World's Fair, one of this country's most amazing accomplishments.

If the subject matter of H.H. Holmes weren't so interesting in and of itself, this video would only rate 2 stars at best.

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