Ripped from the Headlines!

The Shocking True Stories Behind the Movies' Most Memorable Crimes

By: Harold Schechter

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Bestselling true-crime master Harold Schechter explores the real-life headline-making psychos, serial murderers, thrill-hungry couples, and lady-killers who inspired a century of classic films.

The necktie murders in Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy; Chicago’s Jazz Age crime of passion; the fatal hookup in Looking for Mr. Goodbar; the high school horrors committed by the costumed slasher in Scream. These and other cinematic crimes have become part of pop-culture history. And each found inspiration in true events that provided the raw material for our greatest blockbusters, indie art films, black comedies, Hollywood classics, and grindhouse horrors.

So what’s the reality behind Psycho, Badlands, The Hills Have Eyes, A Place in the Sun, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Dirty Harry? How did such tabloid-ready killers as Bonnie and Clyde, body snatchers Burke and Hare, Texas sniper Charles Whitman Jr., nurse-slayer Richard Speck, and Leopold and Loeb exert their power on the public imagination and become the stuff of movie lore?

In this collection of revelatory essays, true-crime historian Harold Schechter takes a fascinating trip down the crossroads of fact and fiction to reveal the sensational real-life stories that are more shocking, taboo, and fantastic than even the most imaginative screenwriter can dream up.

©2020 Harold Schechter. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“The exploits of Depression-era homicidal sweethearts Bonnie and Clyde and the 1960s strangler who inspired the necktie murders in Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy are among the true stories behind many of cinema’s most famous crimes and criminals. Schechter, author of numerous books on serial killers, tracks the path from felony to film.” (Publishers Weekly)

Hollywood meets True Crime

Narrator very dramatic, brings popular Hollywood movies to live by introducing the true life stories.

Well researched

This was a very well researched book of essays in new and old crimes throughout history. Some I knew and some I didn't.

Movies and true crimes

This is an excellent collection of well researched essays on films that were inspired by true crime stories. Schechter does a great job of laying out the facts behind classic and not-so-classic crime, thriller and horror movies, including Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” and “Rope,” not too mention “A Place in the Sun,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Chicago” and slasher flicks like “Scream” and “The Hills Have Eyes.” Ghoulish, full of historical context and very entertaining, expertly narrated by Malcom Hillgartner.

Worth the listen

An insight into the crimes that inspired many movies, both new and old. Harold Schechter once again delivers a delightful read.

Fascinating Look at Films Based on True Crimes

This was another great book from noted crime author Harold Schechter. I've read several of his books before, especially some period crime books. As is normally the case, he has done extensive research on many cases not known in modern times and cross referencing with the films that inspired them. There is a mix of old and new. He givens the basic film information, a short synopsis of the story, then delves into the crimes that inspired the film. On many occasions there are multiple films inspired from a case. They are included as well. It reads more like a novel. Many of the crimes were gruesome and he doesn't shy away from recounting them. It was interesting to note several trends were not new and how many of the more popular and noted old films were based on true crime. A great book for true crime fans. I read this book using immersion reading and the narration by Malcolm Hilgartner was perfect for the material.