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((short description|1976 American television film by Tom Gries))
((Multiple issues|
((more citations needed|date=May 2018))
((missing information|the film's production, and home media releases|date=May 2018))
))
((Infobox television
| image                = Helter_Skelter_(1976 film).jpg
| image_size           = 
| image_alt            = 
| caption              = DVD cover of ''Helter Skelter''
| genre                = [[Crime film|Crime]]<br>[[Drama Film|Drama]]<br>[[Thriller film|Thriller]]
| creator              = 
| based_on             = ''[[Helter Skelter (book)|Helter Skelter]]'' by [[Vincent Bugliosi]]<br />[[Curt Gentry]]
| screenplay           = [[JP Miller]]
| story                = 
| director             = [[Tom Gries]]
| starring             = [[George DiCenzo]]<br />[[Steve Railsback]]<br />Nancy Wolfe<br />[[Marilyn Burns]]<br />[[Christina Hart]]<br />Cathey Paine<br />[[Alan Oppenheimer]]<br />[[Read Morgan]]
| narrated             = 
| theme_music_composer = [[Billy Goldenberg]]
| country              = [[United States]]
| language             = English
| num_episodes         = 2
| producer             = [[Philip Capice]]<br />[[Lee Rich]]
| editor               = Byron "Buzz" Brandt<br>Bud S. Isaacs
| cinematography       = Jules Brenner
| runtime              = 184 minutes
| company              = [[Lorimar Television]]
| budget               = 
| network              = [[CBS]]
| first_aired          = ((start date|1976|4|1))
| last_aired           = ((end date|1976|4|2))
))

'''''Helter Skelter''''' is a 1976 [[television film]] based on the 1974 [[Helter Skelter (book)|book]] by prosecutor [[Vincent Bugliosi]] and [[Curt Gentry]]. In the [[United States]], it aired over two nights. In some countries it was shown in cinemas, with additional footage including nudity, foul language, and more violence.

The movie is based on the murders committed by the [[Charles Manson]] Family.  The best-known victim was actress [[Sharon Tate]]. The title was taken from the 1968 [[The Beatles|Beatles]]' [[Helter Skelter (song)|song of the same name]]. According to the theory put forward by the prosecution, Manson used the term for an anticipated race war, and "healter skelter" [sic] was scrawled in blood on the refrigerator door at the home of victims [[Manson Family#Murder of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca|Rosemary and Leno LaBianca]]. It recounts the murders Manson committed, the investigation, and the 1970-71 trial, in which prosecutor [[Vincent Bugliosi]] attempted to draw connections between the Manson family and his violent convictions.

The 1976 film, directed by [[Tom Gries]], stars [[Steve Railsback]] as Manson and [[George DiCenzo]] as Bugliosi. Writer [[JP Miller]] received a 1977 [[Edgar Award]] from the [[Mystery Writers of America]] for Best TV Feature or Mini-series Teleplay.

In 2004, the book was adapted for a [[Helter Skelter (2004 film)|second made-for-TV movie]], written and directed by [[John Gray (director)|John Gray]] and featuring [[Jeremy Davies (actor)|Jeremy Davies]] as Manson.

==Plot==
William Garretson is arrested following the discovery of the bodies of [[Sharon Tate]] and her guests at her home but is released three days later for lack of evidence. The police are unwilling to connect the Tate killings to the Hinman murder and LaBianca killings, despite the similarities of the crime scenes including writing in blood on the walls, and instead pursue a drug-related angle for the Tate killings.

The police raid [[Spahn Ranch]] in an attempt to break up an auto theft ring and arrest [[Charles Manson|Manson]] and his gang. Nine-year-old "Steven Quint" (based on 10-year-old Steven Weiss) discovers a gun and his father turns it over to the police, where it is ignored. The Manson Family is released from prison and later two girls fleeing from Death Valley, "Stephanie Mark" (based on Stephanie Schram) and Kitty Lutesinger, tell police that the Manson Family has moved to Barker Ranch and that [[Susan Atkins]] was involved in the Hinman murder. Susan is arrested and reveals to her fellow inmate Ronnie Howard that she also killed Sharon Tate and was involved in eleven other killings.

Los Angeles [[District Attorney]] [[Vincent Bugliosi]] interviews Danny DeCarlo, who gives a tour of Spahn Ranch and says that Manson had a .22 caliber [[Colt Buntline|Buntline]] revolver matching that used in the murders. Ronnie Howard calls the homicide division and tells them what Susan confessed to her. Bugliosi requests bail to be set high for Manson's trial for burning municipal [[earthmoving equipment]] in order to give him time to get evidence for the grand jury for the murders.

Bugliosi interviews the Manson Girls and obtains arrest warrants for participants in the killings. [[Linda Kasabian]] turns herself in on the warrant while the fingerprints of [[Tex Watson]] and [[Patricia Krenwinkel]] are matched to those found at the Tate residence. During the grand jury proceedings, Susan gives all of the details of the Tate and LaBianca killings. As a result, Susan, [[Leslie Van Houten]], Tex, Patricia, Linda, and Manson are all brought up on charges.

A reporter and photographer from [[KABC-TV]], [[Los Angeles]] attempting to retrace the events crime as reported in the newspaper find where the bloody clothes from the murders have been discarded. Steven's father calls to ask about the .22 revolver, but the police tell him that they don't have time for him and hang up on him. He tells the story to the news in order to embarrass the investigators. Bugliosi uses ballistics testing to link the gun to the one used on victim [[Jay Sebring]].

