THE BOSTON STRANGLER: KILLER ON THE LOOSE

With the invention of the 24 hour news cycle and cable news it seems like every atrocity on the face of the Earth is presented to us nonstop around the clock. When a mass shooting happens or serial killer is on the lose we hear about it constantly without relief. Growing up when there were only three major networks and people relied as much on print journalism as they did TV we never had that. When something like this occurred the story would unfold over time rather than tons of speculation and unverified tidbits coming at us fast and furious.

So it was with the case of Albert DeSalvo, aka the Boston Strangler. The story was mostly regional in the Boston area at first. Once the killing was solved the story spread out across the country. Pundits didn’t weigh in automatically about this, that or the other. The deepest look into what happened was put in books rather than a movie of the week. But a movie was made and it was a great depiction of events.

In 1962 the city of Boston is filled with fear as a series of murders of women occur. No one feels safe and no location is safe as the women were murdered in their own homes in most cases. There was no sign of forced entry and most were sexually assaulted. To say that there was intense pressure on law enforcement to catch this killer is an understatement.

The movie moves back and forth between two stories, the second developing as we get into things. On one hand we have the typical police procedural story to watch. Led by appointee John Bottomly (Henry Fonda) a task force is set up to bring together all the clues and information about the killer in the hopes of capturing him and ending his reign of terror. Things get so desperate that Bottomly allows psychic Peter Hurkos in to help the task force. But it is luck that results in the killer’s apprehension.

As this story unfolds we are also presented with that of Albert DeSalvo, the man who is indeed the Boston strangler. A middle aged married man with children, DeSalvo goes to work, comes home, watches TV and seems normal on the surface. While watching TV one day he tells his wife he has to leave for work. In reality he has another victim in mind. His attack goes off and he rapes the woman, being bitten by her as she tries to free herself. While running away he is apprehended by the police and eventually his story is revealed.

The third act here involves the interrogation of DeSalvo and how they came to find out more about the man and his mental issues. Without a confession the evidence to convict is slim. As Bottomly questions DeSalvo it at first appears he won’t succeed. Whether he can or not makes for a well thought out, stunningly portrayed performance by two great actors.

When the movie was released it received solid reviews but most critics took note that much was changed from the reality of the story. Rather than praising it for being an accurate portrayal they noted it was more in the vein of a “based on real events” type film. This didn’t hold back the public who went to see the movie and made it a success.

The movie offered actor Tony Curtis who fought for the role one of the best parts of his life. He was able to show that he wasn’t just another pretty face but a dynamite actor who had the chops to bring the character to life. At a time when many thought his career was over this revitalized it instead. Watching his performance is one of the highlights of the film.

The release by Twilight Time is every bit as good as the rest of their catalog, offering a pristine version of the movie on blu-ray. In addition to the quality image on screen extras include an isolated music & effects track, audio commentary by film historians David Del Valle and Steven Peros, “Split-screen Personality” a short with William Friedkin on the film, Real Killer Fake Nose, AMC Backstory: The Boston Strangler, Fox Movietone Newsreel and the original theatrical trailers. As is always the case with their releases this has a limited run so if you are interested make a point of picking one up before they’re gone.

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THE PLASMATICS LIVE! - ROD SWENSON’S LOST TAPES 1978-81: RAW FOOTAGE FOR FANS

If you’re not aware of The Plasmatics don’t say you haven’t been warned. The band was a combination of punk and heavy metal music that felt the best way to greet an audience was with confrontation. To say their sound was raw is an understatement. It was an uncooked steak bleeding on the floor and trampled underfoot by the power and energy of the group.

Started by conceptual artist Rod Swenson and his partner in crime Wendy O. Williams, the band had a number of members over the years with only one other remaining from start to finish. The band began with leanings more towards punk but as their popularity grew so did their sound. Performing at the legendary CBGBs the band took off like a rocket on the underground scene.

Soon they began making videos as well and that drew the attention of the media. I for one can remember seeing them on the late night show FRIDAYS where they performed and ended the performance by cutting smashing a TV set and taking a chainsaw to it. That was the Plasmatics.

