Thursday, 20 January 2011

Badlands



As I am still waiting to find out about a promised new job opportunity I am going to stick with discussing movies, otherwise I think I will go mad.

Yesterday in the comments, Natasha mentioned Badlands, the 1973 Terrance Malik film loosely based on teen anti-hero/serial killer Charles Starkweather.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Starkweather

In reality the stolen car was a Packard but a much more evocative 59 Cadillac was the real star of this film. Check out the end of reel car chase between a 58 Ford police car and the rocket finned Caddy.



The Starkweather case had a huge cultural impact inspiring many movies and novels. Stephen King has used Starkweather like characters in a number of books and short stories, i.e. the novella Blockade Billy. In the Stand Randall Flagg went to school with Stalkweather.

Anyone notice that Alabama’s coat in True Romance looked a lot like mine, hmmmm no comment.

Hugs,

April

2 comments:

  1. Also, in The Frighteners, the killer makes comparisons between himself and Starkweather, keeping score.

    Now that you mention it, your coat does bear some resemblance to hers :D

    xoxo

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  2. What a sad tale.

    Impressive car chase sequence though.

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