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No movie about CHARLES J WHITMAN? (who's he?)

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No movie about CHARLES J WHITMAN? (who's he?)

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Old 07-09-08, 08:47 AM
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No movie about CHARLES J WHITMAN? (who's he?)

Was the event so inconsequential that no movie has been made? Charles Whitman was the Texas Tower Sniper, who picked off 14 people and wounded more than 30 before police were able to kill him. The event occurred August 1, 1966. Prior to climbing the tower with an arsenal packed in a foot locker, he murdered his own mother and wife.

No movie on this guy?
Old 07-09-08, 08:47 AM
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*I think he did it because his name was Charles. Just ask Charles Starkweather and Charles Manson, they'll agree.
Old 07-09-08, 09:30 AM
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There was a tv-movie called The Deadly Tower (1975)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072852/

Kurt Russell starred as the infamous sniper. I thought it was well done the last few minute was pretty intense as the cops on the tower tried to figure out how to stop the sniper.
Old 07-09-08, 10:09 AM
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Peter Bogdanovich's Targets was inspired by Whitman, he's also given a shout out in Full Metal Jacket, and Slacker, and several other films and TV shows borrow from his story.
Old 07-09-08, 06:46 PM
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I seem to recall X-Files and Simpsons episodes with sequences inspired by Whitman. Footage of Whitman also appears in the hard to find but recommended The Killing of America documentary. Xploited sells a murky looking but completely watchable Australian DVD if anyone's interested - get it while you still can.

Last edited by NoirFan; 07-09-08 at 06:48 PM.
Old 07-10-08, 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by NoirFan
Footage of Whitman also appears in the hard to find but recommended The Killing of America documentary. Xploited sells a murky looking but completely watchable Australian DVD if anyone's interested - get it while you still can.
Great movie. Still waiting for a R1 release.
Old 07-10-08, 10:44 PM
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My guess would be because serial killers normally operate over an extended period, which lends itself well to a narrative. Mass murders are usually over quickly and may not have clear build up/motivations.

Who wants to watch people get picked-off for two hours? It wouldn't be a very compelling story.
Old 07-10-08, 10:48 PM
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Higher Learning
Old 07-11-08, 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by NoirFan
I seem to recall X-Files and Simpsons episodes with sequences inspired by Whitman.
There was a Buffy episode as well.

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