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In Cold Blood main poster

In Cold Blood

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7.5/10 • 388

1967-12-152h 14m

CrimeDramaThrillerHistory

After a botched robbery results in the brutal murder of a rural family, two drifters elude police, in the end coming to terms with their own mortality and the repercussions of their vile atrocity.

Directors
Richard Brooks
Editors
Peter Zinner

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Robert Blake

    Robert Blake

    Perry Smith

  2. Scott Wilson

    Scott Wilson

    Richard 'Dick' Hickcock

  3. John Forsythe

    John Forsythe

    Alvin Dewey

  4. Paul Stewart

    Paul Stewart

    Jensen

  5. Gerald S. O'Loughlin

    Gerald S. O'Loughlin

    Harold Nye

  6. Jeff Corey

    Jeff Corey

    Mr. Hickock

  7. John Gallaudet

    John Gallaudet

    Roy Church

  8. James Flavin

    James Flavin

    Clarence Duntz

  9. Charles McGraw

    Charles McGraw

    Tex Smith

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Oct 27, 2024

7/10

This is one of those stories that really does epitomise the venality and cruelty of man! For the sum of $10,000 allegedly hidden in the safe of the rural "Clutter" family, two parolees come up with a plan to relieve them of their cash. "Dick" (Scott Wilson) is the architect of their plan. He's a nasty piece of work who is quite capable of manipulating the slightly less outwardly aggressive "Perry" (Robert Blake) into raiding the place then absconding for a life in comfort in nearby Mexico. Of course, the best laid plans etc., and pretty soon these two men top a most wanted list and are pursued by the doggedly shrewd cop "Dewey" (John Forsythe). It's based around a true story as interpreted by Truman Capote and essentially comes in two chapters. The first establishes the characters and the crime, the second the pursuit and it's consequences - and Richard Brooks adapts the story and directs these two chunks with considerable aplomb. There are also strong performances from the two men whose aspiration becomes desperation in double quick time, but who still struggle to display any semblance of human decency - except, maybe, when collecting refundable glass. There's precious little graphic violence here, but there's plenty of it implied and left to our imagination. Perhaps that's more potently delivered when it's mixed, especially by Blake, with at times a sort of gentleness and consideration - an almost childish style of behaviour. There are plenty of psychological aspects of their persona to evaluate as this progresses and that's as much of interest to "Dewey" as it becomes to us. The scoring also adds powerfully to the general menace, as does the frequently mobile and intense photography and at times there's almost a temptation to feel just a little sorry for these obviously flawed men as fate takes it's inevitable steps. Well worth a watch, I'd say - it's a complex analysis of two men with few boundaries.

Media

  • In Cold Blood poster
  • In Cold Blood poster
  • In Cold Blood poster
  • In Cold Blood poster
  • In Cold Blood poster
  • In Cold Blood poster
  • In Cold Blood poster
  • In Cold Blood poster
  • In Cold Blood poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$3,500,000.00
Revenue
$13,007,551.00
Keywords
murdertrue crimefarmergay themetragic