Search - Helter Skelter on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1976 DVD Release: 04/20/2004 Format: DVD - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 3 hrs 4 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 13 Genres: Drama, Docudrama, Courtroom Drama, Crime Drama, True Crime

Based on the best-selling Vincent Bugliosi book of the same name, Helter Skelter is a made-for-TV account of the investigation and prosecution of Charles Manson (Steve Railsback), who was convicted of leading a group of followers (known as "The Family") to murder seven people in California, including actress Sharon Tate. The film takes a Law & Order-like approach, starting with the discovery of the murders, which leads to the police gathering snippets of evidence that they eventually connect to the bigger picture. The second half of the movie concentrates on how District Attorney Bugliosi (George DiCenzo) attains a conviction despite the enormous amount of press coverage the case received. Nancy Wolfe, Christina Hart, and Cathey Paine portray the three loyal Manson Family members who were the co-defendants at his trial. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

George DiCenzo - Vincent Bugliosi
Steve Railsback - Charles Manson
Nancy Wolfe - Susan Atkins
Marilyn Burns - Linda Kasabian
Christina Hart - Patricia Krenwinkel
Cathey Paine - Leslie Van Houten

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 ratio of 1.33:1, and the audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Mono. The dialogue is in English, with optional subtitles in English, Spanish, and French. No bonus materials have been included, but the film has been released on DVD in its complete three-hours-plus running time. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide