Product Details

• Actors: Stacy Keach
• Directors: Nova
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: WGBH BOSTON
• DVD Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00067BC90
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #100,447 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Fires were breaking out all over greater Los Angeles. Suspicious fires. From the mid-1980s to the early '90s, dozens of retail businesses were bursting into flames.

With precious few clues to go on, authorities piece together a case based on a malfunctioning incendiary device, a smudge fingerprint, a peculiar pattern of outbreaks and the strangest development of all: an incriminating, unpublished novel sent to a literary agent. These events net a surprising suspect. A clue: the suspect was filmed by NOVA.

As the investigation unfolds, it has all the elements of a classic detective story: the serendipitous lead, the culling of suspects, the fortuitous fingerprint, the disastrous miscalculation, the carefully orchestrated surveillance—and the artfully dodged surveillance—and the inevitable bizarre twist. Special DVD features include: materials and activities for educators; a link to the NOVA Web site; scene selections; and closed captions. On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: 4 x 3 Full Screen.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get the three part collection including Hunt for Serial Arsonist, May 25, 2009

By	JB "betterfed" (Fremont, CA) - See all my reviews

Just a hint for True Crime buffs. This program came in a three part boxed set from Nova called "Murder and Mayhem" and included The Sam Shepard case on one DVD, and the Serial Murderer Arthur Shawcross on the other.

All three programs, including this one, "The Hunt for the Serial Arsonist" were excellent documentaries of the tracking down and ultimate prosecution of some of the more notorious criminals in the 20th Century.

Stacy Keach's narration of the "Serial Arsonist" DVD is superb, and the program documents the investigation, surveillance, and ultimate arrest of a Glendale California Fire Arson Inspector who himself committed numerous arson fires.

During the 80's and 90's Fire Investigator John Orr set fires in Department Stores, Fabric Emporiums, and in the foothills of his own hometown of Glendale until he was caught from fingerprints found on one of his homemade matchbook igniters that failed to work in a linen shop.

With the help of Federal ATF agents they hunted down Orr and put him in jail and continued to discover new fires he had set that caused the deaths of victims of his arson fires.

This bizarre twist of fate, makes this program all the more interesting as Orr is initially presented as an "Expert Witness", only to realize he is being filmed while in prison serving his sentence as "The Serial Arsonist." When purchased in the three pack set, this is an excellent value and well worth the time to view.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Film, August 2, 2008

By	Otis (Florida) - See all my reviews

This was a great video for Forensic Science. The students in my High School got an inside look at arson. Good demo of arson. Well done.