Helter Skelter (1976) (TV)

Director:

Tom Gries

Writers:

Vincent Bugliosi (based on the book by) and
Curt Gentry (based on the book by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 April 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | History | Horror | Thriller

Plot:

The investigation of two horrific mass murders leads to the capture and trial of the psychotic pseudo-hippie Charles Manson and his "family".

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Manson | Charles Manson | Trial | Cult

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

George DiCenzo	...	Vincent Bugliosi
Steve Railsback	...	Charles Manson
Nancy Wolfe	...	Susan Atkins
Marilyn Burns	...	Linda Kasabian
Christina Hart	...	Patricia Krenwinkel
Cathey Paine	...	Leslie Van Houten
Alan Oppenheimer	...	Aaron Stovitz
Rudy Ramos	...	Danny DeCarlo
Sondra Blake	...	Ronnie Howard
George Garro	...	Rosner
Vic Werber	...	Lt. Brenner
Wright King	...	Friend
Jon Gries	...	William Garretson
Edward Bell	...	Sgt. Hank Kruger
Roy Jenson	...	Punchy
Marc Alaimo	...	Phil Cohen
Paul Mantee	...	Sgt. O'Neal
Bill Durkin	...	Tex Watson
Phillip R. Allen	...	Sgt. Manuel Gris
David Clennon	...	Harry Jones
James Brodhead	...	Mr. Quint
Ray Middleton	...	Mr. Spahn
Anthony Herrera	...	Sgt. Smith
Al Checco	...	Leno La Bianca
Robert F. Hoy	...	Sgt. Franklin (as Robert Hoy)
Stanley Ralph Ross	...	Sgt. Ross
Bart Burns	...	Frank Fowles
Jerry Dunphy	...	Newscaster
George Putnam	...	Newscaster
Barbara Mallory	...	Family Girl
Kathleen Devlin	...	Family Girl
Asta Hansen	...	Family Girl
Mary Jo Thatcher	...	Family Girl
Deborah Parsons	...	Family Girl
Tracy Tracton	...	Family Girl
Melody Hinkle	...	Family Girl
Eileen Dietz	...	Family Girl (as Eileen Dietz Elber)
Deanne Gwinn	...	Family Girl
Patricia Post	...	Family Girl
Leila Davis	...	Family Girl
Lindsay V. Jones	...	Family Girl
Sondra Lowell	...	Family Girl
Linden Chiles	...	J. Miller Leavy
Katherine Pass	...	Sgt. Broom (as Mary Kay Pass)
Laura Ash	...	Virginia
Carole Ita White	...	Big Sal (as Carol Ita White)
Martha Evans	...	Nurse
Dorothy Meyer	...	Housekeeper
Norman Bartolo	...	Bald Man
Tracy Morgan	...	Henna Woman
Raphael Baker	...	Sgt. Brown
Bert Williams	...	Deputy
Ralph Montgomery	...	Grand Jury Foreman
Richard Venture	...	Police Inspector
Doug McGrath	...	Plainclothesman (as Douglas McGrath)
Louise Caire Clark	...	Susan Struthers
Bert Conway	...	Judge Keene
Larry Pennell	...	Sgt. White
Johnny Fain	...	Shorty Shea (as John Fain)
Toni Moss	...	Rosemary La Bianca
Jim Boles	...	Camarinos
Paul Kent	...	Dennis Ranson
Robert Rothwell	...	TV Reporter
Jack Miller	...	Joe Dorgan
Alan Dexter	...	Dog Owner
Will Brodhead	...	Steve Quint
Josh Albee	...	Struthers
John Evans	...	Sanderson
Ronald Gold	...	Cinquanta
Sidney Clute	...	Reporter
Steve Gries	...	Steve "Clem" Grogan
Blair Aaronson	...	Sayce
Bruce French	...	Officer Ocher
Fay Martin	...	Le Page (as Foy Martin)
Phil Montgomery	...	Reporter
Howard Caine	...	Everett Scoville
Jason Ronard	...	Paul Watkins
Skip Homeier	...	Judge Older
Adam Williams	...	Terrence Milik
Jonathan Goldsmith	...	Hank Charter (as Jonathan Lippe)
Ann Newman-Mantee	...	Mrs. Quint (as Anne Mantee Newman)
Joyce Easton	...	Gail Bugliosi
Joseph Roman	...	The Bailiff (as Joe Roman)
Lionel Decker	...	Jury Foreman Tubick
Bill Sorrells	...	Gillespie
John Furlong	...	Judge Dell
Robert Ito	...	Drees Darrin
Rod Arrants	...	Bart Listen
Guy Remsen	...	Andy Cookley
Read Morgan	...	Officer Columbine
Cal Haynes	...	Keith
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bart Braverman	...	George Brewer (Kasabian's lawyer) (uncredited)
Steven Marlo	...	Police Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Tom Gries

