In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood is a 1967 film adaptation of the Truman Capote novel of the same name. It tells the story of two men, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, who commit a quadruple homicide in rural Kansas in 1959. The film follows their trial and eventual execution for their crimes and explores themes such as justice, morality, and redemption.


The film was directed by Richard Brooks and stars Robert Blake (Perry Smith) and Scott Wilson (Dick Hickock). Both actors received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for their performances. Cinematographer Conrad Hall won an Oscar for his work on the movie; it also earned three other nominations, including one for Best Picture, at the 40th Academy Awards ceremony.


The cast also includes John Forsythe as Alvin Dewey, Everette Sloane as Marie Clutter, Paul Stewart as Sheriff Dwight "Doc" Mahonnett Jr., Charles McGraw as Frank Jarchow Sr., Jeff Corey as Mr. Herbert Clutter, and Gerald S. O'Loughlin as Sam Griffin—all of whom gave powerful performances that helped bring this tragic tale to life on screen with both power and poignancy. With its starkly realistic portrayal of violence, combined with its underlying themes of justice and morality, In Cold Blood remains one of Hollywood's most acclaimed crime dramas even today, over fifty years after its release.