Product Description

A schizophrenic plumber is responsible for strangling several boston women, but goes undetected until he is arrested for breaking and entering.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37813 in DVD
• Brand: FLEISCHER,RICHARD
• Released on: 2004-09-07
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 116 minutes

Amazon.com
The unexpected casting of Tony Curtis as the presumed Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, is only the first of the attractions of this hard-nosed suspense picture. Although the style of The Boston Strangler looks dated today, with its split-screen experiments and post-Bonnie and Clyde permissiveness, the film still has the clean, strong lines of a methodical policier. For the first hour, we don't focus on the Strangler, instead following the Beantown cops (led by Henry Fonda) as they track down leads; the best sequence is the near-accidental connection made between burglary suspect DeSalvo and the killings. Director Richard Fleischer had a forceful hand with true-crime material (Compulsion, 10 Rillington Place) and he takes an unblinking look into the then-taboo subject of sexual pathology. Curtis's physical transformation into a dumpy, dull-eyed brute is the best aspect of his performance; it's a role he lobbied hard for, but it did not lead to more challenging work. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Saw a review copy.....some nice features on this DVD
Tony Curtis and Henry Fonda star in the critically acclaimed movie based on the true events of a serial killer that killed 13 women from 1962 to 1964. This movie takes a documentary style approach in following the investigators as they piece together the clues behind a seemingly random series of murders. Fonda stars as police detective John S. Bottomly and Curtis co-stars as Albert DeSalvo, the man who eventually confessed to the crimes. Of particular interest on this DVD is the inclusion of the 21-minute Backstory documentary on the movie that originally appeared on the AMC cable channel, interviewed on camera are Tony Curtis (who gushes with his appreciation of the movie), the director Richard Fleischer and producer Richard Zanuck. Also featured is a three-minute Fox Movietone newsreel of the actual events that appears to be missing part of its audio track. Rounbding out the special features is a selection of eight trailers including a theatrical trailer and teaser for the main feature that are both in wodescreen with excellent picture and only a slightly distorted (from age) audio track. This is an excellent movie and DVD - recommended.

" Murder, Mayhem and Madness"
Tony Curtis gives the best performance of his life! The Boston Strangler is without a doubt the greatest camera work I have ever seen, split screen, widescreen, multi camera frames on one screen. Mr. Fleischer you made a real piece of artwork that will stand the test of time! The camera tell's and reminds you how each seen is played out on a multi pictured screen! It is a puzzle that you have to put together in your mind , a lot of fun! Tony you played the greatest Psychological character I have ever seen on screen! I know because of my own experiences. Albert De Salvo the real Boston Strangler while in prison made 2 leather wallet's, in which he gave them to Dir. Fleischer & com. Tony did not receive one! (I guess De Salvo did not like my performance Tony once said!) This is a rare one! A must see! Thank you Tony for one of the greatest performances!

This movie does not choke
Made only a few years after the actual murders, director Fleischer used split-screens with multiple panels to good effect, although the technique originally was resisted.

Tony Curtis, known mainly for light romantic comedies or sword-and-sandal movies, was an unusual (and originally ridiculed) choice as the lead character Albert DeSalvo, outwardly a mild family man, but very troubled on the inside. Apparently DeSalvo blocked out the killings, and was not even aware he was the killer - until he finally cracks in the last scene. Although Curtis doesn't appear till halfway through, he carries the movie from there on out. His performance got much critical acclaim, though ignored at oscar time.

Other big names include Henry Fonda and George Kennedy, and other notable minor roles such as Murray Hamilton, Jeff Corey, Sally Kellerman (debut) and James Brolin.

Widescreen picture and sound are good. I imagine the person with a sync problem needed to do what I do on occasion - rewind a second or two, then play forward. That seems to clear up un-sync any time it happens to me. I'm sure it is the player, not the movie.

DVD features include a short "Movie Tone" news reel with some missing sound, a good 20 minute "AMC Backstory" with interviews by cast and crew, and a handful of trailers for various movies.

Rated "R" for one use of the "F" word and some quick shots of bare breasts. This movie was made when synonyms for "a gay man" were routinely used, and they are used here - but Amazon has chosen to censor them, thus --->(...)

A good one.