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In Cold Blood

R Released Dec 14, 1967 2h 14m Drama List
76% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In this adaptation of Truman Capote's seminal true-crime novel, ex-convicts Perry Smith (Robert Blake) and Richard "Dick" Hickock (Scott Wilson) hatch a plan to rob a wealthy Kansas family, the Clutters. The men enter the Clutter home expecting to find a safe filled with cash, but in fact find no money at all. Enraged, they kill the entire family and flee. While on the run, they face not only the realities of their terrible crime but also their own earthly impermanence.
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In Cold Blood

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Critics Consensus

In Cold Blood is a classic docudrama with a fictional thriller's grip -- and a pair of terrific lead performances from Robert Blake and Scott Wilson.

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Critics Reviews

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John Russell Taylor Times (UK) The book was cool, long and absorbing; the film is overheated, not so long as films go these days, and decidedly dull. May 1, 2024 Full Review Geoffrey Macnab Independent (UK) It's both a "true crime" movie and a poetic account of two young men who, by committing an act of unspeakable brutality, unleash the furies against themselves. Rated: 5/5 Sep 11, 2015 Full Review Sophie Monks Kaufman Little White Lies Blake and Wilson give wonderfully natural performances: eerie in their casual attitude to murder but endearing in their open natures. In Cold Blood doesn't judge them but doesn't excuse them. Rated: 4/5 Sep 11, 2015 Full Review Penelope Mortimer Observer (UK) I consider this piece of glamourised violence to be one of the most appalling degradations of human ingenuity I have seen either in or out of the cinema. May 1, 2024 Full Review Madeleine Harmsworth Sunday Mirror (UK) I fear director Brooks has tried too hard for authentic effect. His film is too low-key. Too black to look at, with no relieving sharpness. May 1, 2024 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Brooks, with a close look at documentary and the common elements of police drama, processes the meticulous reconstruction of a homicide. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 7/10 Nov 28, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alec B If the filmmakers kept the focus on Blake and Wilson (both perfectly cast), instead of forcing a number of unnecessary supporting players into the narrative, this might have been a masterpiece, As it stands, the movie has stretches of utter genius that are brought to a grinding halt whenever the cops and reporters start blabbering to one another. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/14/23 Full Review Leaburn O It's unclear if the title relates to the murders or the capital punishment charges hen meted out. Nowhere near as good as the book and that's why it's hard to rate higher. Not bad though. Bought this one on DVD a long time back but wanted to make sure I read the book before watching and pleased that I did so. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/11/23 Full Review Shioka O I don't know about the original novel. The style, cinematography is impressive and I think ahead for the time. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/18/22 Full Review Mike J Truman capote has a very funny voice just like tow aits and the latter sounds like the joker helium is the perpetrator I think so just like Chinatown and Capone is to hardy. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/28/22 Full Review Audience Member When they talk about perfectly edited movies, this should be one of the prime examples of editing. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review dave s Based on Truman Capote's book, In Cold Blood tells the story of Perry Smith (Robert Blake) and Dick Hickock (Scott Wilson), two career criminals who murder a Kansas family while committing a horribly botched home robbery. Despite a distracting and cloying jazz score that mars the first half of the film, In Cold Blood is a powerful indictment of America's barbaric crime and punishment issue. The movie features strong performances from Wilson and Blake, both of whom give their heinous characters a sense of humanity. Bolstered by stark black and white cinematography, In Cold Blood will no doubt spark debate regarding both the root cause of crime and the perceived value of capital punishment. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood: Official Clip - Plotting the Score In Cold Blood: Official Clip - Plotting the Score 1:40 In Cold Blood: Official Clip - Buried Treasure In Cold Blood: Official Clip - Buried Treasure 2:12 In Cold Blood: Official Clip - The Valley of the Shadow of Death In Cold Blood: Official Clip - The Valley of the Shadow of Death 2:12 In Cold Blood: Official Clip - Hopeless Dreams In Cold Blood: Official Clip - Hopeless Dreams 2:02 In Cold Blood: Official Clip - Silver Dollar In Cold Blood: Official Clip - Silver Dollar 2:06 In Cold Blood: Official Clip - The Last Living Thing You're Ever Gonna See In Cold Blood: Official Clip - The Last Living Thing You're Ever Gonna See 2:03 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis In this adaptation of Truman Capote's seminal true-crime novel, ex-convicts Perry Smith (Robert Blake) and Richard "Dick" Hickock (Scott Wilson) hatch a plan to rob a wealthy Kansas family, the Clutters. The men enter the Clutter home expecting to find a safe filled with cash, but in fact find no money at all. Enraged, they kill the entire family and flee. While on the run, they face not only the realities of their terrible crime but also their own earthly impermanence.
Director
Richard Brooks
Producer
Richard Brooks
Screenwriter
Richard Brooks, Truman Capote
Distributor
Columbia TriStar Home Video, Columbia Home Video, Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 14, 1967, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2009
Runtime
2h 14m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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