All those of you who know Tony Curtis as an actor, know him for his brilliant comedies and the British TV series "The Persuaders", alongside Roger Moore.

Yet he was not only a brilliant comedian, but also a very good drama actor as he had proved in "Spartacus", "The Defiant Ones" (with Sidney Poitier), "The Great Impostor", etc.

Alas, if it hadn't been for his pronounced accent, he would have been able to move on to much higher levels.

In "The Boston Strangler", as he, himself states and with reason, he simply surpassed himself. He plays a very ugly and disturbing character who actually did exist in fact.

It is the first time that a movie dared tell the story of a serial killer and depict him as your everyday neighbor and otherwise normal, caring husband and father.

The monster is not deformed or visually disgusting. The monster is within him and as such more threatening and more devious than ever.

The movie is simply told, in a very naturalistic way, with not truly shocking scenes (by today's standards), almost documentary in style.
This simple fact makes it even more terrifying, since it becomes immediately palpable and brings it near to us, as no other picture has ever done before, nor since.

Curtis gives a perfect and painstakingly researched performance of a contorted mind and of an individual who simply can't refrain from what his impulses dictate him to do.

Despite being a monster, the main character has traits with which we, the audience, could even sympathize, and this is truly the horror of this picture.

The DVD transfer is simply one of the best, if not the only one, I know in existence, and as such I can only say that it is a very good copy of the film, which also sports a good and clear sound, although a bit rough at times (but that might have been the original intent of the mixer).

As said, this movie is very disturbing, and for those who are very sensible about certain subjects, not at all recommended, but for those who want to see Tony Curtis delivering a masterful performance, this is it.

Absolutely not a movie for kids or adolescents without strict parental supervision.

This is just for mature, very mature audiences...

Like all true crime stories that become "art forms" via books and film, you must not expect a literal translation of the facts. I liked this movie as a movie, but I realize that given the nature of this case, it is but one person's understanding of what may have occured in Boston from 1962-1964.

The split screen format of the film makes the viewer disoriented in a manner that lends to the film. You feel like a cop in the film: as time goes on, you feel the story come together. Henry Fonda and Tony Curtis do a superb job in this film (as always), allowing you to focus in on them. The film moves quickly until they meet, and then it is one of the most interesting psychological battles in all of film!

Very interesting film (although it may be a fictionalized account of true events)- it is definitely worth watching and owning.

I saw this movie when it first opened in New England. I read the book "The Boston Strangler" by Gerold Frank. Then I read the book "The Boston Stranglers" by Susan Kelly.
The movie is a classic, odd in its production and worth adding to my DVD collection. BUT, the film is pure fiction, taken from Frank's book which is nearly all fiction.
Read Kelly's book and afterward I am sure you will agree with the police. Albert DeSalvo had nothing to do with the eleven, mostly unrelated, murders.

This is a very interestingly directed film with lots of split screen and interesting camera angels. Fascinating also as this really happened in Boston which comes across well in the documentary style. Tony Curtis is suberb as the strangler and Henry Fonda also puts up a great performance.

THIS MOVIE WAS INTERESTING.ALL THESE MURDERS ARE HAPPENING,AND THE DETECTIVES ARE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF WHO DID IT AND WHY.IT'S LIKE YOUR TV DETECTIVE SHOWS OF TODAY.I LIKED THIS MOVIE.