Il bandito a luce rossa

I saw this film many years ago and still remember it vividly, but like others have been unable to purchase the film!! I found the story so interesting that I later read the three books Caryl Chessman wrote while on death row as well as the transcript of his trial and all were fascinating. Alan Alda's performance was superb and the entire film was gripping. I have no doubt from my reading he was not a nice man and surely guilty of many things, but i do not believe kidnapping was one of them, it did nit fit the profile and certainly the trial had so many errors it was a disgrace. That's justice for you. I hope one day NBC releases this film on DVD, I know there are many out there that share my passion for this enthralling story.

This film is just as bad as "The Birdman of Alcatraz". I do not refer to the acting but rather the premise of both films, which try to portray psychopathic criminals as heroic figures. Moreover it disturbs me when well respected, revered actors like Alan Alda (and Burt Lancaster) play such roles, because their status tends to lend credibility to the director's intent to elevate the film's subject, a societal outcast.

I was in junior high school during the last years of Caryl Chessman's life and his death penalty appeals and books were very much in the news. I remember the groundswell of opinion that the death penalty was wrong and Chessman was the victim.

Get a grip people. Read the history. Chessman was a criminal and sexual predator. He drove around the LA streets at night with a stolen police light in his vehicle. He stopped cars with attractive women inside under the ruse of making a traffic arrest; then abducted and raped the women. Rape is the worst trauma a woman can experience and many victims say they would prefer death to its horror and humiliation.

Chessman got exactly what he deserved, it just took a decade too long. No sympathy for the devil here.

I have read some drivel in my time but the comment of this movie and the header page is full of absolute crap! Obviously this person has no idea about this story at all! HE WAS INNOCENT! Yes this is a true story and the reason its great, apart from the acting, is because of the complete unjustness of the whole "Capital Punishment System" IT DOESN'T WORK! How the hell are you going to pay restitution to someone who is dead.....god you make me bloody angry. Get a grip, get your facts right, and let this be a lesson, 12 years on death row...????? if your innocent is ridiculous, you want to know what else is ridiculous. Your suppose to proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt. If there is no reasonable doubt then he should have been there one day whilst they set the damn electric chair up then did the deed....SEEMS TO ME 12 YEARS MEANS THERE IS A HELL OF A lot OF REASONABLE DOUBT. He should never have been given the death penalty at all.....No one should you bloody red neck!

Alan Alda's super performance dominates this story of Caryl Chessman, who was arrested in Los Angeles in 1948 as the Red-Light Bandit. Flashing a red light resembling that used by the police, the "Bandit" would approach victims parked in lonely spots to rob the men and rape the women. Chessman spent 12 years on death row due to many counts of robbery, kidnapping and rape. After writing four books from Cell 2455, Chessman was executed in San Quentin's gas chamber in 1960. Alda conveyed the cockiness and arrogance of the convicted rapist who always exclaimed his innocence.

Sometimes a little sluggish at two hours, but interesting due to the uncanny portrayal by Alda. Also in the cast are:Talia Shire, James Sikking and John Hillerman. Above average crime drama.

I don't usually review movies on here. I review movies I have not seen even less so heh. I enjoy mr Alda's performances . And that he starred in this TV movie that's apparently anti Death penalty is not surprising As he's tended to be in to the left productions. Now I'm as left as anyone- Except perhaps on the death penalty. Ultimately I think the government should not execute people. Why? Because I value the sanctity of all life and no one deserves that punishment? No-I think there are people who deserve that punishment. But I don't want any mistakes as in executing innocent people. Do I think most executions are of innocent people? Certainly not. But how can we tolerate even one "mistake". Even one is no longer an "execution" for a crime -It's murder by the State.

But as far as I can follow the story of the criminal this film is based on- Chessman-Is not innocent. Apparently he didn't kill anyone-So you can argue that No one should be executed for a non lethal crime. But what he apparently did do-Specifically rapes-doesn't leave me with ant sympathy for him. So as liberal as I am-And really I am-it puzzles me - And quite frankly disgusts me-To think that people spent their time and energy Writing directing producing etc this film. As a staunch liberal this is a "liberal" film that makes me cringe just in the thought of it. A quality actor like Alda portraying Chessman-albeit as an obnoxious, cocky character- In a script that certainly on some level makes him out to be the hero of the story, a martyr. Yes I know you can say that this just uses Chessman's story to bring up reasonable dialogue about The death penalty itself. But I much prefer the approach in other movies about this subject Where we know that a character is innocent (such as in The Green Mike). This movie evidently makes it a question whether Chessman is guilty or not. But-And some may disagree with me-I think the facts of the case are pretty damning for the time Considering they didn't have DNA etc back then as evidence. He was positively identified by both rape victims. I don't see how a rapist can ever ever be any sort of protagonist in a story, Sorry.