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 5 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

murder | police | execution | kansas | robbery | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | History

---

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

The "Jenson"/"Narrator" characters are based on the author himself, Truman Capote. Capote went to Kansas soon after the murders to cover the manhunt and to interview those who knew the Clutter family. After the apprehension and conviction of killers Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, Capote became a major part of the killers' lives while they were on death row, forming a particularly close bond with Smith. Smith gave most of his belongings - drawings, books - to Capote. Capote was present at the executions and witnessed the carrying-out of Hickock's sentence, but couldn't bear to watch Smith die, and left the room before he was brought in.

---

Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, after Dick has picked Perry up from the Kansas City bus depot and both are crossing the river into Kansas, the process is running in reverse, giving the impression the car is suddenly moving in reverse despite the two immediate shots bookending this one clearly shows the car moving forward.

---

Quotes

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

---

Connections

Version of In Cold Blood (1996)

---

Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

The Perfect Film...?

I've seen a great many films, but 'In Cold Blood' stands alone in a class by itself. It excels in every department. The fact that it contained few big stars helps push it over the top as you pay closer attention to the characters and their story, rather than the name on the marquee. Blake and Wilson turn in stellar performances of the killer duo. The fact that much of the films is filmed in the actual locations where the crime took place, even inside the very house, add additional chills. The black/white photography darkens the mood and the photography is magnificent. There are many outstanding cinematic works out there, but if I could only vote for one to top the list, it would most probably be "In Cold Blood".