A crime that shocked America
On November 15, 1959, in the quiet town of Holcomb, Kansas, Herbert Clutter, a wealthy farmer, his wife Bonnie and their two children, Nancy and Kenyon, were found brutally murdered. Tied up and killed at point blank range, the victims do not appear to have any connection to any conflict and the motive for the crime remains long blur.
The investigation, led by Detective Alvin Dewey, quickly revealed that the perpetrators, Perry Smith and Richard “Dick” Hickock, two ex-convicts, had been poorly informed the existence of a safe presumably hidden in the Clutter house. Realizing that he did not exist, the two men, in an escalation of violence, decide to eliminate the witnesses before fleeing.
Arrested a few weeks later, Smith and Hickock were tried and sentenced to death in 1960. After several years of appeals, they were executed in 1965. This affair, with its brutality and lack of a clear motive, marked and captivated American America the attention of Truman Capote.
Truman Capote and the Genesis of In cold blood
Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman in the film), a New York writer, is fascinated by this story as soon as he hears about it. Accompanied by his childhood friend, Harper Lee (played by Catherine Keener in the film), he travels to Holcomb to investigate. They conduct in-depth interviews with residents, investigators and the killers themselves. Capote develops a complex relationship with Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.), which profoundly influences his writing.
Capote’s book is the fruit of six years of work. It combines journalistic techniques with literary storytelling, providing a detailed perspective of eventsthe motivations of criminals and the impact of crime on the community. This innovative approach blurs the lines between fiction and nonfiction, setting a new standard in true crime literature.
At the time of its publication, In cold blood it received an enthusiastic reception and quickly became a bestseller. It is praised for its psychological depth and narrative rigor. However, some criticize Capote for his emotional involvement with the killers and question the objectivity of his account.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
