The Boston Strangler (1968)

A series of brutal murders in Boston sparks a seemingly endless and increasingly complex manhunt.

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Edward Anhalt (screenplay), Gerold Frank (book)

Stars:

Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, George Kennedy

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Curtis	...	Albert DeSalvo
Henry Fonda	...	John S. Bottomly
George Kennedy	...	Det. Phil DiNatale
Mike Kellin	...	Julian Soshnick
Hurd Hatfield	...	Terence Huntley
Murray Hamilton	...	Det. Frank McAfee
Jeff Corey	...	John Asgeirsson
Sally Kellerman	...	Dianne Cluny
William Marshall	...	Atty. Gen. Edward W. Brooke
George Voskovec	...	Peter Hurkos
Leora Dana	...	Mary Bottomly
Carolyn Conwell	...	Irmgard DeSalvo
Jeanne Cooper	...	Cloe
Austin Willis	...	Dr. Nagy
Lara Lindsay	...	Bobbie Eden

Storyline

Boston is being terrorized by a series of seemingly random murders of women. Based on the true story, the film follows the investigators path through several leads before introducing the Strangler as a character. It is seen almost exclusively from the point of view of the investigators who have very few clues to build a case upon.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | strangler | gay bar | airport | courtroom | 

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Taglines:

Why did 13 women willingly open their doors to the Boston Strangler?

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Frauenmörder von Boston

Filming Locations:

Chandler Street, South End, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lionel Newman's original music consists of one cue ("Peter the Pole") lasting 22 seconds.

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Goofs

In the film it is assumed DeSalvo was guilty, and it portrays him as suffering from multiple personality disorder and committing the murders while in a psychotic state. DeSalvo was never diagnosed with, or even suspected of having that disorder.

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Quotes

Albert DeSalvo: What did you tell the children where I am?
Irmgard De Salvo: They haven't asked.
Albert DeSalvo: What... What do you mean, "they haven't asked"?
Irmgard De Salvo: Well, they're only... they're only little children.
Irmgard De Salvo: I know, but... they accept things.
Albert DeSalvo: But... don't they miss me?

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Crazy Credits

This is the true story of Albert Desalvo, the self-confessed Boston Strangler. The characters and incidents you are about to see are based on fact.

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Connections

Edited into Voskovec & Werich - paralelní osudy (2012)

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Soundtracks

"There Will Never Be Another You"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played when Det. Di Natale gives the informant $20 and goes into the bar

User Reviews

Curtis Should Have Been Nominated

It takes a lot of courage to take on a role as challenging as one of the most brutal serial murderers in United States history. Tony Curtis made you believe that he was Albert DeSalvo and he did it after years of playing the handsome leading man. He took a big chance and it paid off in some of the greatest reviews of his career, but when it came to an Oscar nomination, nothing. Tony Curtis is one of the greats in Hollywood. Too bad when he played the role of a lifetime the Academy forgot him. Also, Henry Fonda deserved a nomination for his role. This was probably one of the most intense roles of his career.

The other thing that made the film great was its innovative use of split screen. You pretty much got the creeps as you saw people living their ordinary lives on one side of the screen, while on the other side you saw the strangler stalking his victim. Also, I think that the director really did a good job by not really showing any of the attacks in progress, at least until the last one. This film truly was a great psychological thriller.