In Cold Blood (1967)

After a botched robbery results in the brutal murder of a rural family, two drifters elude police, in the end coming to terms with their own mortality and the repercussions of their vile atrocity.

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Truman Capote (based on the book by), Richard Brooks (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Blake	...	Perry
Scott Wilson	...	Dick
John Forsythe	...	Alvin Dewey
Paul Stewart	...	Jensen
Gerald S. O'Loughlin	...	Harold Nye
Jeff Corey	...	Mr. Hickock
John Gallaudet	...	Roy Church
James Flavin	...	Clarence Duntz
Charles McGraw	...	Tex Smith
Will Geer	...	Prosecutor
John McLiam	...	Herbert Clutter
Ruth Storey	...	Bonnie Clutter
Brenda Currin	...	Nancy Clutter (as Brenda C. Currin)
Paul Hough	...	Kenyon Clutter
Vaughn Taylor	...	Good Samaritan

Storyline

Two young men are ineffectual individually, but when together become violent criminals. They break into a wealthy farmer's home only to find that there is nearly no money at the home and murder the entire family to avoid identification. The first part of the film details the search for them, the second, their trial and execution. Taken from the actual events chronicled by Truman Capote in his book.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | police | execution | kansas | robbery | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 1968 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

Filming Locations:

Colorado, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Pax Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (release prints) 3 Channel Stereo (original mix)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In two scenes Robert Blake's character makes a reference to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Blake played the paperboy who sold the winning lottery ticket to Humphrey Bogart in that classic movie. However, despite the fact that many people believe it was written into the script because of Blake it wasn't. According to Truman Capote it was Perry Smith's favorite movie.

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Goofs

When Dick and Perry are driving through Las Vegas they pass a billboard for a casino that has Chita Rivera headlining, a highly-unlikely thing in the late 1950s, but very plausible in 1967.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Little girl on bus: 'Scuse me.

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Connections

Referenced in The Fisher King (1991)

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Soundtracks

"Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Performed a cappella by Robert Blake and Ted Eccles

User Reviews

Gripping

I happened to be sitting in a lovely hotel room at a wonderful resort in the Ozarks, ready to go out on the boat after golfing 18 holes in fine weather, when I made the mistake of turning on the TV. One of the cable channels was screening "In Cold Blood." I watched the opening sequence. Despite the beautiful weather, and the girlfriend nagging at me to get up off the couch and go outside, I knew I wouldn't leave the room until the movie was over. I can't add much to the fine reviews by others, particularly the review by the gentleman from London, except to add that the dialogue in the movie is marvelous. The writer and director caught the laconic, spare speech of the Midwest. The questions and answers between the characters are perfect. (Paul Stewart, the reporter: "Don't the people in this town lock their doors?" John Forsythe, the detective: "They will tonight.") And the way Perry and Dick look at each other menacingly in critical situations gives one the chills. (Dick: "Don't worry baby; we left no living witnesses." Perry, staring at Dick: "I know one.") Of all the great performances in the film, my favorite is John Forsythe as the KBI detective who grows weary from contemplating the evil minds behind the murders of his Kansas neighbors, the Clutters. A close second among the great performances is Scott Wilson, who makes Dick a charming loser going nowhere in life, unable and unwilling to civilize himself to live in society.

Certainly this is one of the ten best movies ever made, and the best of all the "True Crime" movies. (The made-for-TV remake was a horrible, lame joke.) I just hope when it comes on again it's a miserable day outside so I don't miss out on the boating! Ed in St. Louis