Writing credits
Vincent Bugliosi		(based on the book by) and
Curt Gentry		(based on the book by)
J.P. Miller		(teleplay)

Produced by
Philip Capice	....	executive producer
Tom Gries	....	producer
Lee Rich	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Billy Goldenberg

Cinematography by
Jules Brenner

Film Editing by
Byron 'Buzz' Brandt
Bud S. Isaacs

Art Direction by
Philip Barber		(as Phil Barber)

Set Decoration by
James Cane		(as Jim Cane)

Makeup Department
Sugar Blymyer	....	hair stylist
Ken Chase	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Robert Birnbaum	....	unit production manager (as Bob Birnbaum)
Neil T. Maffeo	....	executive in charge of production
Lynn Guthrie	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Gries	....	second assistant director
Ken Swor	....	first assistant director
Ray Taylor Jr.	....	first assistant director (as Ray Taylor)

Art Department
Mike Miner	....	property master

Sound Department
Victor Guarnier	....	sound effects editor (as Vic Guarnier)
Tom Overton	....	production sound mixer
Alfred J. Carranza	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ray Saniger	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jesse Wayne	....	fire stunts double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Vincent A. Martinelli	....	camera operator (as Vincent Martinelli)
Lon Massey	....	electrical gaffer
Chuck Morgan	....	key grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Thomas Costich	....	wardrobe (as Tom Costich)
Nancy Martinelli	....	wardrobe
Patricia Norris	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Gene Fowler Jr.	....	supervising editor (as Gene Fowler)

Music Department
Else Blangsted	....	music editor

Other crew
Elie Cohen	....	assistant to producer
Frank Kowalski	....	script supervisor
Phill Norman	....	title designer
Judi Rosner	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• Lorimar Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1976) (USA) (TV)
• Lorimar Distribution International Inc. (1985) (worldwide) (all media)
• Key Video (1985) (USA) (VHS) (for CBS/Fox)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• CBS / Fox Video (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (video)

Other Companies

• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles (as Howard A. Anderson Co.)
• The Remdin Company  casting

Also Known As:

"Massacre in Hollywood" - USA (video title)

Runtime:

119 min | USA:194 min (original version) | USA:184 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:Unrated | Iceland:16 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lorimar Productions

Trivia:

When Steve Railsback received a call to come to Los Angeles to read for the part of Charles Manson in the movie, he auditioned by reading the speech Manson gave in the jury-less courtroom. Three days later he had the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: The rope used as evidence in the courtroom is made of yellow hemp, but moments later, in the flashback scenes, it is made of white cotton fiber.

Quotes:

Dist. Atty. Vincent Bugliosi:Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Sharon Tate... Jay Sebring... Voytek Frykowski... Abigail Folger... Steven Parent... Leno LaBianca... and Rosemary LaBianca are not here with us right now in this courtroom. But from their graves, they cry out for justice! And justice can only be served by you returning to this courtroom with a verdict of guilty.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Liar Liar (1997)

Soundtrack:

I Can't Remember When

The day the music died

The 114 minute version I've seen and reviewing is the shorter version of the original 193 minute version originally aired on TV. I think everything was pretty much covered and I would probably begin to lose interest during the longer cut. This a a very frank, non-exploitive look (apart from the alternate title) at the Charles Mason/Sharon Tate murders of 1969. Far, far better than the cheap mess that is The Helter Skelter Murders. Meticulously reconstructed from the Chief Prosecutor's book, the film follows a timeline from when the initial slayings took place, to the investigation, arrest, trial, and eventual conviction of those involved. Whilst it is a little heavy handed at times concerning its views on the counter culture and the 'anti-Establishment' in general, this is more than counter balanced with the vivid reconstruction of detail concerning the events, back by an absolutely authentic, mesmerising performance by Steve Railsback as Manson himself. He is truly electrifying. It's odd to note Railsback would go on to portray another true life celebrity ghoul, Ed Gein.