Helter Skelter (1976) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Tom Gries

Writers:

Vincent Bugliosi (book) and
Curt Gentry (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 April 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

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:

Sergeant | Charles Manson | Pregnant Woman Murdered | Courtroom | Manson

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
Mary Kay Pass	...	Sgt. Broom
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 Lippe	...	Hank Charter
Ann Newman-Mantee	...	Mrs. Quint (as Anne Mantee Newman)
Joyce Easton	...	Gail Bugliosi
Joe Roman	...	The Bailiff
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		(book) and
Curt Gentry		(book)
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
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

• CBS Television (original airing)
• CBS/Fox (video)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Howard A. Anderson Company  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:

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

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lorimar Productions

Trivia:

The film almost was not shown in Los Angeles because network executives were afraid that the film would stir up bad memories, especially since the film came out only seven years after the murders.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The Tate/LaBianca homicides took place in 1969. Yet some of the squad cars that are shown when the LAPD responds to the Tate house are 1971 Dodge Polaras. Besides being incorrect for the year of the murders, the LAPD patrol cars of the era were 1968 and 1969 Plymouth Belvederes.

Quotes:

Prison Inmate: What's your name?
Susan Atkins: Sadie. Sexy Sadie.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Sinister Saga of Making 'The Stunt Man' (2000) (V)

Soundtrack:

Revolution

The weed among the flowers

I had to hunt through the local video stores before I found one with this film available. I remember seeing the two-part TV version, but this 119 minute video release still bothers me just the same.

Steve Railsback is as close to Charles Manson as one can get. He presents the same manic intensity in his eyes as the news photos of Manson at the time. Maybe a little TOO well...

This film is essentially two films in one. The first half details events leading up to the arrest and crimes of Manson and company, the second half details the trial (and the script is taken mostly from the actual court transcripts).

Anyone who insists that Manson was "crucified" or "framed" should examine his criminal record, and read what he has stated about Jews and blacks. Manson presented the image of a hippie messiah, but preached hatred and bigotry. This film shows him for what he was (and still is); a manipulative, violent, hate-filled man.

Remember that this is the man who once said: "Maybe I should have killed four or five hundred people...then I would have felt better. Then I would have felt I really offered society something."

God bless you, Vincent Bugliosi. You did us all a favor!