On B List of Movie Reviews
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The Boston Strangler (1968)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
9/14
9/14:
Despite the semi-all-star cast, nobody can save The Boston Strangler from being a pedestrian stinker.
The blame lies squarely on Richard Fleischer's shoulders for the inept direction. Whose bright idea was it to go for the
gimmicky split-screen technique? It makes things worse. Every time the technique is used, the intended effect is never reached
because there's a long awkward pause while the action is attempting to materialize. However, I'm able to put up with it in
the first hour because the film does well in other aspects. Then by the time the Boston Strangler is apprehended, it's
all downhill thereafter.
The torture is watching Tony Curtis to speak utter nonsense for half an hour which goes nowhere. That kind of stuff belongs in
an improv workshop at some actor studio. Henry Fonda adds no value to the story, and George Kennedy doesn't do much, either.
It'll be easier if the cast is replaced with lesser known actors because the all-star treatment makes no difference.
Obviously, nobody read Gerold Frank's book since the material has been made up. Hence, lots of
factual information including the measuring man ploy are missing. Of what I saw, the most ridiculous part, apart from the
multiple personality disorder crap and the whole confession thing, is Hurkos as the omniscient psychic when he was in fact
a certified fraud.
All in all, The Boston Strangler is a disappointing picture with a lot of made-up stuff.