| ||||||||||||||||||||
Save now on Hit TV Comedies such as Married with Children, Community, King of Queens and many more. Offer ends May 31, 2013. |
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Special Features
None.
Editorial Reviews
Of Dolls and Murder explores a haunting collection of dollhouse crime scenes and our universal fascination with murder. The documentary film explores the dioramas, the woman who created them, and their relationship to modern day forensics. From the iconic CSI television show to the Body Farm and criminally minded college students and a crime fighting granny, legendary filmmaker and true crime aficionado, John Waters narrates the tiny world of big time murder.
Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By C. Bennett
Format:DVD
Of Dolls and Murder is a great little documentary about the art of the crime scene. The film is wonderfully narrated by the famous John Waters who's added flair makes the gruesome subject manner oddly enjoyable.
While the film jumps around a bit, studying everything from the popularity of the CSI franchise to a local body farm, the main focus is on Frances Glessner Lee. Lee was frustrated about her home life, a strict father kept her from continuing her education like her brother. Her Brother, George Burgess Magrath, would occassionaly visit home and share stories of crime and the criminals who were literally getting away with murder. These stories would eventually inspire Lee to create a series of intricate dollhouses depicting various crime scenes.
While it might seem juvenile to some, these detailed doll houses helped mold the science of forensics into what it is today.
As mentioned earlier, the film has a few subjects all related to the study of the crime scene. There are various interviews with experts in the field, from seasoned detectives to the creators of television shows. We get a behind the scenes look at everything, no stone is left unturned. As a fan of not just documentaries, but also true crime, I was intrigued from beginning to end. My one and only complaint is that it wasn't long enough!
Do yourself a favor and check this one out!
While the film jumps around a bit, studying everything from the popularity of the CSI franchise to a local body farm, the main focus is on Frances Glessner Lee. Lee was frustrated about her home life, a strict father kept her from continuing her education like her brother. Her Brother, George Burgess Magrath, would occassionaly visit home and share stories of crime and the criminals who were literally getting away with murder. These stories would eventually inspire Lee to create a series of intricate dollhouses depicting various crime scenes.
While it might seem juvenile to some, these detailed doll houses helped mold the science of forensics into what it is today.
As mentioned earlier, the film has a few subjects all related to the study of the crime scene. There are various interviews with experts in the field, from seasoned detectives to the creators of television shows. We get a behind the scenes look at everything, no stone is left unturned. As a fan of not just documentaries, but also true crime, I was intrigued from beginning to end. My one and only complaint is that it wasn't long enough!
Do yourself a favor and check this one out!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was so excited to see this that I bought it sight unseen. That was a mistake. The story of Frances Glessner Lee's Nutshell Studies is a fascinating one, but this film does little to flesh the story out. The first 15-20 minutes delve into creation of the murder dioramas and their creator (Lee).
From there, the documentary takes a negative turn and wastes the closing 45-50 minutes describing modern forensics/crime scene investigation. This would have been effective if the filmmaker hadn't abandoned Waters' narration (his narration literally lasts for 7-10 minutes) and further discussion of Lee and her work. Instead, the viewer is forced to sit through the banter of producers/writers for TV dramas like CSI talk about modern forensics. What do they know about modern forensics, save for the kind that are portrayed on TV in melodramatic fashion?
The film started out strong and completely died before it was given an honest chance of becoming something bigger. Hopefully someone will create a longer, more fleshed out telling of Lee's life, her complex works, and her undeniable influence on forensic investigation.
From there, the documentary takes a negative turn and wastes the closing 45-50 minutes describing modern forensics/crime scene investigation. This would have been effective if the filmmaker hadn't abandoned Waters' narration (his narration literally lasts for 7-10 minutes) and further discussion of Lee and her work. Instead, the viewer is forced to sit through the banter of producers/writers for TV dramas like CSI talk about modern forensics. What do they know about modern forensics, save for the kind that are portrayed on TV in melodramatic fashion?
The film started out strong and completely died before it was given an honest chance of becoming something bigger. Hopefully someone will create a longer, more fleshed out telling of Lee's life, her complex works, and her undeniable influence on forensic investigation.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A. Baldwin
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Nutshell Murderer dollhouses are so mesmerizing with their mix of innocence and the macabre that it's no wonder the filmakers felt they had to share them. Along with telling the story of the dollhouses, they tell the inspiring story of the woman who made them, Frances Glessner Lee. Lee is a forgotten pioneer in modern police and forensics techniques, so it is wonderful to see her story told.
The best part of the film though is how the filmmakers feature and follow real detectives and forensic pathologists doing mundane, thankless--and definitely not glamorous-- work to find justice for murder victims and their families. Their dedication to their work is very moving.
In the end, I feel this is a film about passion. The passion for creation, deduction, and justice.
The best part of the film though is how the filmmakers feature and follow real detectives and forensic pathologists doing mundane, thankless--and definitely not glamorous-- work to find justice for murder victims and their families. Their dedication to their work is very moving.
In the end, I feel this is a film about passion. The passion for creation, deduction, and justice.
