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Killer: A Journal of Murder

  • 19951995
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:56
1 Video
14 Photos
BiographyCrimeDrama
A prison guard at Leavenworth with lofty ideals and hopes of reform struggles to understand a violent, hateful and conscienceless convict. The result is a written testimonial to a crime that... Read allA prison guard at Leavenworth with lofty ideals and hopes of reform struggles to understand a violent, hateful and conscienceless convict. The result is a written testimonial to a crime that no one could have predicted.A prison guard at Leavenworth with lofty ideals and hopes of reform struggles to understand a violent, hateful and conscienceless convict. The result is a written testimonial to a crime that no one could have predicted.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Tim Metcalfe
    • Thomas E. Gaddis(book "Killer: A Journal of Murder")
    • James Long(book "Killer: A Journal of Murder")
    • Tim Metcalfe(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Woods
    • Robert Sean Leonard
    • Ellen Greene
    • Tim Metcalfe
    • Thomas E. Gaddis(book "Killer: A Journal of Murder")
    • James Long(book "Killer: A Journal of Murder")
    • Tim Metcalfe(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Woods
    • Robert Sean Leonard
    • Ellen Greene
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 17User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Killer: A Journal of Murder
    Trailer 1:56
    Watch Killer: A Journal of Murder

    Photos14

    Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    Robert Sean Leonard in Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    James Woods and Robert Sean Leonard in Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    James Woods and Robert Sean Leonard in Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    James Woods, Robert Sean Leonard, and Cara Buono in Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    James Woods and Robert Sean Leonard in Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    James Woods and Tim Metcalfe in Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)
    Killer: A Journal of Murder (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Carl Panzram
    Robert Sean Leonard
    Robert Sean Leonard
    • Henry Lesser
    Ellen Greene
    Ellen Greene
    • Elizabeth Wyatt
    Cara Buono
    Cara Buono
    • Esther Lesser
    Robert John Burke
    Robert John Burke
    • R.G. Greiser
    Richard Riehle
    Richard Riehle
    • Warden Quince
    Harold Gould
    Harold Gould
    • Old Henry Lesser
    John Bedford Lloyd
    John Bedford Lloyd
    • Dr. Karl Menninger
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Sam Lesser
    Conrad McLaren
    • Judge John W. Kingman
    Steve Forrest
    Steve Forrest
    • Warden Charles Casey
    Richard Council
    Richard Council
    • Cop
    Christopher Petrosino
    • Richard Lesser
    Michael Jeffrey Woods
    • Harry Sinclair
    • (as Michael Jeffery Woods)
    Rob Locke Jones
    • Junkie
    Raynor Scheine
    Raynor Scheine
    • Trusty
    Eddie Cairis
    • Young Carl Panzram
    Seth Romatelli
    • Teenaged Carl Panzram
    • (as Seth Romitelli)
      • Tim Metcalfe
      • Thomas E. Gaddis(book "Killer: A Journal of Murder")
      • James Long(book "Killer: A Journal of Murder")
      • Tim Metcalfe(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on the true story of serial killer Carl Panzram who was hanged at Leavenworth in 1930.
    • Goofs
      The amount of beer in Henry Lesser's glass at the speakeasy.
    • Quotes

      Carl Panzram: I don't want to be alive. I want out of these clothes. I want out of this body. I want out of this world.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Tin Cup/House Arrest/Killer: A Journal of Murder/Alaska/Butterfly Kiss (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      BLUEBIRDS
      Music by Bill Elliott

      Performed by Bill Elliott & His Orchestra

      Courtesy of Windswept Pacific Entertainment Co.

    User reviews17

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Doesn't live up to its potential
    Don't get me wrong; this movie is worth at least one viewing. James Woods - as usual - is great in his performance, and the supporting cast is good, too.

    Killer: A Journal of Murder is based on Thomas Gaddis' and James O. Long's fascinating 1970 book of the same name. It contains many of the letters Panzram wrote to Henry Lesser (who was a Washington, D.C. jail guard, not a prison guard at Leavenworth) while he was on death row in Leavenworth.

    While it is a common practice for films to take artistic liberties when dealing with true stories, this film went a bit far in trying to make Carl Panzram (Woods) into a sympathetic character. True, Carl Panzram was the product of a barbaric prison system, but he stands out in history as one of the few arch-criminals who did not want sympathy, something this film ignores.

    This was a film that needed to be made, but unfortunately, the story was mishandled in a maudlin attempt to get the viewer to care about one of the most reprehensible human beings who ever lived. If they had wanted to make a biographical film to convey their particular message, the people responsible for this movie should have made a film about Caryl Chessman, a criminal more eloquent, tragic and - most importantly - far more sympathetic than Carl Panzram.
    helpful•13
    7
    • Brujo-2
    • May 23, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 6, 1996 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Rhode Island, USA
    • Production companies
      • Breakheart Films
      • Ixtlan Productions
      • Ixtlan
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 31 minutes
      • Black and White
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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