Product Details

• Actors: Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson, John Hurt, Pat Heywood, Isobel Black
• Directors: Richard Fleischer
• Writers: Clive Exton, Ludovic Kennedy
• Producers: Basil Appleby, Leslie Linder, Martin Ransohoff
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: June 25, 1996
• Run Time: 111 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302862884
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,403 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chilling story..., November 30, 2005

By 

John Dynan (Highett, Vic Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 10 Rillington Place ( Ten Rillington Place ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - United Kingdom ] (DVD)

10 Rillington Place is not a fun movie for those looking for a Saturday night popcorn/splatter fest. It is a hard-edged, harrowing account of the true story of British mass-murderer John Reginald Christie and his hapless fall guy, Timothy Evans. The film, directed by Richard Fleischer and featuring Richard Attenborough and John Hurt in the two leading roles, is based on the book of the same name written by prolific British writer Ludovic Kennedy. This controversial case, which resulted in two hangings, came back to haunt Britain after everyone thought it had been resolved and was paramount in the abandonment of capital punishment in the UK. The slant in this film is unmistakeable.

Starting in 1949, the Evans family: Timothy, his wife Beryl and their baby daughter Geraldine, arrived at Christie's dingy Rillington Place address to rent the apartment on the top floor. Christie had already killed two women by this time and would continue to do so after the Evans's had gone. Timothy Evans was a compulsive liar of rather limited intelligence and it was his gullibility combined with Christie's manipulative talents which would eventually get him into trouble.

Posing as a backyard abortionist, Christie sets to work on the newly-pregnant Beryl with predictably awful results and this is one of the most distressing scenes in this very disturbing film. He then convinces Evans that he should leave or face the consequences, promising to place the baby in the care of some friends in Acton. For Evans, as if things weren't bad enough already, they only get worse from here.

Shot in the original street and using exteriors fronm the actual house, the film has a very stark confronting atmosphere with a seedy brown look, all accentuated by the quietness and lack of music. The acting is very powerful: Attenborough being particularly villainous and the direction is very tight. Intelligently scripted and with no actual gore, it is "the thinking person's horror movie". The result is superb pace and an utterly chilling atmosphere. I think the feeling I got most from this film was one of absolute helplessness and revulsion. A first rate film which makes a very clear point, 10 Rillington Place has a very important message for all and goes way beyond other films of the same genre.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One version of history, December 14, 1999

By 

John Stedman - See all my reviews

This review is from: 10 Rillington Place [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A brilliant period piece capturing the seedy side of post-war London and mostly filmed on the real locations shortly before they were torn down. The story is well known, as are the repercussions in law. However, recent research suggests that the truth may not have been quite as protrayed, and the possible guilt of Evans is subject to current informed speculation. However, the film is well worth seeing for the chilling characterisations and as social history. Classic British cinema.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Post War London Pycho, July 6, 2003

By 

"tonytillyer" (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 10 Rillington Place [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Not really on a parrallel with Norman Bates, but most certainly believable in all respects.

A chilling account of a creepy but outwardly affable Christie, excellently portrayed by Richard Attenborough and John Hurt's fittingly daft and dim Timothy Evans in post war London.

The acting is well supported with bleached, drab colours and the grim surroundings of Rillington Place (the real tenament was knocked down but the producer's used the other side of Rillington Place's cul-de-sac to film the exteriors.)

The most terrifying and gripping scene is where Timothy, in a state of utter confusion, is thrust from a waiting room to his place of execution. I cannot adequately describe how very saddened and affected I was by this scene - almost to the point of shouting "No!" at the scene.

A physchotic thriller with very, very real acting - you'll be rivetted by both Richard and John.