In Cold Blood (film)

Brooks, an acquaintance of Truman Capote, was given early drafts of Capote's book In Cold Blood before it was completed, as Capote was considering optioning a film version.[4] Otto Preminger had initially expressed interest in directing an adaptation, but Brooks agreed to the project and purchased the rights from Capote[5] for an estimated $400,000.[6]

Brooks' screenplay followed the structure of the book closely, shifting between Smith and Hickock and the Clutter family,[7] though slight details were included that were not present in the source material.[7] In his adaptation, Brooks intended to demonstrate the "indignity" of capital punishment through an exchange between Smith and a jail guard that occurs at the end of the film, in which Smith asks to use the bathroom before his execution, fearing he will "mess himself" in front of onlookers.[7] Brooks held personal beliefs against the death penalty, and on the crimes, commented: "I think the crime without motive is really what this is about. The crime itself was senseless, the boys' lives before that were senseless, and the end is senseless because it solves nothing."[7] Brooks also included a reporter character in the film who functions as a "Greek chorus" in the proceedings, which was not present in Capote's book.[7] Capote would later admit he felt that the character's inclusion "didn't make sense".[7] Brooks also eliminated discussion of two Clutter daughters who had not been present during the real attacks and had survived; they were allegedly "distraught" by the book and upset at the prospect of a film, so Brooks chose to eliminate them as characters.[8]

Aspiring to recreate a documentary aesthetic for the film, Brooks deliberately cast actors who were relative unknowns.[6] Columbia Pictures originally wanted Paul Newman and Steve McQueen as Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, respectively, but Brooks refused as he felt their star statuses would render their performances less believable to audiences.[6] Around 500 contenders were considered for the roles.[6] Robert Blake was ultimately cast as Smith in November 1966, and Scott Wilson was cast as Hickock in January 1967.[6] Blake had been a child actor and appeared in numerous films prior, but was not well known as an adult.[9] The film marked Wilson's second feature and first major role.[9] Wilson was personally recommended for the part by Sidney Poitier and Quincy Jones (the former of whom he co-starred with in In the Heat of the Night, scored by Jones).[9]

Principal photography of In Cold Blood occurred over 129 days in the spring of 1967.[10] In accordance with Brooks's desire to achieve as much realism as possible, some scenes were filmed in Garden City and Holcomb, Kansas at the locations of the original events, including the Clutter family's farm where the murders took place.[11] The family who owned the Clutter house were paid $15,000 in compensation for the crew's four weeks of filming.[12] The bus station scene was shot at the Union Bus Terminal at 917 McGee in Kansas City, MO. Scenes were also shot in downtown Kansas City, KS on Minnesota Ave. The shoot in Kansas was covered extensively by journalists from both Los Angeles and New York who visited the sets.[8] Permission was denied to film in Kansas State Penitentiary, so interiors of the execution chambers were replicated on Hollywood sets.[6] Leather straps for the execution scene were purchased from the penitentiary, as well as officers' uniforms.[12] The actual latrines in Smith and Hickock's cells were also purchased by the production and implemented in the set.[13]

Brooks's demeanor on set was noted as tempestuous by cast and crew members,[14] with Wilson recalling that he was "focused [and] inspired" but "unpredictable...  a volcano who was going to erupt at some point".[12] Wilson stated that he was frequently yelled at and at one point nearly walked off the set.[12] Blake recalled Brooks's presence: "Sometimes Richard would flare up and get nuts and crazy and start screaming at people, and people thought that was because he was an asshole. It wasn't that, he was just frustrated. He didn't know how to get what he wanted. But when he sat alone at a typewriter, that was the best part for him."[8]

In the scene where Blake's character discusses his father on the night of the execution, rain falls against the window of his prison cell. In rehearsals, cinematographer Conrad Hall noticed that the rain sliding down the glass was casting shadows on Blake's face, creating a visual effect that made it appear that Blake was crying. Hall pointed it out to Brooks and the blocking for Blake's character was changed so that the 'tears' would stay on his face throughout the scene. Hall, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the film, called this effect "purely a visual accident".[15]

The score for the film was composed by Quincy Jones, who at the time had little experience with film scores.[16] During the period, few black musicians were hired to compose scores for feature films, and Columbia Pictures initially pressed for Leonard Bernstein to compose the score, but Brooks insisted on Jones.[16]

In preparing the score, Jones accompanied Brooks on a visit to the penitentiary in which Smith and Hickock were confined, and was inspired to utilize two acoustic basses throughout the score to represent the two killers' "demented minds".[16] The score was completed throughout the shoot, with Jones writing new music to accompany dailies.[16]

In Cold Blood premiered in the United States on December 14, 1967,[6] and grossed approximately $13 million domestically.[1] The film earned an additional $7,551 during a limited revival run in the United Kingdom in 2015.[1]

At the time of its release, it was rated "For Mature Audiences", which meant no children under 17 were allowed to see the film without parents or legal guardians of age; now the MPAA has rated the film "R", due to its violence and mature nature.

Bosley Crowther of The New York Times called the film an "excellent quasidocumentary, which sends shivers down the spine while moving the viewer to ponder".[18] Roger Ebert gave the film 4 out of 4 stars, writing, "At times one feels this is not a movie but a documentary where the events are taking place now."[19] Charles Champlin of The Los Angeles Times put it on his list of the ten best films of 1967, calling it "an honest, sobering, revealing motion picture, earnest and authentic, with only minor lapses into theatricality. As the killers, Scott Wilson and Robert Blake were compellingly convincing."[20] Variety called it "a probing, sensitive, tasteful, balanced and suspenseful documentary-drama".[21] Brendan Gill of The New Yorker wrote that "the note sounded throughout is not that of Hollywood but of a scrupulous documentary. This documentary effect is greatly enhanced by the two young men who play the murderers—Robert Blake as Perry Smith and Scott Wilson as Dick Hickock. Each in his own way is superbly mindless and menacing."[22] The Monthly Film Bulletin was less positive, writing that "since Brooks places his emphasis so exclusively on the killers, omitting the spectacle of the actual murders while lingering censoriously over the hangings, one fails to appreciate the real irony—the total arbitrariness—of the Clutters' deaths: they are too crudely delineated to inspire much sympathy, and in consequence the sympathy Brooks generates for the killers seems unbalanced and misplaced".[23]

On Rotten Tomatoes, In Cold Blood holds a rating of 83% from 41 reviews with an average rating of 8.3/10. The site's consensus reads: "In Cold Blood is a classic docudrama with a fictional thriller's grip -- and a pair of terrific lead performances from Robert Blake and Scott Wilson".[24]

American Film Institute Lists:

• AFI's 10 Top 10 - #8 Courtroom Drama