Review of In Cold Blood (1967) by Jennifer A — 02 Feb 2007

In Cold Blood, or 101 reasons to leave Kansas.

2005 brought us [i]Capote[/i], and Philip Seymour Hoffman's Oscar winning performance. 1967 brought us [i]In Cold Blood, [/i]the story of the actual murders.

[b]In Cold Blood (1967) - 8.5/10[/b].

Director - Richard Brooks.

Starring - Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe, Paul Stewart, Will Geer, Charles McGraw, John McLiam.

This true story, which became the basis for Truman Capote's bestseller, stars Robert Blake and Scott Wilson as two dim-witted ex-cons who murder a small-town Kansas family and flee, leaving a trail of bad checks in their wake. Blake plays Perry Smith and Wilson plays Dick Hickok, two men from impoverished broken homes who plan a robbery. Hickok's old cellmate used to work for the Clutter family, and claimed there was a safe in the home containing $10,000 which is why they were targeted. When the two men arrive, the family is restrained and Hickok frantically looks for the safe to no avail. The family is then brutally murdered for a mere $40. The duo then begins writing bad checks and flees to Mexico, but Hickok isn't happy there, so they return to the US, specifically Las Vegas, where they are captured. A trial ensues and the two men are sentenced to death by hanging.

Although it's based on a true story, [i]In Cold Blood [/i]is reminiscent of many of the great film noir of the 40's and 50's. The beautiful yet ominous black and white cinematography of Conrad Hall is amazing, creating the perect atmosphere for the film which takes place in 1959 and the early sixties. Blake and Wilson are terrific as well as they fully embody the characters. There non-chalance, especially Hickoks, are frightening to watch. It's even more ironic to see a young Robert Blake considering what happened to him in recent years. If you enjoyed [i]Capote[/i] but have not seen this, shame on you!