In Cold Blood (1967)

My Review

“In Cold Blood” tells the story of two ex-convicts who murder a family of four in rural Kansas. Director-screenwriter Richard Brooks (“Blackboard Jungle” 1955) put together a realistic film which has a semi-documentary feel to it. The film is marked by good production values, riveting performances, and marvelous writing, adapted from the 1966 novel of the same name by Truman Capote.

The cast includes Robert Blake and Scott Wilson as the two murderers, John Forsythe, Gerald S. O’Loughlin, Will Geer, Jeff Corey, Charles McGraw, James Flavin, Vaughn Taylor, and Raymond Hatton in his final film role, in a career which began in 1909 in silent pictures. “In Cold Blood” was popular in theatrical release for producer Richard Brooks, Pax Enterprises, and Columbia Pictures. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography (Conrad L. Hall), and Best Original Music Score (Quincy Jones).