Summary
Boston is being terrorized by a series of seemingly random murders of women. Based on the true story, the film follows the investigators path through several leads before introducing the Strangler as a character. It is seen almost exclusively from the point of view of the investigators who have very few clues to build a case upon.
Cast
Tony Curtis
Albert DeSalvo
Henry Fonda
John S. Bottomly
George Kennedy
Det. Phil DiNatale
Mike Kellin
Julian Soshnick
Hurd Hatfield
Terence Huntley
Murray Hamilton
Det. Frank McAfee
Jeff Corey
John Asgeirsson
Sally Kellerman
Dianne Cluny
William Marshall
Atty. Gen. Edward W. Brooke
George Voskovec
Peter Hurkos
Leora Dana
Mary Bottomly
Carolyn Conwell
Irmgard DeSalvo
Jeanne Cooper
Cloe
Austin Willis
Dr. Nagy
Lara Lindsay
Bobbie Eden
George Furth
Lyonel Brumley
Richard X. Slattery
Det. Capt. Ed Willis
William Hickey
Eugene T. O'Rourke
Eve Collyer
Ellen Ridgeway
Gwyda Donhowe
Alice Oakville
Alex Dreier
News Commentator
John Cameron Swayze
T.V. Narrator
Shelley Burton
David Parker
Elizabeth Baur
Harriet Fordin
James Brolin
Det. Sgt. Phil Lisi
George Tyne
Dr. Kramer
Dana Elcar
Luis Schubert
William Traylor
Arnie Carr
Carole Shelley
Dana Banks
Karen Ericson
Pat Bruner (as Karen Huston)
David Armstrong
Suspect
Enid Markey
Edna
Dorothy Blackburn
Minnie Adams
Almira Sessions
Emma Hodak
Isabella Hoopes
Bertha Blum
Richard Krisher
Tom
Arthur Hanson
Commissioner
Walter Klavun
Chief of Police
Tim Herbert
Cedric
Matt Bennett
Harold
Penny Williams
Mae
Janis Young
Louise Parker
George Fisher
Mr. Taylor
David Lewis
Judge Schroeder
Pamela McMyler
Grace
Owen Orr
Dick Matheson
Nancie Phillips
Barbara Wise
Alex Rocco
Lt. Lurie
Dennis Cross
Steve
Harry Carter
Detective (uncredited)
Crew
Director
Richard Fleischer
Novel
Gerold Frank
Screenplay
Edward Anhalt
Reviews
John Chard
March 1, 2016
9
Impressive procedural skin crawler.
It's a very impressive film from start to finish, the cast are excellent, George Kennedy & Henry Fonda portray the men pursuing the culprit with much believability, with enough moments of frustration and revulsion brought to life with style.
Of course this is Tony Curtis's show all the way, though, he is all bulked up and nothing like the handsome icon that people had grown accustomed to. He is convincingly menacing and handles the dual personality confusion scenes adroitly. One of the films' chief plus points is that the first hour only shows us the aftermath of the murders, it shows the desperate panic it creates among the people of Boston, and of course we get to know the detectives following this miserable trail.
At the hour mark we are introduced to Tony Curtis as Albert De Salvo, here he is in his family home, his daughter all radiant around her father, it's a masterstroke from director Richard Fleischer, and it creates maximum impact. The use of multi screens to show various aspects of scenes is deft and manages to make the film seem all too real, which of course is given weight of impact since it is based on actual events.
Smashing film that gnaws away at the skin some time after the silent credits have rolled. 9/10
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00
