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In Cold Blood

Chris Grieb

Entry posted by Chris Grieb

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I watched the movie yesterday (May 26).

I suspect Richard Brooks, the writer of the screenplay who was also the director, let to change of focus. The book In Cold Blood was released to great fanfare in 1966. It was called a non-fiction novel. Truman Capote the author had tried the technique before but this book.

Capote saw a small story in the New York Times about the murder of all four members of the family of a wealthy Kansas farmer. He decided to go to Holcombe, Kansas with his friend Harper Lee who was not yet famous as the author of To Kill a Mockingbird. With Miss Lee Capote became friends with all of the people involved in the case including Alvin Dewey, the chief investigator for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. These friendships were established despite Capote's flamboyant lifestyle. After the two killers were arrested he established a relationship with them also. Capote helped pay for one the appeals. Capote eventually witnessed the two killer's execution.

The movie is done in a very naturalist style. Many of the original locations are used. Several of the jurors sat in the jury box for the movie trial. Capote in the movie is suggested by a reporter played by Paul Stewart.

The most compelling moments in the film are the prosecutor's summation. I don't know whether the words spoken with great passion by Will Geer are the words actually used but the words cut through much of the blather that has gone before.

I don't think I'll watch the movie again.

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kiaer.ts

I had to read this book in high school English. It was thoroughly disgusting, a loving tribute to a murder. It is rumoured that Capote was sexually aroused at the execution by hanging. He was certainly obsessed with the killers, one of whom was portrayed by the wife-murderer to be Robert Blake in the movie. Truman Capote was a thoroughly disgusting creature. Of course that deserves an oscar-winning movie in and of itself, does it not?

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Chris Grieb

I have heard that Capote had to leave the execution chamber before Smith was executed. That was the Robert Blake character. Capote remained friends with Alvin Dewey after the book came out. In the Feb 66 Objectivist Barbara Branden had a very harsh review of In Cold Blood.

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