Movielogr

Rating: 6.5 stars

Tags

based on a book investigation murder nudity conspiracy tank sex explosion wealth power father corruption helicopter philadelphia new york city winter

All movies seen on 07/19/2015

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Winter Kills (1979)

Directed by William Richert

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Overview

The younger brother of an assassinated US President is led down a rabbit hole of conspiracies and dead ends after learning of a man claiming to be the real shooter.

Length 97 minutes

Actors

Jeff Bridges | John Huston | Anthony Perkins | Eli Wallach | Sterling Hayden | Dorothy Malone | Tomás Milián | Belinda Bauer | Ralph Meeker | Toshirō Mifune | Richard Boone | David Spielberg | Brad Dexter | Michael Thoma | Ed Madsen | Irving Selbst | Chris Soldo | Robert Courtleigh | Peter Brandon | Joe Spinell | Ira S. Rosenstein | Kyle Morris | Phil Lito | Barbara Richert | Jake Strider Hughes | Patrice Bough | Eloise Hardt | Gladys Hill | Kim O’Brien | Candice Rialson | Bill P. Wilson | Loyd Catlett | Michael Bond | Helen Fagan | Peter Kilman | Gianni Russo | Peter Koshel | Lissette Álvarez | Robert F. Boyle | Sidney Lanier | Helen Curry | Derrick Lynn-Thomas | Jesse Veliz | Robert Wolcott | Robert Moresco | Agneta Eckemyr | Tisa Farrow | Billie Allen | Joseph Ragno | Loutz Gage | Camilla Sparv | Andrea Claudio | Erin Gray | Susan Walden | Rebecca Grimes | Jennifer Keith | Amanda Jones | Berry Berenson | Tim Culbertson | Regis Mull | Helen Kelly | Byron Morrow | Elizabeth Taylor

Viewing History (seen 2 times)

Viewing Notes

Picked this up because of the cast. Wasn’t familiar with the book or film until I came across it from doing a search in my library network.

Okay, this movie is a trip. Can’t declare it a “great” movie but it is a movie worth viewing. I did not know the story is loosely based on the Kennedys, specifically Joseph Kennedy and the JFK assassination. Having that context definitely improves the viewing. I rewatched most of the film with the director’s commentary, which is more interesting than the movie. I’m fascinated by the filmmaking process in the 70s and Bill Richert goes into great detail about the process in this film; the numerous times production was shut down for lack of money, who was funding the film, etc.

Also he has an incredible memory. He recalls even the bit actors names and how they came to be apart of the movie. He notes how Joe Spinell was involved (you wouldn’t know him in the movie since he’s bandaged up in the first scene). The story about Elizabeth Taylor is great (Erin Gray is one of her girls). Belinda Bauer, who is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous, was dating Richert at the time (this was her first film), another great story. In general plenty of excellent BTS stories about John Huston and Richard Boone (who was drunk 99% of the time) and the rest.

On my first watch I was dismayed that Toshiro Mifune was cast as a fucking servant. What a waste of his talent and sad that this was how he was getting work. The commentary revealed that Mifune was intrigued by the role, a man so powerful that he has servants like Mifune on his staff. Sadly most of his scenes were cut because Richert said his accent was too thick and undecipherable.

Anyways, definitely a cool movie and even cool commentary.

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