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IMDbPro

The Todd Killings

  • 19711971
  • RR
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
295
YOUR RATING
Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)
CrimeDramaThriller
Based on the true story of '60s thrill-killer Charles Schmid ("The Pied Piper of Tucson"), Skipper Todd (Robert F. Lyons) is a charismatic 23-year old who charms his way into the lives of hi... Read allBased on the true story of '60s thrill-killer Charles Schmid ("The Pied Piper of Tucson"), Skipper Todd (Robert F. Lyons) is a charismatic 23-year old who charms his way into the lives of high school kids in a small California town. Girls find him attractive and are only too will... Read allBased on the true story of '60s thrill-killer Charles Schmid ("The Pied Piper of Tucson"), Skipper Todd (Robert F. Lyons) is a charismatic 23-year old who charms his way into the lives of high school kids in a small California town. Girls find him attractive and are only too willing to accompany him to a nearby desert area to be his "girl for the night." Not all of th... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
295
YOUR RATING
    • Barry Shear
    • Dennis Murphy
    • Joel Oliansky
    • Mann Rubin(story)
  • Stars
    • Robert F. Lyons
    • Richard Thomas
    • Belinda Montgomery
    • Barry Shear
    • Dennis Murphy
    • Joel Oliansky
    • Mann Rubin(story)
  • Stars
    • Robert F. Lyons
    • Richard Thomas
    • Belinda Montgomery
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos33

    Robert F. Lyons, Belinda Montgomery, and Holly Near in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Robert F. Lyons and Belinda Montgomery in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Robert F. Lyons and Belinda Montgomery in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Barbara Bel Geddes and Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Edward Asner and Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)
    Richard Thomas and Robert F. Lyons in The Todd Killings (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert F. Lyons
    Robert F. Lyons
    • Skipper Todd
    Richard Thomas
    Richard Thomas
    • Billy Roy
    Belinda Montgomery
    Belinda Montgomery
    • Roberta
    Sherry E. DeBoer
    Sherry E. DeBoer
    • Amata
    • (as Sherry Miles)
    Joyce Ames
    • Haddie
    Holly Near
    • Norma
    James Broderick
    James Broderick
    • Sam Goodwin
    Gloria Grahame
    Gloria Grahame
    • Mrs. Roy
    Fay Spain
    Fay Spain
    • Mrs. Mack
    Edward Asner
    Edward Asner
    • Fred Reardon
    Barbara Bel Geddes
    Barbara Bel Geddes
    • Mrs. Todd
    Michael Conrad
    Michael Conrad
    • Detective Shaw
    Frank Webb
    Frank Webb
    William Lucking
    William Lucking
    Sandy Brown Wyeth
    Sandy Brown Wyeth
    Sherry Lynn Diamant
    Georgene Barnes
    Tannis G. Montgomery
    • Jackie
    • (as Tannis Montgomery)
      • Barry Shear
      • Dennis Murphy
      • Joel Oliansky
      • Mann Rubin(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Inspired by real-life 1965 murders orchestrated by Charles Schmid, so-called "Pied Piper of Tucson," a charismatic young Southern Arizona homicidal maniac whose crimes (involving teen followers and victims) roughly paralleled those later perpetrated by teen guru/killer Charles Manson.
    • Quotes

      Police Officer: Do you have relations with men?

      Skipper Todd: I try not to. But sometimes there's a guy who's really sweet... it's so easy. We're both men... we both know where it's at. Personally, you not giving anything away.

      Police Officer: What's your feeling's towards girls?

      Skipper Todd: I can sleep with them once because it degrades them. It makes them dirty. The worst thing about it is... you meet a chick who isn't... bad. You can't screw her because you don't want to make her "dirty".

    • Crazy credits
      [prologue] The story you are about to see is a fictionalized dramatization of actual case histories. The names and certain characterizations and incidents have been changed to protect the innocent...and, in some cases, to protect the guilty.
    • Connections
      References Little Caesar (1931)

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Brilliant...
    Based loosely on real life killer, Charles Schmidt (sp?), the Pied Piper of Tucson, 'The Todd Killings' is a marvelous, underrated gem.

    There is much to love about this movie. The cast are terrific. Most notable are the lead performances; Robert F. Lyons is truly outstanding, infusing his character with a giddy mix of indifference and charm. He manages to seduce the girls, impress the guys and squirm his way through a police interrogation with absolute ease.

    Praise must go to the gorgeous Belinda Montgomery (Doogie Howser's mom). She looks thoroughly enticing and gives a soft, natural performance that looks like it was bathed in 70's sunshine.

    Adding to the pleasure is the location shooting, making full use of what appears to be a small, sleepy Northern California town. One notable highlight being Skipper and Billy at a Jack in the Box restaurant - complete with an old-school JB clown logo and the menu displaying stupidly low prices (35 cents for a hamburger).

    But this is no mere exploitation flick. The filmmakers have taken care with every detail and it shows. The relationship between Skipper and his Mom is perfectly addressed while she nobly attempts to defend him in the face of an angry mother accusing Skipper of hiding information on her daughter's whereabouts. Their two worlds are miles apart.

    There is much to go on about here, but in the end, I simply can't recommend this film highly enough. This is the real deal.
    helpful•26
    1
    • sleazerama
    • Jul 26, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1971 (United Kingdom)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA
    • Production company
      • National General Production Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 33 minutes

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