Manson (1973)

Directors: Robert Hendrickson, Laurence Merrick

Writers: Joan Huntington, Laurence Merrick

Composers: Brooks Poston, Paul Watkins

Starring: Jesse Pearson, Mary Brunner, Vincent Bugliosi, Bruce Davis, Lynette Fromme, Sandra Good, Steve Grogan, Ronnie Howard, Charles Manson, Phil Phillips, Nancy Pitman, Brooks Poston, Catherine Share, George Spahn, Paul Watkins

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Meet ONE MAN'S FAMILY REVEALED FOR THE FIRST TIME outside the courtroom - the staggering details of the most hideously bizarre murders in the annals of crime SURPRESSED UNTIL NOW and NOT PERMITTED on TV, Radio or Family Newspapers!

Plot: Documentary on Charles Manson and his family. Has a number of insightful interviews with many family members most notably Squeaky and Sandy (Blue and Red). There is also a history of Manson from his birth to the family formation to the Tate/La Bianca murders. Plenty of footage of the family playing at Spahn Ranch.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again? Yes.

Simply outstanding!  Seriously.  It's brilliantly composed.  You've got Manson Family home movies, interviews with most of the main players (including Manson), interviews with the main players' cell mates (including Manson's cell mate prior to the infamous murders), split screen (which is very nicely used) and then some.  The two cats that did the score and songs were former members of The Family.  What's more?  The music is fantastic.  All of these things combined make for a really trippy and psychedelic documentary on a subject that now feels done to death.  But this was made over fifty years ago which gives in even more of an authentic feel.  To see these men and women tell their stories is something else.  One girl talks about a couple having sex at the Spahn Ranch and the guy commits suicide with a gun to the head as he climaxed inside her.  There's some really fucked up shit in this picture and it's a great look into the then-recent psychedelic late-60s in California.  Alright Mr. Hendrickson, where's the damn DVD?  I need this in my library.  This VHS rip has to go and I've got money in my hand.