Helter Skelter 

The investigation and trial of the horrific Tate-LaBianca mass murders orchestrated by the psychotic pseudo-hippie cult leader, Charles Manson.

Stars:

George DiCenzo, Steve Railsback, Nancy Wolfe

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

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
George DiCenzo	...	Vincent Bugliosi 2 episodes, 1976
Steve Railsback	...	Charles Manson 2 episodes, 1976
Nancy Wolfe	...	Susan Atkins 2 episodes, 1976
Marilyn Burns	...	Linda Kasabian 2 episodes, 1976
Christina Hart	...	Patricia Krenwinkel 2 episodes, 1976
Cathey Paine	...	Leslie Van Houten 2 episodes, 1976
Alan Oppenheimer	...	Aaron Stovitz 2 episodes, 1976
Vic Werber	...	Lt. Brenner 2 episodes, 1976
Marc Alaimo	...	Phil Cohen 2 episodes, 1976
Bill Durkin	...	Tex Watson 2 episodes, 1976
Phillip R. Allen	...	Sgt. Manuel Gris 2 episodes, 1976
David Clennon	...	Harry Jones 2 episodes, 1976
James Brodhead	...	Mr. Quint 2 episodes, 1976
Linden Chiles	...	J. Miller Leavy 2 episodes, 1976
Larry Pennell	...	Sgt. White 2 episodes, 1976
Steve Gries	...	Steve 'Clem' Grogan 2 episodes, 1976
Anne Newman Bacal	...	Mrs. Quint 2 episodes, 1976

Storyline

Chilling story of the investigation and trial of Charles Manson, leader of a strange cult which under his direction and 'control' committed numerous murders.

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Plot Keywords:

murder of a pregnant woman | pregnancy | tv mini series | bald woman | charles manson character | 

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Taglines:

Whisper it like a curse!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

While the LaBianca house was used in the movie, the Tate house was not.

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Goofs

When the police take a man to identify the body of Sharon Tate, she is fully dressed in a blue house dress and shoes. Minutes later, two hippies are seen watching a news report about the Tate-LaBianca murders and the anchorman on the television states that Sharon Tate's body was found dressed only in a pair of flowered panties and bra. The news report wasn't real, it was reenacted for the movie.

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Quotes

Vincent Bugliosi: [narrating] It was so quiet, one of the killers would later say, you could almost hear the sound of ice rattling in cocktail shakers in the homes way down the canyon.

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Alternate Versions

Shorty Shea's response to Charles Manson's comment, "It ain't nice to snitch, Shorty!" differs between the two-part miniseries and the home video release. In the two-part miniseries, Shorty says "Horse manure!". In the home video release, he says "Go fuck yourself, Charlie!".

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Connections

Referenced in The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

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Soundtracks

I Can't Remember When
Written by Charles Manson
Performed by Steve Railsback

User Reviews

Good TV Movie -- and Totally Accurate!

I am appalled to read that there are imdb.com members who actually think that Charles Manson and his "Family" were prosecuted because he was a hippie or a flower-child. He was neither. He is neither to this day. Have any of these idiots seen the TV interviews with Manson (by Diane Sawyer, I think) a while back? It would creep you out, as it shows how completely mad he is, to this very day. And his anger is creepy, too, and I thought he was going to physically harm the female interviewer at one point. When told of some of the things that the now older and wiser "family members" said of him (that he asked them to kill for him, that he instructed them in detail, and that they no longer have any regard for him), he just laughed and derided them as getting to be "old broads". This is a flower child?

I've done enough reading of various books and articles about Manson. He was the product of our institutions -- the one point on which he is correct. From childhood on, he never lived a normal life, always an institutionalized life. Then he took on this Messiah persona to impress the only people who were impressed by him -- young teenaged girls or other young women from homes where they felt unwanted. He literally rented them out as sexual favors to his biker pals, whom he was trying to impress and keep on his side. This was a flower child? Hardly! He has, and still has, a twisted but skillful mind.

As for the stupid premise that Buguliosi "framed him", have these people who write such nonsense read his book? Buguliosi documented, and this was affirmed in such books as "The Family", that Manson actually liked his prosecutor and respected him, and said so, even though there is good evidence that he wanted him dead. Like I say, Manson is a twisted person.

This TV movie is good drama, and totally accurate. Unlike others, I would like to see it redone for the big screen. I think the entire story of Manson's life and of his "family" and what they did to others at the Spahn Ranch before the murders of Sharon Tate and the others, needs to be told. Maybe bring people up to date with interviews with this monster on TV. No, not Oliver Stone! But to tell it somewhat in the way "In Cold Blood" was transferred from book to movie.

I expect to get nasty, threatening replies from Charlie's idiot disciples. That's right, you are all whacked-out idiots for thinking that he is anything but a monster.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 April 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

L'affaire Charles Manson

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lorimar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

194 min (original broadcast) 184 min (DVD) 105 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1