Perhaps the two most notable items about the band visually were the Mohawk haircut that Williams had for a number years and her choice to display her breasts as to draw attention. She often use black electrical tape to make Xs to cover her nipples and little else. Other times, as see in this DVD, she wore a cupless bra and clothespins on her nipples. Having performed as a stripper and in live sex shows this may have been something she carried over.

Fans of the band remain to this day, long after their breakup and the passing of Williams in 1998 from suicide. With her passing so went the life of the band and no efforts were made to regroup of find a new lead singer. It never stopped fans from seeking out their performances though.

Which brings us to this DVD. The disc is a compilation of live performances, many never seen before. Swenson shot tons of footage of the band performing live but never put the footage together. During a move of files for archival storage producer/director Randy Shooter discovered, relabeled, performed additional editing and restoration as best he could with the material he found to create this DVD. Yes it is raw, and not quite on par with the professionally made concert videos we’ve come to expect but that was the way the band was, completely raw.

I could list all the songs included but only die-hard fans will recognize those. A few included are “Fast Food Service”, “Sex Junkie”, “Lunacy”, and “Black Leather Monster”. Performances included take place in locations including CBGBs. Calderone Theater, Bond’s Casino, Perkin’s Palace, Sunshine Park and the Dr. Pepper Festival.

Music lovers who feel the need to collect all things music will add this to their collection. More discerning collectors will take note but pass it by. Fans of the Plasmatics will make this a must have to include in their collections. It is definitely worth looking at just to see what came from that period in time. Here we are some 19 years after the band has ceased to exist and still talking about them. So time has shown that there is a fan base for this group and their music. To be able to experience them as they were is just an added bonus.

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DANNY SAYS: AN EAR FOR MUSIC

Danny Fields is considered a visionary by many. He was the right person in the right place in the sixties, seventies and on who found his niche when it came to musical tastes. DANNY SAYS is a documentary about Fields combining interviews, footage from the time period, animated sequences and more. Most of the film is filled with interviews with Field’s himself as well as those who knew him.

A Harvard Law student who dropped out and to become part of the counter culture at the time, Fields had an ear for music. This led him to various jobs with several record companies as well as working with different bands. He worked with notables like The Doors and Judy Collins and was one of the biggest voices to push groups like The Velvet Underground, Nico, MC5 and the Ramones. All of his efforts on behalf of these groups led to his being called an influence on our culture.

For the most part the movie offers a fairly straightforward look at the life and times of Fields. We see him as a youngster growing up, his involvement with the different bands he helped promote and manage and more. His story is told in chronological order and we see not only his rise but what some would consider his fall as well, his influence waning in later years.

The film seems to focus a lot on Field’s being gay, something that for the most part America didn’t embrace when he was younger. It doesn’t show that it influenced his career choice or his love for the music of the artists he helped along the way but it was a big part of who he was. He discusses it at length in the film bringing it up in conversations now and then. Did it affect his abilities in what he did? I don’t know which is sad. Had the film makers chosen to pursue that aspect rather than just have it mentioned throughout the film it might have helped understand his abilities. Instead it just becomes a side note.

The film is an interesting slice of history though, giving us a backstage look at the life of rock starts from that time. The good, the bad and the ugly are all on display for each of them. Fields influence on them is here to witness as well. A kind word or a bit of praise can go a long way to help an artist reach stardom.

The only question I was left with after watching this was determining the amount of influence that Fields actually had on culture as a whole. Yes, he helped promote a number of bands who went on to fame and fortune. But most of those bands seem to have garnered larger followings with their demise than when they were together and performing (with perhaps the exception of The Doors). Nico has a large cult following but few if asked today could tell you who she was. Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground might be known by particular songs but how many were actually influenced by them? The same with the Stooges.

I love these groups and have listened to them perhaps more than most of those who I grew up with. Bands like Grand Funk Railroad, Deep Purple and Yes were more popular and listened to more. Their music doesn’t seem influenced by these other bands much. It seems like the less popular and more cult based a band is the more “influential” they appear to be watching this film.

This is not to discredit those bands or the work the Fields did. Perhaps those bands might have faded into obscurity had he not been singing their praises. I suppose we should thank him for that. As for the film it will be one that rock fans should see, that fans of the bands mentioned should see and that the curious should check out. All others should know that it moves at a slow pace and you might still walk away not knowing as much as you’d like about Danny Fields.

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