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Movies / On DVD / The Boston Strangler
The Boston Strangler

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The Boston Strangler (1968)

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92 %
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Reviews Counted:12

Fresh:11

Rotten:1

Average Rating:6.5/10

Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Boston, 1962. Several elderly women are strangled, apparently by the same unknown assailant. An investigation ensues, but clues lead nowhere. Then the strangler starts to attack younger women. John... Boston, 1962. Several elderly women are strangled, apparently by the same unknown assailant. An investigation ensues, but clues lead nowhere. Then the strangler starts to attack younger women. John Bottomly (Henry Fonda) is assigned to direct a more intense investigation, interviewing even the remotest suspects. Meanwhile, the murders continue. Dianne Cluny (Sally Kellerman) survives an attack but remembers only that she bit her attacker's hand. When Albert DeSalvo (Tony Curtis) is caught breaking into an apartment, his mental capabilities are questioned. He goes to the hospital for observation, and there someone notices a bite mark on his hand... Director Richard Fleischer forgoes his usual flexible but unobtrusive style in THE BOSTON STRANGLER. Shooting in Cinemascope, he makes flamboyant use of the wide screen--splitting it to show multiple images and multiple action as the police pursue leads and hunt for suspects. As a suspect recounts events in a long interrogation sequence, Fleischer imaginatively shows the suspect and his interrogator in flashbacks. With a fine and uncharacteristic performance by Curtis and vivid appearances by Hurd Hatfield and William Hickey, THE BOSTON STRANGLER is a fine addition to Fleischer's series of movies based on real-life murders, following THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING and COMPULSION. [More]

Starring: Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis, George Kennedy, Sally Kellerman

Starring: Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis, George Kennedy, Sally Kellerman, Mike Kellin, Hurd Hatfield, Murray Hamilton, Jeff Corey, George Voskovec, Leora Dana

Director: Richard Fleischer

Director: Richard Fleischer
Screenwriter: Edward Anhalt
Producer: Robert Fryer
Composer: Lionel Newman

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Sep 7, 2004

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Reviews for The Boston Strangler

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1 - 17 (sorted by date)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An excellent movie, Curtis' best role ever as the tortured Albert DeSalvo. the documentary-style suits the film perfectly. wonderfully underplayed and suspenseful from beginning to end.

comment Comment
08/08/07
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Another fascinating true-crime drama by the underestimated Richard Fleischer. A cast against type Tony Curtis is excellent as killer Albert DeSalvo.

comment Comment
10/09/05
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

No review available.

comment Comment
07/14/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/09/05
Renata Adler
Renata Adler
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
04/13/05
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

No review available.

comment Comment
11/19/04
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/23/04
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
07/27/04
Angela Baldassarre
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca

Curtis works hard to give his character some force in one of his best performances.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/02/04
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
08/05/02
Staci Layne Wilson
Staci Layne Wilson
Fantastica Daily

No review available.

comment Comment
07/30/02
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
07/26/02
David Poland
David Poland
Hot Button

Pretty nasty stuff for its time.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Bob Grimm
Bob Grimm
Las Vegas Mercury
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/22/02
Jerry Renshaw
Jerry Renshaw
Austin Chronicle
 
 
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