In Cold Blood is an American true crime drama television miniseries directed by Jonathan Kaplan and written by Benedict Fitzgerald. It is based on the 1966 novel of the same name by Truman Capote, which reconstructs the 1959 murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. The miniseries stars Anthony Edwards, Eric Roberts, and Sam Neill, with Leo Rossi, Louise Latham, Gwen Verdon, Bethel Leslie, L. Q. Jones, Gillian Barber, and Kevin Tighe in supporting roles.
| In Cold Blood | |
|---|---|
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| Based on | In Cold Blood by Truman Capote |
| Written by | Benedict Fitzgerald |
| Directed by | Jonathan Kaplan |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Hummie Mann |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Robert Halmi |
| Producer | Tom Rowe |
| Production locations | Alberta, Canada |
| Cinematography | Peter Woeste |
| Editor | Michael D. Ornstein |
| Running time | 180 minutes |
| Production company | Pacific Motion Pictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | November 24 – November 26, 1996 |
In Cold Blood received critical acclaim and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Miniseries. Roberts was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award for his portrayal of mass murderer Perry Smith.
Plot
At the end of the 1950s, in a more innocent America, a brutal, meaningless slaying of a Midwestern family horrifies the nation. While in prison, Dick Hickock, 28, hears a cellmate's story about $10,000 in cash kept in a home safe by a prosperous farmer. When he's paroled, Dick persuades ex-con Perry Smith, 31, to join him in going after the stash.
On a November night in 1959, Dick and Perry break into the Holcomb, Kansas, farm house of Herbert Clutter and family. Enraged at finding no safe, they wake the four sleeping Clutters and brutally kill them all. The bodies are found by friends who come by before Sunday church. The murders shock the small Great Plains town, where doors are routinely left unlocked. Detective Alvin Dewey of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation heads the case, but there are no clues, no apparent motive and no suspects.
Cast
- Anthony Edwards as Dick Hickock
- Eric Roberts as Perry Smith
- Sam Neill as Alvin Dewey
- Kevin Tighe as Herbert Clutter
- Gillian Barber as Bonnie Clutter
- Margot Finley as Nancy Clutter
- Robbie Bowen as Kenyon Clutter
- Bethel Leslie as Bess Hartmann
- Gwen Verdon as Sadie Truitt
- Leo Rossi as Harold Nye
- Troy Evans as Carl Duntz
- Don S. Davis as Roy Church
- L. Q. Jones as Tex Smith
- Louise Latham as Eunice Hickock
- Campbell Lane as Walter Hickock
- Tom McBeath as Alfred Stoecklein
- Brad Greenquist as Floyd Wells
- Stella Stevens as Hotel Keeper
- Ryan Reynolds as Bobby Rupp
- Lindsey Campbell as Susan Kidwell
- Emily Perkins as Kathy Ewalt
- Susan Hogan as Marie Dewey
- Harry Northup as Minister
- Frank C. Turner as Clarence Ewalt
- Greg Lawson as Insurance Salesman
- Matthew Lerigny as Little Perry
- Stephanie Anne Mills as Dorie
- Mark Herring as Tom Sawyer
- Liese McDonald as Eveanna Clutter
- Brenda Shuttleworth as Beverly Clutter
- Valerie Planche as Mrs. Ketchum
- Veronika Sztopa as Jolene Ketchum
- Renae Morriseau as Flo Smith
- Jesse Lipscombe as Tommy
- Rhys Williams as Bill
Release
The two-part miniseries aired on CBS on November 24 and 26, 1996.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
