(ShowtimeExt) "In Cold Blood" is on tonight ....

[H2O Man]

The 1967 classic "In Cold Blood" is on ShowTime Extreme tonight (2-9) at 8:45 est. It is based on the Truman Capote book detailing the 1959 murder of a Kansas family. This is the original version of the movie, featuring Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, and John Forsythe. A later "re-make" wasn't nearly as good.

I am posting this on DU:GD, rather than on the Lounge, because the movie is a fascinating study of sociopathy. The killers, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, were examined by Capote in a character study that is still used by those in the forensic mental health field. Hickock is a sociopath, or psychopath if one prefers that term. He chooses, as many do, to team-up with a partner who is physically powerful, but mentally handicapped. Perry Smith suffers from a pschotic disorder, and has a potential for violent outbursts that Dick feels he can control to his own benefit. They plan to rob a wealthy farm family, the Clutters, in Holcomb, Kansas, after being told by an inmate they are serving time with that Mr. Clutter keeps a safe in the house.

After killing the family in a brutal, blotched robbery attempt, the two men go on a strange journey. In the book, pages 127-8, the two stop for a picnic on their way to Mexico.

"Know what I think?" said Perry. "I think there must be something wrong with us. To do what we did."

"Did what?"

"Out there .....There's got to be something wrong with somebody who'd do a thing like that," Perry said.

"Deal me out, baby," Dick said. "I'm a normal." And Dick meant what he said. He thought himself as balanced, as sane as anyone -- maybe a bit smarter than the average fellow, that's all. But Perry -- there WAS, in Dick's opinion, "something wrong" with Little Perry. To say the least. .... In some ways old Perry was "spooky as hell." Take, for instance, that temper of his. He could slide into a fury "quicker than ten drunk Indians."

There are a number of books today that define "sociopaths" in a way that would make one think that they make up 5% of the general population. That's a good way to sell books, but it is probably a misrepresentation of what defines psychopaths/sociopaths. I would suggest people stick with the classic works by Robert Hare and Reed Maloy, as opposed to the glib "the sociopath next door" books.

The one scene that I think is most interesting in the movie is when Dick and Perry "go shopping." It is found on pages 115-6 of the Capote book. It highlights the skills that a sociopath can have in lying and stealing. "Smooth" and "cool" are the terms that the anti-social Perry uses to describe his glib friend.

If you have the chance, watch the movie. Or read the book.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. I read the book many years ago

and it has stayed with me ever since. Chilling. Terrifying.

[Me.]

2. In Other Words

B*** & Cheney (same type of Dick in my opinion)

[Me.]

3. Another Comparison That Can Be Drawn

is between the aspirin popping Perry and the addictions of our pResident. What was the reason he popped aspirin like that? What do you think Capote would make of our two national liabilities? Would he bring bottles of aspirin to the WH?