Helter Skelter

Director: Tom Gries

Overview

"Steve Railsback's superb and unsettling performance as Charles Manson brings this made-for-TV movie to life, and the film gets a simple but respectful treatment for its release on DVD. Helter Skelter has been transferred to disc in the full-frame aspect

Product Details

Release Date:	09/13/2005
UPC:	0085393193829
Original Release:	1976
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Home Video
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	3:04:00
Sales rank:	4,761

Special Features

Closed Caption; [None specified]

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

George DiCenzo	Vincent Bugliosi
Steve Railsback	Charles Manson
Nancy Wolfe	Susan Atkins
Marilyn Burns	Linda Kasabian,Frank Fowler
Christina Hart	Patricia Krenwinkel
Cathey Paine	Leslie Van Houten
Alan Oppenheimer	Aaron Stovitz
Rudy Ramos	Danny DeCarlo
Sondra Blake	Ronnie Howard
Wright King	Friend
Edward Bell	Sgt. Hank Kruger
Roy Jenson	Punchy
Marc Alaimo	Phil Cohen
Paul Mantee	Sgt. O'Neal
Bill Durkin	Tex Watson
Phillip Allen	Sgt. Manuel Gris
David Clennon	Harry Jones
Ray Middleton	Mr. Spahn
Anthony Herrera	Sgt. Smith
Al Checco	Leno LaBianca
Robert Hoy	Sgt. Franklin
Stanley Ross	Sgt. Ross
Jerry Dunphy	Newscaster
George Putnam	Newscaster
Barbara Mallory	"Family" Girl
Deborah Parsons	"Family" Girl
Linden Chiles	J. Miller Leavy
Mary Pass	Sgt. Broom
Carole White	Big Sal
Dorothy Meyer	Housekeeper
Tracy Morgan	Henna Woman,Officer Columbine
Bert Williams	Deputy,Terrence Milik
Ralph Montgomery	Grand Jury Foreman
Richard Venture	Police Inspector
Louise Clark	Susan Struthers
Larry Pennell	Sgt. White
Jim Boles	Camarinos
Paul Kent	Dennis Ranson
Robert Rothwell	TV Reporter
Jack Miller	Joe Dorgan
Alan Dexter	Dog Owner
Josh Albee	Struthers
John Evans	Sanderson
Sidney Clute	Reporter
Bruce French	Officer Ocher
Howard Caine	Everett Scoville
Jason Ronard	Paul Watkins
Skip Homeier	Judge Older
Jonathan Lippe	Hank Charter
Joyce Easton	Gail Bugliosi
Joe Roman	The Bailiff
Bill Sorrells	Gillespie
John Furlong	Judge Dell
Robert Ito	Drees Darrin
Rod Arrants	Bart Listen
Guy Remsen	Andy Cookley
Cal Haynes	Keith
Jonathan Gries	William Garretson
James Brodhead	Mr. Quint
Douglas McGrath	Plainsclothesman
Billy Goldenberg	Composer

Technical Credits

J.P. Miller

Lee Rich	Executive Producer
Philip Capice	Executive Producer
Jesse Wayne	Stunts
J.P. Miller	Screenwriter

Scene Index

Side #1 --
1. August 9, 1969 [5:12]
2. Body Count [4:44]
3. How Come I Wasn't? [3:58]
4. The Dope Angle [1:50]
5. August 10-12, 1969 [2:20]
6. White Album Relation [1:32]
7. Commune Raid [4:57]
8. Manson's Record [2:52]
9. Found and Missing [5:24]
10. Details of Death [4:22]
11. Sadie's Story [5:02]
12. New Prosecutor [2:29]
13. Deal With Danny [3:34]
14. Lovingly Butchered [4:56]
15. Ronnie Makes a Call [4:09]
16. Searching for Proof [5:05]
17. Only Love [3:22]
18. Manson's Domination [4:16]
19. Leslie Doesn't Remember [3:16]
20. Fingerprint Found [2:08]
21. Susan's Sickening Tale [7:02]
22. Helter Skelter [4:55]
23. Publicity and Arraignments [3:40]
24. Connections [2:40]
25. Canyon Clothes [4:02]
26. Shared Incompetence [3:00]
27. Big Bluff [3:43]
28. Like Hitler [5:46]
29. Biblical Beatles [7:00]
30. King of the World [3:56]
31. Mockery of Justice [3:14]
32. Opening Statement [6:30]
33. Inside the Family [3:04]
34. Now Is the Time [6:57]
35. Memories of Slaughter [5:25]
36. Showing Them How [3:53]
37. Headline Gambit [2:51]
38. Mistrial Gambit [4:28]
39. A Reflection of You [6:06]
40. Closing Statement [8:54]
41. The Verdict [2:27]
42. The Sentence [2:55]
43. More Mansons? [4:03]
44. End Credits [1:23]

Menu

Side #1 --
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Languages
Spoken Languages: English
Subtitles: English
Subtitles: Français
Subtitles: Español
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Editorial Reviews

Adapted from the book by Vincent Bugliosi, Helter Skelter is a stellar docudrama that details the Manson family murders and the subsequent trial. Using a documentary style with voice-over narration to keep the story moving along, director Tom Gries perfectly captures the horrifying details of the case, including Charles Manson's eerie, brainwashed followers and his belief that he was receiving messages to start a race war from The Beatles' White Album. The film also does a fantastic job of conveying the public fear over a case that sent shock waves throughout the entire nation. In the part of Manson, Steve Railsback is frenetic, frightening, and always mesmerizing. His powerful address to the courtroom at the end even provokes a glimpse of sympathy for the madman. In a less exciting role opposite Railsback, George DiCenzo is solid as Bugliosi, the young lawyer chosen to prosecute the case. Helter Skelter was originally shown as a two-part CBS television movie that ran 194 minutes, but beware the video version released in the 1980s -- it comes in at a significantly chopped 119 minutes.