Product Details

• Actors: Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, George Kennedy, Mike Kellin, Hurd Hatfield
• Format: NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Fox Home Entertainme
• VHS Release Date: May 26, 1988
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301797892
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #293,060 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The unexpected casting of Tony Curtis as the presumed Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, is only the first of the attractions of this hard-nosed suspense picture. Although the style of The Boston Strangler looks dated today, with its split-screen experiments and post-Bonnie and Clyde permissiveness, the film still has the clean, strong lines of a methodical policier. For the first hour, we don't focus on the Strangler, instead following the Beantown cops (led by Henry Fonda) as they track down leads; the best sequence is the near-accidental connection made between burglary suspect DeSalvo and the killings. Director Richard Fleischer had a forceful hand with true-crime material (Compulsion, 10 Rillington Place) and he takes an unblinking look into the then-taboo subject of sexual pathology. Curtis's physical transformation into a dumpy, dull-eyed brute is the best aspect of his performance; it's a role he lobbied hard for, but it did not lead to more challenging work. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Saw a review copy.....some nice features on this DVD, August 31, 2004

By 

Darren Harrison "DVD collector and reviewer" (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boston Strangler (DVD)

Tony Curtis and Henry Fonda star in the critically acclaimed movie based on the true events of a serial killer that killed 13 women from 1962 to 1964. This movie takes a documentary style approach in following the investigators as they piece together the clues behind a seemingly random series of murders. Fonda stars as police detective John S. Bottomly and Curtis co-stars as Albert DeSalvo, the man who eventually confessed to the crimes. Of particular interest on this DVD is the inclusion of the 21-minute Backstory documentary on the movie that originally appeared on the AMC cable channel, interviewed on camera are Tony Curtis (who gushes with his appreciation of the movie), the director Richard Fleischer and producer Richard Zanuck. Also featured is a three-minute Fox Movietone newsreel of the actual events that appears to be missing part of its audio track. Rounbding out the special features is a selection of eight trailers including a theatrical trailer and teaser for the main feature that are both in wodescreen with excellent picture and only a slightly distorted (from age) audio track. This is an excellent movie and DVD - recommended.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars " Murder, Mayhem and Madness", February 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Boston Strangler [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Tony Curtis gives the best performance of his life! The Boston Strangler is without a doubt the greatest camera work I have ever seen, split screen, widescreen, multi camera frames on one screen. Mr. Fleischer you made a real piece of artwork that will stand the test of time! The camera tell's and reminds you how each seen is played out on a multi pictured screen! It is a puzzle that you have to put together in your mind , a lot of fun! Tony you played the greatest Psychological character I have ever seen on screen! I know because of my own experiences. Albert De Salvo the real Boston Strangler while in prison made 2 leather wallet's, in which he gave them to Dir. Fleischer & com. Tony did not receive one! (I guess De Salvo did not like my performance Tony once said!) This is a rare one! A must see! Thank you Tony for one of the greatest performances!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting, April 25, 2003

By 

K. E. Fuhrmann (SO CAL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Boston Strangler [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie is haunting, creepy, and fascinating. The first half of the movie deals with the gradual shock and horror in Boston as the stranglings continue, and focuses on the search by the police for the killer, including many false leads (which are fascinating in themselves). The camera work is interesting (including split screen effects) and contributes to a sense of unease as the search intensifies. (This movie should be seen in widescreen so I hope the DVD version is forthcoming.) The acting may seem a little flat and Jack-Webbish at times.

The second half of the movie is incredible. Henry Fonda finds Tony Curtis and suspects he may be the strangler. Their scenes together are powerful. Henry Fonda gently but forcefully guides the strangler to a realization of what he's done. There are scenes that are filmed in such a way that you are able to feel along with the strangler a sense of dread and horror as the truth of what he's done begins to unfold. Tony Curtis is gives a stunning peformance. He is totally convincing as the disturbed plumber. Some of the scenes stay in your mind a long time. There is no gore, but there is one scene of an attack, and in general the film is somewhat disturbing, so I wouldn't let a young child or anyone too unstable watch it. The movie deals compassionately with the strangler as a victim of a severe mental illness, and Tony Curtis brings a strong sense of pathos to the role.