Manson (film)

1973 documentary film by Laurence Merrick and Robert Hendrickson

Manson

Film poster

Directed by|

* Robert Hendrickson
* Laurence Merrick

Written by|

* Joan Huntington
* Laurence Merrick

Produced by|

* Robert Hendrickson
* Laurence Merrick

Starring|

* Charles Manson
* The Family

Narrated by| Jess Pearson
Cinematography|

* Jack Beckett
* Leo Rivers

Edited by| Clancy Syrko
Music by|

* Brooks Poston
* Paul Watkins

Distributed by| American International Pictures

Release date

* January 1973 (1973-01)

Running time

| 83 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English

Manson is a 1973 documentary film by Robert Hendrickson and Laurence Merrick[1] about American criminal and cult leader Charles Manson and his followers, known as "The Family". Narrated by Jess Pearson, the film explores the origins of Manson and his disciples, and the lead-up and events of the Tate–LaBianca murders. It was initially distributed by American International Pictures, with re-releases handled by Tobann International Films.[2]

## Content

[edit]

The film deals with the "Manson family" and has many interviews with the members of the group, including Charles Manson, "Squeaky" Fromme, and Sandra Good.[3] It contains original footage of the Manson Family at their Spahn Ranch compound, Devil's Canyon, their Barker Ranch hideout in Death Valley, the Hall of Justice in Los Angeles and various other locations.[4]

## Post release

[edit]

When "Squeaky" Fromme attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975, the Manson film was banned by United States district court Judge Thomas McBride in order to preserve Fromme's constitutional right to a fair and speedy trial. Robert Hendrickson's freedom of speech was thus set aside and the matter was taken by the ACLU to the Supreme Court.

Soundtrack music for the film was created by Brooks Poston and Paul Watkins, two former Manson associates. As well, music performed by the Manson Family can also be heard on the soundtrack.[5]

## Accolades

[edit]

It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[6][7][8]

## Home video

[edit]

The film was released legitimately on VHS in 1987, but because of an alleged mafia plot Hendrickson spent much of the 1990s suing eBay for allowing bootleg dvd copies of the film to be released. The film has been released and sold in limited copies on DVD signed by Hendrickson on Amazon before his death in 2016.[9]

## See also

[edit]

* List of American films of 1973
* Hippie exploitation films
* Counterculture of the 1960s

## References

[edit]

1. ^ MUBI
2. ^ FilmAffinity
3. ^ Yuko, Elizabeth (26 July 2019). "Manson Family Movies: 11 Streaming Films Go Inside Terrifying 1969 Cult". Rolling Stone. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
4. ^ Donaghey, River (20 November 2017). "Watch This Chilling Manson Documentary from 1973". Vice.com. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
5. ^ Thomas, Bryan (June 9, 2015). ""Manson": The 1973 documentary that told us "We are what you have made us"". Nightflight.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
6. ^ "Manson (1972)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2008. Archived from the original on 25 March 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
7. ^ Wood, Natalie; Wagner, Robert (1972). Documentary Winners: 1973 Oscars. Oscars (YouTube). Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
8. ^ 1973|Oscars.org
9. ^ Federal Judge Hands EBay Victory in Copyright Lawsuit - Law.com

## External links

[edit]

* Manson at AllMovie
* Manson at IMDb
* Manson at Rotten Tomatoes

* v
* t
* e

Charles Manson and the Manson Family

* Susan Atkins
* Bobby Beausoleil
* Mary Brunner
* Bruce Davis
* Lynette Fromme
* Sandra Good
* Steve Grogan
* Barbara Hoyt
* Linda Kasabian
* Patricia Krenwinkel
* Ruth Ann Moorehouse
* Catherine Share
* Leslie Van Houten
* Paul Watkins
* Charles Watson

Murders|

| Known|

* Donald Shea
* Tate–LaBianca murders (Jay Sebring • Sharon Tate)

|

Suspected|

* Marina Elizabeth Habe
* Ronald Hughes

Attempted|

* Paul Watkins
* Gerald Ford
* Barbara Hoyt
* Charles Older

Beliefs|

* ATWA
* Helter Skelter

Locations|

* Barker Ranch
* Spahn Ranch
* 10050 Cielo Drive
* Topanga Canyon

Media|

| By Manson|

* Discography
* Beach Boys recordings (1968)
* Never Learn Not to Love (1968)
* Lie: The Love and Terror Cult (1970)
* Look at Your Game, Girl (1970)
* The Family Jams (1997)
* One Mind (2005)

|

By others|

| Books|

* Helter Skelter (1974)
* The White Album (1979)
* The Dead Circus (2003)
* The Girls (2016)
* CHAOS (2019)
* Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2021)

|

Films|

* I Drink Your Blood (1971)
* The Other Side of Madness (1971)
* Manson (1973)
* Snuff (1976)
* Manson Family Movies (1984)
* Charles Manson Superstar (1989)
* The Manson Family (1997)
* Live Freaky! Die Freaky! (2006)
* Leslie, My Name Is Evil (2009)
* Life After Manson (2014)
* House of Manson (2014)
* Manson Family Vacation (2015)
* Wolves at the Door (2016)
* Charlie Says (2018)
* The Haunting of Sharon Tate (2019)
* Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
* Zeroville (2019)
* CHAOS: The Manson Murders (2025)

Television|

* Helter Skelter (1976)
* "Merry Christmas, Charlie Manson!" (1998)
* Helter Skelter (2004)
* Aquarius (2015–16)
* Mindhunter (2017–19)
* American Horror Story: Cult (2017)
* "Charles (Manson) in Charge" (2017)

Related articles|

* Vincent Bugliosi
* Dennis Wilson
* Irving Kanarek
* Terry Melcher
* George Spahn

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