Manson chooses to represent himself at trial and Bugliosi tricks Manson into  requesting more time, thus also giving himself more time to put a stronger case together. Bugliosi interviews former Manson Family member [[Paul Watkins (Manson Family)|Paul Watkins]], who explains Manson's views that the [[The Beatles|Beatles]] are sending him messages to spark a race war dubbed "Helter Skelter".

During the trial, testimony is heard from Linda Kasabian regarding the Tate and LaBianca murders despite repeated objections from the counsel for the defense. At one point Manson leaps at the judge but is subdued. He demands to give testimony, much of which works to his disadvantage. Due to their continuous disruptions, the defendants are ordered out of the courtroom during the closing arguments. Ultimately all of the defendants are sentenced to death but California later eliminates the death penalty in 1972, making the convicts eligible to apply for parole in the future.

==Cast==
((cast list|
* [[George DiCenzo]] as [[Vincent Bugliosi]]
* [[Steve Railsback]] as [[Charles Manson]]
* Nancy Wolfe as [[Susan Atkins]]
* [[Marilyn Burns]] as [[Linda Kasabian]]
* [[Christina Hart]] as [[Patricia Krenwinkel]]
* Cathey Paine as [[Leslie Van Houten]]
* Bill Durkin as [[Tex Watson|Charles “Tex” Watson]] 
* [[Alan Oppenheimer]] as Aaron Stovitz
* Sondra Blake as Ronnie Howard
* [[Rudy Ramos]] as Danny DeCarlo
* [[Jon Gries]] as William Garretson
* [[Skip Homeier]] as [[Charles Older|Judge Charles H. Older]]
* [[Linden Chiles]] as [[J. Miller Leavy]]
* [[Marc Alaimo]] as Phil Cohen
* [[Paul Mantee]] as Sergeant O'Neal
* [[David Clennon]] as Harry Jones
* [[Eileen Dietz]] as Family Girl
* [[Carole Ita White]] as Big Sal
* [[Larry Pennell]] as Sergeant White
* [[Bruce French (actor)|Bruce French]] as Officer Ocher
* [[Howard Caine]] as Everett Scoville
* [[Adam Williams (actor)|Adam Williams]] as Terrence Milik
* [[Jonathan Goldsmith]] as Hank Charter
* [[Robert Ito]] as Drees Darrin
* [[Bart Braverman]] as George Brewer
* [[Ray Middleton (actor)|Ray Middleton]] as [[George Spahn]]
))

== Broadcast history ==
The first part of the film premiered on [[CBS]] on Thursday, April 1, 1976 with a [[Nielsen rating]] of 35.2 and an audience share of 57%, making it the most watched made-for-TV movie ever, surpassing 1972's ''[[The Night Stalker (1972 film)|The Night Stalker]]''.<ref name=rating>((cite magazine|title=Hit Movies on U.S. TV Since 1961|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 24, 1990|page=160))</ref> The concluding part aired the following night and had an ever better rating of 37.5 and an audience share of 60%.<ref name=rating/>

The average household share of 36.5 was eclipsed the following year by ''[[Little Ladies of the Night]]'' but the 37.5 rating for the concluding part was not eclipsed by a made-for-TV movie until 1983's ''[[The Day After]]''<ref name=rating/> which, as of 2023, still holds the record for the most-watched made for television film.

At the time of its broadcast, the average household share made it the eleventh-highest-rated movie to air on network television,<ref name=rating/> and as of 2003 it ranked 16th.<ref>((cite book|title=[[The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present]]|year=2003|publisher=Ballantine Books|isbn=0-345-45542-8|pages=805))</ref>

==Reception==
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on ((nowrap|11 reviews)), with a [[weighted average]] rating of 7.3/10.<ref name="rottomatoes">((cite web|title=Helter Skelter (1976) - Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/helter_skelter_1976/|website=Rotten Tomatoes.com|publisher=Flixer|access-date=18 May 2018))</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
((unreferenced section|date=May 2018))

=== 1977 Emmy Awards ===

* Nominated, Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Special (Dramatic Underscore)((spaced ndash))[[Billy Goldenberg]]
* Nominated, Outstanding Directing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy((spaced ndash))Tom Gries
* Nominated, Outstanding Film Editing for a Special((spaced ndash))Byron Brandt, Bud S. Isaacs

=== Edgar Allan Poe Awards ===

* Won, Best Television Feature or Miniseries((spaced ndash))J.P. Miller

== References ==
((reflist))

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061027140441/http://www.charliemanson.com/helter-skelter.htm Explanation of Helter Skelter]
* ((IMDb title|id=0074621|title=Helter Skelter))
* ((Amg movie|22134|Helter Skelter))

((Manson Family))
((Tom Gries))

[[Category:1976 films]]
[[Category:1976 television films]]
[[Category:American serial killer films]]
[[Category:CBS films]]
[[Category:American courtroom films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Charles Manson]]
[[Category:Crime films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Edgar Award-winning works]]
[[Category:Films directed by Tom Gries]]
[[Category:Films scored by Billy Goldenberg]]
[[Category:Films set in 1969]]
[[Category:Films set in 1970]]
[[Category:Films set in 1971]]
[[Category:Films set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films set in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Vincent Bugliosi]]
[[Category:Films based on non-fiction books]]
[[Category:1970s American films]]

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