Manson (1973)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Directors:

Robert Hendrickson
Laurence Merrick

Writers:

Joan Huntington (writer)
Laurence Merrick (writer)

Release Date:

January 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | Crime

Tagline:

Meet ONE MAN'S FAMILY REVEALED FOR THE FIRST TIME outside the courtroom - the staggering details of the most hideously bizarre murders in the annals of crime SURPRESSED UNTIL NOW and NOT PERMITTED on TV, Radio or Family Newspapers!

Plot:

Documentary on Charles Manson and his family. Has a number of insightful interviews with many family...

Plot Keywords:

Manson | Murder | Charles Manson | Cult | Commune

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Mary Brunner	...	Herself
Vincent Bugliosi	...	Himself
Bruce Davis	...	Himself
Lynette Fromme	...	Herself
Sandra Good	...	Herself
Steve Grogan	...	Himself
Ronnie Howard	...	Herself
Charles Manson	...	Himself
Jess Pearson	...	Narrator (voice)
Phil Phillips	...	Himself
Nancy Pitman	...	Herself
Brooks Poston	...	Himself
Catherine Share	...	Herself
George Spahn	...	Himself
Paul Watkins	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Manson and Squeaky Fromme (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | USA:R | Norway:(Banned) (1975-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Company:

Merrick International

Trivia:

Brooks Poston and Paul Watkins, who provided the musical score for the film, were both former members of the "Manson Family".

Quotes:

Ronnie Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, because I, Ronnie Howard, broke the Tate and LaBianca case and prevented no telling how many more murders, I've been shot at, assaulted, harrassed, beaten, threatened, and it's very likely and very possible, that by the time you see this picture, that I may be dead.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Twisted Sex Vol. 12 (1996) (V)

Soundtrack:

Moments

Well-shot period documentary with extensive footage of Manson and his "Family"

This is one of the best documentaries made on Manson and his cult "Family". There is extensive footage of the most important cult members talking about "the Family" and life with Charlie. In addition, the film includes fascinating footage that the family members apparently took of themselves as they lived communally on the Spahn ranch. The most chilling sections involve 3 young women (Lynette Fromme,Sandra Good, Mary Bruner) who explain their views of Charlie and the Tate/La Bianca murders while each one cradles a rifle and passes a snake between them. This film also has very creative cinematography making extensive use of three-panel screens and bold primary colors saturating the frames. Since the documentary Woodstock was shot in 1970, this film seems to have been influenced by it in the use of quick cutting and the tri-panel screens. As part of the sound track there are many "trippy" folk songs (good .wav material) sung by two ex-Manson family members -Brooks Poston and Paul Watkins. While some of the narration by Pearson and Bugliosi is creaky and dated, the bulk of the documentary, especially the extensive interviews, is disturbing and fascinating at the same time. A very good film.