MovieChat Forums > The Honeymoon Killers (1970) Discussion > Cold Case: Rip Off Or Inspiration?

Cold Case: Rip Off Or Inspiration?

posted 18 years ago by okibeav
3 replies | jump to latest

The Cold Case episode broadcast November 19 2006 was lifted almost entirely from The Honeymoon Killers script. Suave, dark skinned con man; Frumpy, overweight, insecure woman. They even addressed the differnce in appearance between "brother" and "sister". It was a good episode, but I prefer the movie. I think Honeymoon Killers would have done better if they had a budget to shoot the film as a 1940's piece. I only saw the movie once, about 3 years ago, and it implied it was during the late 1940's or early 1950's, but all the cars, fashions, etc. were modern (at the time of the shooting), which I found disturbing, as it was a black and white film. Hollywood has no problem remaking crappy movies, it is time to give this movie it's due. And if they do remake it, keep it b&w.

[–] capkronos 18 years ago

The same story has been filmed two other times (that I know of); Deep Crimson (1996; directed by Arturo Ripstein and actually an excellent, underrated film) and the new movie Lonely Hearts (2006; which appears to be your usual big budget studio whitewash of an intriguing story, but I won't cast judgment until I actually see it).

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[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 18 years ago

You have already cast judgement by what you've written.

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[–] Death_to_Pan_and_Scan 17 years ago

Cold Case can go ---- itself. The whole tv show is essentially a lead of to a big weekly moronic music video setpiece. They have even sometimes advertised upcoming episodes by stating what band's music is being used next week. I'm apt to think the scripts are written by desperate music company executives looking to sell more CDs. Pretty much all the flashy, ridiculously written forensics shows currently on tv can go ---- off. Besides being mind-numbingly stupid, they've also eaten up most every permutation of potential plots for thriller movies. When you see a new thriller film advertised these days, it's bound to feel like some crappy tv show (made by hacks) that you've already seen.

One of the recent 'remakes' of this true crime story has Salma Hayek as the (supposed to be obese & not really attractive) female lead, so despite my love of her that movie is already bound to suck by being ridiculous Hollywood whitewash. Maybe next they can make a biopic about Chris Farley starring Brad Pitt. I don't know about the other remake and maybe (hopefully) it is done well. Honeymoon Killers apparently took some dramatic license with the facts of the case, but made a very effective and unsettling thriller thanks to the documentary feel and great casting of its female lead.

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