| Helter Skelter | |
|---|---|
.jpg) DVD cover ofHelter Skelter | |
| Genre | True crime Crime Drama Thriller |
| Based on | Helter Skelter byVincent Bugliosi Curt Gentry |
| Screenplay by | JP Miller |
| Directed by | Tom Gries |
| Starring | George DiCenzo Steve Railsback Nancy Wolfe Marilyn Burns Christina Hart Cathey Paine Alan Oppenheimer Read Morgan |
| Theme music composer | Billy Goldenberg |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Producers | Philip Capice Lee Rich |
| Cinematography | Jules Brenner |
| Editors | Byron "Buzz" Brandt Bud S. Isaacs |
| Running time | 184 minutes |
| Production company | Lorimar Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | April 1 (1976-04-01) – April 2, 1976 (1976-04-02) |
Helter Skelter is a 1976 Americantrue crimedrama thrillertelevision film based on the 1974book by prosecutorVincent Bugliosi andCurt Gentry. In theUnited States, it aired over two nights. In some countries it was shown in cinemas, with additional footage including nudity, profanity, and more violence.
The movie is based on the murders committed by theCharles Manson Family. The best-known victim was pregnant actressSharon Tate. The title was taken from the 1968Beatles'song of the same name. According to the theory put forward by the prosecution, Manson used the term for an anticipated race war, and "healter skelter" [sic] was scrawled in blood on the refrigerator door at the home of victimsRosemary and Leno LaBianca. It recounts the murders Manson committed, the investigation, and the 1970-71 trial, in which prosecutorVincent Bugliosi attempted to draw connections between the Manson family and his violent convictions.
The 1976 film, directed byTom Gries, starsSteve Railsback as Manson andGeorge DiCenzo as Bugliosi. WriterJP Miller received a 1977Edgar Award from theMystery Writers of America for Best TV Feature or Mini-series Teleplay.
In 2004, the book was adapted for asecond made-for-TV movie, written and directed byJohn Gray and featuringJeremy Davies as Manson.
William Garretson is arrested following the discovery of the bodies ofSharon Tate and her guests at her home but is released three days later for lack of evidence. The police are unwilling to connect the Tate killings to the Hinman murder and LaBianca killings, despite the similarities of the crime scenes including writing in blood on the walls, and instead pursue a drug-related angle for the Tate killings.
The police raidSpahn Ranch in an attempt to break up an auto theft ring and arrestManson and his gang. Nine-year-old "Steven Quint" (based on 10-year-old Steven Weiss) discovers a gun and his father turns it over to the police, where it is ignored. The Manson Family is released from prison and later two girls fleeing from Death Valley, "Stephanie Mark" (based on Stephanie Schram) and Kitty Lutesinger, tell police that the Manson Family has moved to Barker Ranch and thatSusan Atkins was involved in the Hinman murder. Susan is arrested and reveals to her fellow inmate Ronnie Howard that she also killed Sharon Tate and was involved in eleven other killings.
Los AngelesDistrict AttorneyVincent Bugliosi interviews Danny DeCarlo, who gives a tour of Spahn Ranch and says that Manson had a .22 caliberBuntline revolver matching that used in the murders. Ronnie Howard calls the homicide division and tells them what Susan confessed to her. Bugliosi requests bail to be set high for Manson's trial for burning municipalearthmoving equipment in order to give him time to get evidence for the grand jury for the murders.
Bugliosi interviews the Manson Girls and obtains arrest warrants for participants in the killings.Linda Kasabian turns herself in on the warrant while the fingerprints ofTex Watson andPatricia Krenwinkel are matched to those found at the Tate residence. During the grand jury proceedings, Susan gives all of the details of the Tate and LaBianca killings. As a result, Susan,Leslie Van Houten, Tex, Patricia, Linda, and Manson are all brought up on charges.
A reporter and photographer fromKABC-TV,Los Angeles who are attempting to retrace the events of the crime as reported in the newspaper, discover where the bloody clothes from the murders have been discarded. Steven's father calls to ask about the .22 revolver, but the police tell him that they don't have time for him and hang up on him. He tells the story to the news in order to embarrass the investigators. Bugliosi uses ballistics testing to link the gun to the one used on victimJay Sebring.
Manson chooses to represent himself at trial and Bugliosi tricks Manson into requesting more time, thus also giving himself more time to put a stronger case together. Bugliosi interviews former Manson Family memberPaul Watkins, who explains Manson's views that theBeatles are sending him messages to spark a race war dubbed "Helter Skelter".
During the trial, testimony is heard from Linda Kasabian regarding the Tate and LaBianca murders despite repeated objections from the counsel for the defense. At one point Manson leaps at the judge but is subdued. He demands to give testimony, much of which works to his disadvantage. Due to their continuous disruptions, the defendants are ordered out of the courtroom during the closing arguments. Ultimately all of the defendants are sentenced to death but California later eliminates the death penalty in 1972, making the convicts eligible to apply for parole in the future.
The first part of the film premiered onCBS on Thursday, April 1, 1976 with aNielsen rating of 35.2 and an audience share of 57%, making it the most watched made-for-TV movie ever, surpassing 1972'sThe Night Stalker.[1] The concluding part aired the following night and had an ever better rating of 37.5 and an audience share of 60%.[1]
The average household share of 36.5 was eclipsed the following year byLittle Ladies of the Night but the 37.5 rating for the concluding part was not eclipsed by a made-for-TV movie until 1983'sThe Day After[1] which, as of 2023, still holds the record for the most-watched made for television film.
At the time of its broadcast, the average household share made it the eleventh-highest-rated movie to air on network television,[1] and as of 2003 it ranked 16th.[2]
The 1959 Ford driven byLinda Kasabian on the two nights of murder was loaned to the producers by LAPD for use in this film.
The actual LaBianca residence was used for exterior shots in this film.
Onreview aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on11 reviews, with aweighted average rating of 7.3/10.[3]
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