The Boston Strangler (film)
The Boston Strangler is a 1968 American neo-noir film loosely based on the true story of the Boston Strangler and the book by Gerold Frank.  It was directed by Richard Fleischer and stars Tony Curtis as Albert DeSalvo, the strangler, and Henry Fonda as John S. Bottomly, the chief detective who came to fame for obtaining DeSalvo's confession. Curtis was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his performance. The cast also featured George Kennedy, Murray Hamilton and Sally Kellerman.

Plot
After three murders of elderly women, the victims being strangled and penetrated with foreign objects, the Boston police conclude that they have a serial killer to catch. As the murders stretch over several police jurisdictions, Massachusetts Attorney General Edward W. Brooke (William Marshall) appoints John S. Bottomly (Henry Fonda) as head of a "Strangler Bureau" to coordinate the investigation. Several suspects are interrogated and released.

As the body count grows, Bottomly, in desperation, calls in a psychic, Peter Hurkos (George Voskovec), who pinpoints Eugene T. O'Rourke (William Hickey), a man who seems to fit the profile. The (severely masochistic) man is taken in for psychiatric observation for ten days but nothing implicated him to the murders. Another murder is committed while O'Rourke is under observation, clearing him of suspicion.

While the 1963 funeral of John F. Kennedy is on television, Albert DeSalvo (Tony Curtis) leaves his wife and children, under the pretext of work. He gains entry into the apartment of a woman, Dianne Cluny (Sally Kellerman), by posing as a plumber sent by the building supervisor. He attacks her, tying her to her bed with rags ripped from her dress. DeSalvo is taken aback by the sight of himself in a mirror as he tries to subdue Dianne and she struggles free and bites his hand; DeSalvo flees.

He tries to enter the apartment of another woman, only to find that her husband is home. DeSalvo is apprehended by a passing police patrol. Found incompetent to stand trial for attempted breaking and entering, he is committed to a hospital for psychiatric observation. By chance, Bottomly and Detective Phil DiNatale (George Kennedy) pass by DeSalvo in an elevator, where they had been visiting Dianne, who survived the earlier attack. Observing the wound on DeSalvo's hand (Dianne, who survived his attack, could remember biting him but not his appearance), the pair make him a suspect for the Boston Strangler murders.

Conventional interrogation is ineffective because the treating physician thinks that DeSalvo suffers from a split personality: he has two identities that are unaware of each other. His "normal" personality fabricates memories in place of the memories of murder committed by the "strangler" personality. The treating physician thinks that DeSalvo could be made to confront the facts but that the shock risks putting him in a catatonic state. Bottomly expresses the opinion that catatonia would be the second-best thing to a conviction.

Under the condition, imposed by DeSalvo's defense counsel, that none of what comes to light is admissible evidence in court, Bottomly is allowed a final round of interviews with DeSalvo. After several sessions, Bottomly manages to reveal DeSalvo's hidden personality to himself. Reeling from the shock, DeSalvo slips into a catatonic state.

Cast

 Tony Curtis as Albert DeSalvo
 Henry Fonda as John S. Bottomly
 George Kennedy as Det. Phil DiNatale
 Mike Kellin as Julian Soshnick
 Hurd Hatfield as Terence Huntley
 Murray Hamilton as Sgt. Frank McAfee
 Jeff Corey as John Asgeirsson
 Sally Kellerman as Dianne Cluny
 William Marshall as Atty. Gen. Edward W. Brooke
 George Voskovec as Peter Hurkos
 George Furth as Lyonel Brumley
 Leora Dana as Mary Bottomly
 Austin Willis as Dr. Nagy
 Carolyn Conwell as Irmgard DeSalvo
 Jeanne Cooper as Cloe
 Richard X. Slattery as Det. Cap. Ed Willis
 William Hickey as Eugene T. O'Rourke
 James Brolin as Det. Sgt. Phil Lisi
 Alex Dreier as News Commentator
 John Cameron Swayze as T.V. Narrator
 Elizabeth Baur as Harriet Fordin
 Carole Shelley as Dana Banks
 Tim Herbert as Cedric
 Tom Aldredge as Harold Lacey
 Alex Rocco as Detective at Apartment of Victim #10
 Karen Huston as Pat Bruner

Production
Film rights to Frank's book were bought for $250,000. Terence Rattigan was hired to do the script but the producer was unhappy with it. Edward Anhalt was then brought in.

Box Office
According to Fox records the film required $8,625,000 in rentals to break even and by 11 December 1970 had made $11,125,000 so made a profit to the studio.

Critical response

Film critic Roger Ebert gave three stars out of four but criticized the film's content,

In the same vein, The New York Times film critic Renata Adler wrote,

In 2004, film critic Dennis Schwartz discussed the film's style,

Accolades

 Golden Globe Award: Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama, Tony Curtis; 1969.
 Edgar Award: Edgar Allan Poe Award, Best Motion Picture, Edward Anhalt; 1969.
 American Cinema Editors: Eddie, Best Edited Feature Film, Marion Rothman; 1969.