Why does the mass murder of the Clutter family fascinate us so much?

[raccoon]

I know, it fascinates me too. I've read IN COLD BLOOD and seen the movie and also the TV mini-series. Once in a while, I'll search the Internet for information about it.

It happened about this time of year in 1959, so that's 46 years ago. More sensation, horrible, and senseless mass murders have occurred in the US since then.

So why does this case continue to fascinate so many people?

Edited topic for grammar.

[mitchum]

1. Because of Capote's exquisite writing...

and the incredible performances of Wilson and Blake in the film adaptation.
I've reread the book every year since I was eight and re watched the movie only two nights ago (must be my dozenth or so viewing)
I also think that much of the continuing fascination with the case is because of the particulars. The Clutters were a real-life almost too-good-to-be-true family from America's "heartland" and Dick and Perry were two lowlife grotesques from the same area. A stupid, senseless crime brought them all together.
I'm also always searching for new information about the case.
About 15 years ago, I read an article about Hickcock's son (who never really knew his father) being assigned "In Cold Blood" in school. As he got farther into the book, it dawned on him just who was his father. I have searched for a web reference to this article, but no luck so far.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

2. Please elaborate on the story.

[raccoon]

5. A middle-aged couple and their teenage son & daughter

were shot dead in Nov. 1959 in a farm near Holcomb, KS. One of the two murderers had heard about the family from a fellow inmate in jail who had worked for the Clutters once. The murderers thought the Clutters had a safe full of money in the house, but they didn't.

I guess one thing that makes it intriguing is that Capote tells the story of both the family and the murderers.

If you're haven't read the book/seen the movie, I recommend you look into it.

[calico1]

3. There were 4 Clutter children in all I believe.

There were two older children that were on their own. I have from time to time tried to find information on them and what became of them but have had no luck.

[raccoon]

4. The two older daughters, who weren't living at home when

the murders happened, got married, had families, and are still living, last time I heard.

Check this out.

http://www.ljworld.com/specials/incoldblood/personalities.html

[calico1]

6. Thanks, that was very interesting. n/t

[calico1]

7. You know, I looked at the site in more detail

when I got home. Apparently most of the community was not happy with Truman Capote's version of the story. He twisted some facts according to some of the people interviewed and this is supposedly why the two surviving sisters refuse to be interviewed--because they were hurt by Capote's book. (even though he too is long dead). What I don't understand is why didn't someone in the community write a book about the family, about what kind of people they really were and their achievements, instead of just refusing to ever talk about it? I know it was painful and all but they have allowed Capote's version to be accepted as the official version, while still steaming about how unfair and inaccurate he was, especially regarding Mrs. Clutter. You would think someone would have wanted to set the record straight. I am not really asking for answers, just making my own comments. :shrug:

[ccjlld]

11. I spent a good portion of my childhood in Garden City

in the 70's. We lived there from 1970 to 1977, so the murders were still strong in the memories of the town. Holcomb was less than 8 miles away so most folks thought of it as part of Garden City. The Clutter murders were something folks just didn't talk about. I myself didn't read the book or watch the movie until I was in my 20's. It's hard to explain why, the best I can do is to say that having grown up in that community, it just felt wrong. It's still a little uncomfortable for me. I didn't see Capote in the theaters but probably will try to watch it when it comes out on DVD.

As to why no one wrote an additional book about the family. I feel it was because people in Garden just wanted to put it behind them. It was a small town, about 12,000 people when we lived there. The murders really shook the community to it's core. A small town, very little crime, everyone knew everyone else and those murders ripped away their illusion of safety. If it could happen to the Clutters, it could happen to any of them.

Also, another book would have focused attention on the town again. Folks in Garden, at the time we lived there, were essentially pretty private people. If someone had started asking questions about the Clutters, most folks would have just clammed up. Even if the intent had been positive, they would have seen it as someone being "nosy" and trying to dredge up bad memories. I think that probably would have been the attitude in most small towns.

The series of articles the Lawrence paper did were very good. It helps explain the effect the murders had on the town.

I don't know if that helps explain why no one ever wrote another book. I know you weren't asking for answers but I thought I would try to explain it a little bit.

[Skittles]

8. the personalities of the killers

alone, neither one of them would have killed, but together they created a third personality that did kill

[mitchum]

9. You are absolutely correct, Skittles

[Skittles]

10. Perry would not allow Dick to rape Nancy

yet he ended up killing her.....Perry said he knew from the moment Mr. Clutter said there was no safe that he was telling the truth - at that point he just wanted to get out of there but Dick persisted. And that quote from Perry..."I though Mr. Clutter was a very nice man; I thought so right up to the time I cut his throat." *sniff*

[CBHagman]

12. I hadn't thought about it for some time.

Then I went to see Capote, despite some initial misgivings, and ever since seeing it on December 31st, I can't get the crime out of my mind. It doesn't help that there were some similarly senseless murders committed in Virginia recently.

For that's the basis of my concern: the sheer senselessness of the crimes. I'm not saying violence is ever justified, but it is one thing for two neighbors to get into a fight and have it end in violence. It's quite another for a bunch of people to be violated -- by the invasion of their home, etc. -- and then to be wiped out.

And still this sort of thing continues. It wasn't new when the Clutter family was killed, and it's all too familiar nowadays.

[raccoon]

13. I hadn't intended to see Capote, but maybe I will.

Did it have much about Capote's research on the case?

[XanaDUer]

14. See it.

It was very good.

[CBHagman]

15. Raccoon, I haven't read In Cold Blood.

And I didn't do any research before or after the film. I understand there is a biography on which much of the film was based, or so a bookseller told me.

However, I think it's best to approach the movie from an intellectual, moral, psychological, and artistic point of view, focusing on what issues are raised and how well everyone connected with the film recreates a time and a series of events. As I said, the film stayed with me long after I saw it, and I'd recommend seeing it with another person, the better to be able to discuss it afterwards.