Helter Skelter (2004) (TV)

Director:

John Gray

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

16 May 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Based on the true story of the Manson murders.

Plot:

A new take on the Manson Family murders, with a keen focus on Charles Manson himself. |

Plot Keywords:

Charles Manson | Ambulance | Policeman | Robbery | Pregnant Woman Murdered

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Jeremy Davies	...	Charles Manson
Clea DuVall	...	Linda Kasabian
Allison Smith	...	Patricia 'Katie' Krenwinkle
Frank Zieger	...	Clem Watkins
Eric Dane	...	Charles "Tex" Watson
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme
Michael Weston	...	Bobby Beausoleil
Hal Ozsan	...	Joey Dimarco
Rick Gomez	...	Milio
Robert Joy	...	Detective Morrisy
Graham Beckel	...	Jerry
Chris Ellis	...	Sgt. Whiteley
Isabella Hofmann	...	Rosemary LaBianca
Robert Costanzo	...	Leno LaBianca
Yvonne Delarosa	...	Catherine 'Gypsy' Share (as Yvonne De La Rosa)
Crystal Rivers	...	Diane (scenes deleted)
Cheselka Leigh	...	Kathryn 'Kitty' Lutesinger
Keith Szarabajka
John Pleshette	...	Mr. Krenwikle
Whitney Dylan	...	Sharon Tate
Susan Ruttan	...	Mrs. Kasabian
Marguerite Moreau	...	Susan 'Sadie' Atkins
Bruno Kirby	...	Vincent Bugliosi
Catherine Wadkins	...	Leslie Van Houten
Kai Lennox	...	Steve 'Clem' Grogan
Hopwood DePree	...	Paul Watkins
Matthew J. Williamson	...	Bruce Davis (as Matt Williamson)
Nick Jameson	...	Gary Fleishman
Kirk B.R. Woller	...	Detective Kleinman
Robert Pine	...	Judge Keene
Wolf Muser	...	Chief Davis
Marek Probosz	...	Roman Polanski
Elizabeth Ann Bennett	...	Abigail Folger (as Elizabeth Bennett)
George Tasudis	...	Voytek Frykowski
Patrick Fabian	...	Jay Sebring
Jaimz Woolvett	...	Gary Hinman
Lance Ohnstad	...	Steve Parent
Kelly Nyks	...	Will Garretson
François Chau	...	Dr. Noguchi
Jeffrey Johnson	...	Terry Melcher
Chris Jacobs	...	Dennis Wilson (as Christopher Jacobs)
Chad Morgan	...	Suzanne LaBianca
Jeanette O'Connor	...	Ronni
Kim Strauss	...	Sgt. William Gleason
Gwen McGee	...	Winifred Chapman
Mark Thompson	...	L.A. Newscaster
Patricia Del Rio	...	Local TV Reporter
Kevin London	...	Richard Caballero
P.J. Byrne	...	Man With Thick Glasses
Paul Kent	...	Van Nuys Judge
John Lacy	...	CHP Officer
Ted Garcia	...	Stand Up Reporter at Tate House
Apesanahkwat	...	Guard Duty Cop
Patricia Herd	...	Woman on the Street
John K. Anderson	...	Officer Pursell (as J.K. Anderson)
David Ackert	...	Jerry Rubin
Danielle DiCerbo	...	Bernardine Dohrn
Endre Hules	...	Polish Man
Maura Soden	...	Gossip Queen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Samuel DeClan Anderson	...	Manson Family Baby
Susie Castaneda	...	Cashier
Michael Gabriel Goodfriend	...	Detective
Daniel V. Graulau	...	Driver (as Daniel Vargas)
Greg Hutto	...	CHP Officer (credit only)
Ricky Lewis Jr.	...	Family Member
Fred Vidal	...	Roman Polanski's Friend
Chris Corpus	...	Neighbor (uncredited)
Joseph Dowd	...	Family Member (uncredited)
Abner Genece	...	Jail Guard (uncredited)
Fred Kelly	...	Roman Polanski's friend (uncredited)
Lorelei Llee	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Adrian Morales	...	Family Member (uncredited)
Christian Reeve	...	Manson's Public Defender (uncredited)

Directed by
John Gray

Writing credits (WGA)
Vincent Bugliosi		(book "Helter Skelter") and
Curt Gentry		(book "Helter Skelter")
John Gray		(written by)

Produced by
Vincent Bugliosi	....	executive producer
Vincent Bugliosi	....	producer
Peter Miller	....	executive producer
Mark Wolper	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mark Snow

Cinematography by
Don E. FauntLeRoy

Film Editing by
Scott Vickrey

Casting by
Phyllis Huffman

Art Direction by
Robert W. Henderson
Roy Forge Smith

Set Decoration by
Julie Bolder

Costume Design by
May Routh

Makeup Department
Judy Crown	....	hair department head
RaMona Fleetwood	....	hair stylist
Dennis Liddiard	....	makeup department head
Gary Liddiard	....	makeup artist (as G. Dennis Liddiard)
Yesim 'Shimmy' Osman	....	assistant hair stylist
Elizabeth Rabe	....	additional hair stylist (2004)
Tegan Taylor	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Desiree J. Cadena	....	post-production supervisor
Carla Corwin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anne Berger	....	second assistant director
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Sandy Adams	....	on-set dresser
Melissa Bartley	....	art assistant
Chuck Courrieu	....	lead man
Tracy Farrington	....	property master
Terry Kempf	....	propmaker foreman
Ricky Lewis Jr.	....	storyboard artist
Mark Richardson	....	set dresser
Harlan Spatz	....	props

