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From Amazon.co.uk
The unexpected casting of Tony Curtis as the presumed Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, is only the first of the attractions of this hard-nosed suspense picture. Although the style of The Boston Strangler looks dated today, with its split-screen experiments and post-Bonnie and Clyde permissiveness, the film still has the clean, strong lines of a methodical policier. For the first hour, we don't focus on the Strangler, instead following the Beantown cops (led by Henry Fonda) as they track down leads; the best sequence is the near-accidental connection made between burglary suspect DeSalvo and the killings. Director Richard Fleischer had a forceful hand with true-crime material (Compulsion, 10 Rillington Place) and he takes an unblinking look into the then-taboo subject of sexual pathology. Curtis's physical transformation into a dumpy, dull-eyed brute is the best aspect of his performance; it's a role he lobbied hard for, but it did not lead to more challenging work. --Robert Horton
Product Description
A gripping account of the real-life serial killer who stalked the Boston Common, leaving behind a trail of dead young women, and the detective who helped crack the case.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Mr Viewer
Format:DVD
Interesting first half exposing a colourful moral tapestry and an incompetent police department. Tony Curtis superb in second half as the maniac putting Kennedy and Fonda's good performances into the shade.
Sometime I wonder whether the person writing the film description on the packaging has actually seen the film eg. Incorrectly describes Fonda as a police detective instead of a law professor assigned by the AG to project manage the investigation.
Well worth checking out.
Sometime I wonder whether the person writing the film description on the packaging has actually seen the film eg. Incorrectly describes Fonda as a police detective instead of a law professor assigned by the AG to project manage the investigation.
Well worth checking out.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Boston Strangler has dated somewhat: as with all revolutionary films, what seemed groundbreaking in 1968 seems almost quaint at times today. Yet it’s still interesting just how unjudgmental the film is, generally offering a tour of the city’s moral underbelly without ever assuming the same prejudices of the detectives failing to deal with the murders. Like the same year’s The Detective, also from 20th Century Fox, it’s surprisingly level and sympathetic in its treatment of Hurd Hatfield’s gay antique dealer who is automatically regarded as a prime suspect in any sex crimes (was it an in-joke that it’s a portrait that gets him on the list, I wonder?), just as it resists the temptation to demonize William Hickey’s obsessive pervert (lesbians, however, aren’t quite so lucky). In many ways, this is a film more about attempting to understand and prevent further killings than a manhunt movie, with the eternally under-rated Richard Fleischer’s psychiatric training making him an ideal choice for the material.
The matter of fact procedural nature of the film is at times too low-key to make for compelling drama, but the split-screen sequences are still quite impressive and Tony Curtis’ performance is a remarkable piece of work from an actor who now seems all too content to play down to people’s low expectations. It’s also interesting to note the way that the interrogation scene, with Henry Fonda appearing in Curtis’ memories as he works his way inside his head, was so comprehensively ripped off by Spike Lee in Clockers to much less effect.
Sadly, while the Region 1 disc has some good extras, Fox's region 2 PAL disc ommits these and has only a good 2.35:1 transfer to recommend it.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This tragic and powerful tale sees the growth of evil in Curtis' character, built up by a breath-taking and passionate performance from a Hollywood legend in what was a watershed performance for him.
This is a sinister film, brilliantly directed and so clever in the way the plot folds out.
If you haven't seen this, or any Curtis movie,I cannot recommend strongly enough that you give this film a go.
This is a sinister film, brilliantly directed and so clever in the way the plot folds out.
If you haven't seen this, or any Curtis movie,I cannot recommend strongly enough that you give this film a go.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
WORTH WATCHING
IT WAS A GOOD STORY WELL WORTH WATCHING. EVEN IF IT WAS AN OLD FILM.
IT HAD A BIG SURPRISE ENDING
IT HAD A BIG SURPRISE ENDING
Published 2 months ago by HEATHER BROOKS
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too much Curtis
This DVD starts of with the early days of the Boston strangler showing the the frantic police efforts to catch the strangler. Read more
Published 9 months ago by James Wells
4.0 out of 5 stars
Curtis and Fonda Excel (Eventually)
Richard Fleischer's 1968 film The Boston Strangler, based on the true life series of murders that took place in the Boston area in the early 1960s, is a powerful (and early)... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Keith M
2.0 out of 5 stars
doesn't mean he wasn't a nice person
The visual style of this film is striking and evocative but the screenplay fails miserably when dealing with the character of the serial murderer Albert DeSalvo. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. John Guerrasio
5.0 out of 5 stars
boston strangler
Great acting by tony curtis.... very sad but highly underated film, not usually what i would watch....but would recommend it.
Published on 18 Feb 2011 by M. J. Keane
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