In Cold Blood Reviews

A significant addition to the crime genre

A well filmed and acted study of the minds of two murderers. Unfortunately I felt it missed out certain plot elements of the original book, and also overlooked the documentary like analysis of the novel in favour of a straight up dramatisation. However, it is a powerful argument against capital punishment, and several of the scenes are deeply moving. In particular, the flashbacks to Perry's abusive childhood,and esepecially, where we watch the girl waiting in the dark as she hears the deliberate gunshots throughout the house. Recommended viewing if you are interested in intelligent genre film making.

Capote’s Masterpiece

On 14 November 1959, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith murdered farmer Herbert Clutter, his wife Bonnie and their teenage son and daughter Nancy and Kenyon. This happened in the small village of Holcomb, Kansas.

Truman Capote wrote the book “In Cold Blood” in 1966, a year after Hickock and Smith were hanged.

Wilson & Blake give excellent performances in this film.

This film simplifies the book considerably, but it is still very well written. It is not only a comment on these crimes but also on the trial and hanging afterwards.

This film leaves you with a sense of wasted lives, the killer's and the victim's, and that’s something the death penalty won’t ever restore.

An excellent study of murderers' minds. The script is succinct and smart - not over-analytical - in other words, entirely typical of Truman Capote.

This was a wonderful black and white oldie cult movie of the best selling book

It kept you interested to the end and so glad I took it out

A timeless classic

I saw this movie in the cinema when it first came out, back in 1967, and viewing it now nearly three decades later, it still retains its power, doing full justice to Truman Capote's masterful book.

honest chiller

This movie is a fine example of how a film can be chilling without being bloody or gory.Every element of the production is classy from the performances to the cinematography.

Gritty Classic.

This film has a sense of authenticity that makes it one that is almost uncomfortable to watch. The story of a botched robbery that turned to a sensless family slaughter, this is well acted by all and has a sense of doom throughout. Based on the novel By Truman Capote, this keeps it simple and to the facts. The direction is spot on and we almost feel sorry for the murderers by the end of the film. This is a great example of crime and punishment storytelling that should not be missed.

Moving

Very good film, acting brilliant, held me in suspense for quite a while.

Can recommend it to fellow members

the final scenes were so real and moving.

cool film

I couldnt wait to see this film and I was rewarded. The period just fascinates me: WW2 was in recent memory and the glamorizing of delinquency by e.g. James Dean was yet to happen. Of course, Freud is in the story too. The film really makes me want to read the book, which I have been told is a such an accurate account of what crimes like this are like, that the police use it to learn from. The best thing about the film has to be the extremely insightful exploration of living with powerful conflicting emotions.

not bad

obviously not as good, engrossing or comprehensive as the book which no film is likely to manage, but this is a solid film and worth a watch. it is a shame that some of the technicalities of the case, especially the details of how law relating to the sanity of the pair were not referenced which is one of the most interesting thing in the book, but its very well made.