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Kill Me If You Can

  • TV Movie
  • 1977
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
265
YOUR RATING
Alan Alda in Kill Me If You Can (1977)
BiographyDrama

The story of Caryl Chessman, a convicted California rapist who spent 12 years on death row before finally being executed.The story of Caryl Chessman, a convicted California rapist who spent 12 years on death row before finally being executed.The story of Caryl Chessman, a convicted California rapist who spent 12 years on death row before finally being executed.

  • Director
    • Buzz Kulik
  • Writer
    • John Gay
  • Stars
    • Alan Alda
    • Talia Shire
    • John Hillerman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    265
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Buzz Kulik
    • Writer
      • John Gay
    • Stars
      • Alan Alda
      • Talia Shire
      • John Hillerman
    • 12User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos

    Top cast59

    Edit
    Alan Alda
    Alan Alda
    • Caryl W. Chessman
    Talia Shire
    Talia Shire
    • Rosalie Asher
    John Hillerman
    John Hillerman
    • George Davis
    Barnard Hughes
    Barnard Hughes
    • Judge Fricke
    Virginia Kiser
    Virginia Kiser
    • Virginia Gibbons
    Edward Mallory
    Edward Mallory
    • Warden Teets
    Walter McGinn
    Walter McGinn
    • J. Miller Leavy
    Ben Piazza
    Ben Piazza
    • Bill Edmunds
    John Randolph
    John Randolph
    • Judge Lewis Goodman
    John P. Ryan
    John P. Ryan
    • Johnson
    Rose Portillo
    Rose Portillo
    • Sarah Loper
    Maxine Stuart
    Maxine Stuart
    • Mrs. Asher
    Brian Byers
    Brian Byers
    • Harris
    James Sikking
    James Sikking
    • Mr. Lea
    George Sperdakos
    George Sperdakos
    • Court Clerk
    Joe E. Tata
    Joe E. Tata
    • Kelton
    M.P. Murphy
    • Sergeant Grant
    James Keach
    James Keach
    • Officer #1
    • Director
      • Buzz Kulik
    • Writer
      • John Gay
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews12

    7.4265
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    Featured reviews

    9safenoe

    Powerful, sadly underrated

    Alan Alda is no Hawkeye here, playing real-life Caryl Chessman who got a dozen or reprieves from the death penalty. Alan was at the height of his M*A*S*H celebrity when he decided to perform in this incredibly daring role. Kind of like David Schwimmer playing this type of role. In fact, a reboot is called for, and I nominate Matt LeBlanc to play Caryl Chessman.
    10linrick14

    Very heart warming but tragic

    I saw this movie many years ago and have been trying to find it in video form ever since. Caryl Chessman was an amazing man. He did everything he could to proclaim his was innocent, and finally got what he wanted, but too late! I found it heartwarming in that the truth will prevail even though it may come late as in the instance of Caryl, and tragic because he was an innocent man who wrongly faced the death penalty and was sent to the electric chair. It actually had me on the edge of my seat so many times as I was convinced of his innocence.Alan Alda has played some great roles in the past and after this movie and in my opinion he did the character of Caryl Chessman justice. The most memorable movie I have ever seen. I will continue to find a copy of this movie and I also want his book.
    7michaelRokeefe

    An innocent man?

    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.
    10lisajayne_1999

    Pillocks

    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!
    9glen-187

    This is just one of those unforgettable films

    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.

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Helen Kelly's debut.
    • Goofs
      The film's final credits do name the character played by Tony Burton as "Price," but this character seems to be based on Robert Otis *Pierce* who was executed at San Quentin on April 6, 1956 and the disturbing circumstances of whose execution as reported in various sources fit in many particulars with what is depicted in the movie. Since the actual names of other real-life persons portrayed in this movie--not the least of which Chessman's are accurately reproduced, it may be surmised that "Price" in the credits is an error for "Pierce."
    • Quotes

      Caryl W. Chessman: Kill me if you can.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 30th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1978)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 25, 1977 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Caryl Chessman Story
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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