I was so desperate to watch the
film after finishing Truman Capote’s brilliant crime novel based on real and controversial
Clutter family murder case of Kansas .
Capote’s detailed reconstruction of the horrible motiveless homicide crime by
two young men and its aftermath is a chilling and gripping account touching
multiple themes of crimes, psychology and punishment unraveling relevant American
nightmare that keeps shocking reality in one or another form time to time. The
book is indeed a topnotch work mixing Capote’s journalistic skill and
imaginative power. The film adaptation made by Richard Brook came just two
years after its publication and it maintains faithfulness to the original
without missing any underlying gaps in significant incident or narration until
two full hours and then they compressed the novel’s other half short within
fifteen minutes. Though the film used documentary like narration to give it
required justice in the later half. There maybe reasons for this and most easy
to guess is to maintain the cinematic pace and attention of the common
audience. The film also rid away with convicts past and family life except
moments of a few memory scenes of Perry. The original novel gave it the whole
new dimension which the film misses terribly. But then I won’t say its
injustice to the original as cinematic medium has its own exploiting
limitations and power.
The film has perfectly etched out
characters especially the two guys who played Perry and Dick; Robert Blake and
Scott Wilson. Brooks shot the film at all original locations to give it
authentic feel including the Clutter house and even actual court room and
gallows. Conrad Hall’s stunning B&W
camera reminds me Hollywood ’s
classic B&W noirs and there are number of scenes which leave the impact of
man’s experimental talents of visual legacy. The last scene where prior to
moving to gallows Perry summing up his life, the rain drops on window reflected
on his face like tears gave it altogether poetic feel. Quincy Jones background
score is an added attraction.
This is the real chapter of
American nightmare and indeed a mandatory watch for all crime film fans.
Ratings- 8/10
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