Sound Department
Beau Biggart	....	adr mixer
Sean Byrne	....	assistant sound editor
Tim Chilton	....	foley artist (2004)
Bob Costanza	....	sound effects editor
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer
G. Michael Graham	....	supervising sound editor
Robert L. Harman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Allen Hurd	....	sound recordist
Kristi Johns	....	adr supervisor
Kevin Maloney	....	boom operator
Kevin Meltcher	....	assistant sound editor
Gaetano Musso	....	foreign version
Dean Okrand	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steuart Pearce	....	sound mixer
Timothy Pearson	....	foley artist
David Torres	....	foley mixer
Gunnar Ted Walter	....	boom operator (as Gunnar Walters)
Ian Wright	....	boom operator
Lou Thomas	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Roland Friedrich	....	digital compositor
Miro Gal	....	Inferno artist
Vít Komrzý	....	visual effects producer
Peter Nemec	....	Inferno artist
Jan Vseticek	....	visual effects coordinator
David Vána	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt player
Brett Gassaway	....	stunt double
Tanner Gill	....	stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts
Nicole Randall	....	stunts
Tony Snegoff	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Charles John Bukey	....	key grip
Matthew A. Del Ruth	....	film loader
Tim Durr	....	electrician
Sean P. Fickert	....	best boy grip
Daniel Kauahi	....	grip
Christopher Kiso	....	electrician
Ron Peterson	....	assistant camera
Brendon Phillips	....	electrician
Peyton Skelton	....	rigging gaffer

Casting Department
Geoffrey Miclat	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jeannie Flynn	....	costume supervisor
Meredith Korn	....	costumer
Silvia Raiano	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Josh Beal	....	assistant editor
Scott Burnette	....	assistant editor
George Koran	....	telecine colorist
Frank Pass	....	colorist

Music Department
Jeff Charbonneau	....	music editor
Ray Evans	....	composer: song "Whatever Will Be, Will Be"
Jay Livingston	....	composer: song "Whatever Will Be, Will Be"
Mark Morgan	....	composer: additional music score

Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver
Lonnie Craig	....	driver

Other crew
Julie Adams	....	dialect coach
Tina Bennett	....	production coordinator
Jan Bickler	....	first assistant accountant
Coriedus Brown	....	production assistant
Tracey Browne	....	accounting clerk
Laura Elizabeth Cannon	....	assistant to executive producer
Rosemary Gearheart	....	stand-in
Jeffrey Gladu	....	payroll accountant
Lisa Howard	....	production accountant
Deborah Laub	....	location manager
Suzan Lowitz	....	script supervisor
Franka Mavrides	....	production assistant
Jess Place	....	production secretary
Beth Theriac	....	assistant: Mr. Friedgen
Catherine H. Vlasuk	....	assistant production coordinator
Christopher H. Warner	....	accounting clerk
Christopher H. Warner	....	production accounting assistant

Production Companies

• Lakeside Productions
• Warner Bros. Television
• Wolper Organization

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (worldwide)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (DVD) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Universal Production Partners (UPP)
• Universal Production Partners (UPP) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• BSX Records  score album released by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Elizabeth Bardsley & Associates  script annotation
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Smith & Webster-Davis Casting  extras casting
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:180 min (including commercials) | 137 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Finland:K-15 (director's cut) | New Zealand:R18 | UK:15 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Center Studios - 450 S. Bixel Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lakeside Productions

Trivia:

In 2001, Jeremy Davies was in preparations for a different independent film about Charles Manson. He made a tape for the filmmakers of himself playing Manson and the tape became a popular bootleg in the industry. CBS cast Davies and allowed him to rewrite his lines due to his performance in the tape.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The opening credits montage of iconic '60s imagery includes an adult cinema marquee showing the film Cry for Cindy (1976) which wasn't released until 1976.

Quotes:

Charles Manson:The time is now. Helter skelter.

Movie Connections:

References Valley of the Dolls (1967)

Chilling, Disturbing Remake

Of all the murder trials in American history, only the Charles Manson case continues to hold fascination thirty-five years after it took place. The original "Helter Skelter" film aired on CBS in 1976, and focused mainly on the trial of Manson and his zombie teen girls. It was an excellent TV movie, but we never really got a sense of what life with Manson and his young followers was like. This film takes a different approach by focusing on Manson himself, the young people whose lives were ruined by him, and by depicting the actual murders themselves, which were quite intense for a television film. Jeremy Davies ("Spanking the Monkey," "Saving Private Ryan") was deeply scary as Manson. Clea Duvall did a fabulous job as Linda Kasabian, the "family" member who witnessed the murders but did not participate. After the murders, we get the sense that Kasabian is really torn up inside and knows that what was happening was very wrong, while other family members laughed and cheered as they watched news reports of the savage killings on television. Another excellent performance was by Whitney Dylan as Sharon Tate, the pregnant actress who was violently butchered by Manson's murderous teen followers. The scene in which she is on the floor dying and asks the killers to please try and save her baby was chilling and almost tear-inducing. We also get an excellent feel of the turbulent atmosphere of the time, 1969, and how the Manson murders brought "the decade of love" to a thundering halt. What makes this so sad and scary is that this actually happened. The fact that all-American teens from respectable families fell prey to a maniacal con man and are now spending their lives in prison is a frightening reminder of how young people can so easily be led astray by false prophets who promise the world and eventually can lead you into darkness and tragedy, whether it is 1969 or 2004. This film makes you want to hug and talk to your kids about the evil, dangerous alure of cults and false religions. All of the kids in the Manson family were runaways, and Charlie told them exactly what they wanted to hear and soon had them clinging to his every deceptive word. Manson continues to have a following among young people, thirty-five years after these awful crimes, and that's what is really disturbing. Watch the original 1976 film for an exhaustive dramatization of the trial itself, and see this remake for details of the events leading up to the trial. Way above average for television.