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

Dick confidently tells Perry they should bet their 5 dollars and Craps, and let it ride 10 times - for a return of over 5000 dollars. The odds of winning 10 consecutive pass line bets is 1 in 1180.

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Goofs

Many vehicles present in film that were not yet introduced. Vehicles from the 1960s during the events leading to the 1959 crime

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in Annie Hall (1977)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

A Master Piece of Film-Making

I just saw this film again and it's still a masterpiece after almost 40 years.

Robert Blake and Scott Wilson in their greatest on-screen performances as two cold-blooded killers who slaughtered a family of 4 for a mere 40 dollars. Shot in black and white, the film is brutal, disturbing, and raw in it's portrayal of such a violent and senseless act. There are no heroics or wild police chases, just a realistic look at the crime, the capture, and the executions which inspired the award winning novel by Truman Capote, In Cold Blood.

The murders of the family are the most brutal in film-history, yet avoids the blood-bath so common in today's pictures. It's the senselessness of the whole thing that is so disturbing. Outstand performances by the entire cast. In Cold Blood is a masterpiece.