Paula Fass, Historian: Nathan Leopold was studying for law school. . Clarence Darrow (James Cromwell, audio): Before I would tie a noose around the neck of a boy I would try to call back into my mind the emotions of youth... The brain of the child is the home of dreams, of castles, of visions, of illusions and delusions, and whether they take one shape or another shape depends not on the dreamy boy, but on what surrounds him. The parents retreated to their summer home. These were children of privilege, of high ideals, who had everything given to them. Clarence Darrow (James Cromwell, audio): Your Honor, I have stood here for three months as one might stand at the ocean trying to sweep back the tide. And this is a man who has pulled the trick off dozens of times throughout his career, but he says, you know, "the newspapers are just too bad.". It wasn't just a matter of good and evil. Many of his cases -- his guys or his gals are found with the guns or a bloody knife in their hands. What was unusual about the eyeglasses is that they had a certain hinge, and when the police began to inquire they found that only three pairs of eyeglasses with that hinge had been sold in the Chicago district. A Desert Penguin Pictures, LLC. The handwriting on the ransom note's envelope matched Nathan Leopold's, and the note itself had been linked to a typewriter he owned. 40min | Documentary, Crime | TV Series (2020) Episode Guide. He had a flashing smile. Crowe had certainly hoped that a success in this case would help him as a politician. Darrow's strategy to introduce this evidence was absolutely ground breaking. He was the kind of human being that when he walked through a room the molecular energy changed. TMDb Score. He seemed like an evil mastermind whereas Loeb seemed like such a carefree playboy who could easily be led astray by this stronger, darker intellect. Robin Lamel There is something beetle-browed and intense and dark about Leopold. John Logan, Playwright: Leopold was seen as the monster. The judge had tears in his eyes when Darrow was done. "My first impression," Nathan Leopold later said, "was horror.". This docuseries investigates the 1991 killing of politician Detlev Rohwedder, an unsolved mystery at the heart of Germany's tumultuous reunification. By 2pm, more than 2,000 people had massed at the doors and begun pushing their way in. With Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen, David Suchet. Nathan Leopold was the complete opposite. Beth Cohen Doug Dunderdale It is now their job to catch the killers of Palm Beach. Meanwhile, the boys' unfathomable crime prompted a rash of national hand-wringing over the perils of modern life. Perfect Crime ( 1997) Perfect Crime. They were pleaded guilty, so all he can do is bring in the grotesque evidence of the case, how horrible it was and show what terrible, terrible beings they were. Budget Films Stock Footage Narrator: As a police stenographer took down their words, first Loeb then Leopold described how they'd rented a car under an assumed name to use on the day of the murder, and typed out the ransom note even before they chose their victim. Hal Higdon, Writer: It was almost as though he had been scripted by Shakespeare. It was a request Darrow could not refuse. It was 10am, and though the already sweltering courtroom was filled to capacity, the crowd was mostly silent. Convinced the officer committed the crime but hindered by lack of physical evidence (... 6 of 8 people found this review helpful. Now, he wanted Richard Loeb brought in for questioning as well. Over the next five weeks, Leopold and Loeb would be subject to rigorous examinations derived from the cutting edge of modern science. Richard Loeb's father was the vice-president of Sears Roebuck. He had a tremendous capture of the law. Narrator: Nathan was more than willing to join in, but he wanted something in return. The parents who read the newspapers were fixated on what they could learn about their own more normal children from these young people. He did probably 60 or more capital punishment cases in his career. Clare Manchon and Olivier Manchon, Cinematography He even went so far as to insinuate -- without any conclusive evidence -- that there had been a sexual motive for the crime. Perfect Crime Jasmine Guy (Actor) Rated: PG-13. Jonathan Nee, Post Production Supervisor Hal Higdon, Writer: When the glasses first were found, it was thought that they were Bobby Franks' glasses, they were even put on the corpse in the funeral home. Title: He does so quite thoroughly. Simon Baatz, Historian: Crowe thought he had everything sewn up, that he was all ready for a plea by the defense of not guilty on account of insanity. Paula Fass, Historian: They literally demonstrated how they had done it and walked them through the scenes of the crime as if once they were discovered they were proud of the plotting. Perfect Crime. Convinced the officer committed the crime but hindered by lack of physical evidence (including a body), she must interview military personnel who have differing views of the events and circumstances surrounding the murder. Hal Higdon, Writer: The afternoon of the crime, they were rolling around the neighborhood in their rental car looking for a victim. Sign up for the American Experience newsletter! Nebraska State Historical Society Steve Bores So essentially what he was saying to Judge Caverly was, 'We admit that we committed the crime, but I'd like to show you why we committed the crime.'. So long as their parents were cooperating, certain that their sons had been involved in no wrongdoing, Crowe planned to keep Leopold and Loeb in custody. Both had a governess and these governesses exerted an enormous amount of control over the children. What could have happened to Darnell?! Molly Jacobs, Production Assistant, Digital Media As expected, he entered a not guilty plea, which gave him several weeks to prepare his defense. Fandango FANALERT® Sign up for a FANALERT® to find out when tickets are available in your area. So he believed accordingly that capital punishment, the death penalty, was something that should not take place. Kristin Lipkowski But that was hardly insanity, that was, in the state's view, you know, evil, not madness. And I think to him it's because there's a certain exceptionality about crime. In the morning, the pair would be bound for the penitentiary at Joliet. The film follows Moss working with a ... See full summary ». John Logan, Playwright: One of the terrifying implications of the case in 1924 was, if the boys who had everything in the world ahead of them could do this act, why could not other people do this act? There are no featured audience reviews for Perfect Crime at this time. For 12 days, Chicago and the world waited while Caverly wrestled with his decision. You know, the music is wild, the skirts were short, there was gin, it was a fast living society. The easy thing and the popular thing to do is to hang my clients... we are asking this court to save their lives. Was this review helpful to you? The film doesn't want you to doubt for one minute that Robert Russell did kill his wife. John A. Farrell, Writer: Constantly through the trial he is going back, returning to the savagery of the crime. As for the night of Franks' murder, he'd spent it driving around town in his red Willys-Knight with his good friend Richard Loeb. They never apologized. PG-13 1 hr 28 min Jul 7th, 1997 TV Movie, Mystery. It is not known whether the … They drive up behind Bobby Franks. John A. Farrell, Writer: Crowe introduces the idea that poor Bobby Franks was molested either before and or after death, at which point, Judge Caverly tells the female reporters that they have to leave his courtroom because their dainty ears can't be listening to such awful testimony. Calling his team of experts to the stand one by one, Darrow spelled out for the court the findings from the elaborate pre-trial examinations of Leopold and Loeb, offering a catalogue of the boys' abnormalities. John A. Farrell, Writer: Darrow's early letters to his son and to his ex-wife from early June are very bleak and they say, 'I doubt that I'll be able to save these boys.' Narrator: By the time Darrow arrived, Leopold and Loeb had been in Crowe's custody for three days, talking all the while. The Perfect Crime is a 1928 American part-talkie crime drama film directed by Bert Glennon and starring Clive Brook, Irene Rich and Ethel Wales. But Darrow had saved his clients' lives, and dealt a powerful blow to the death penalty. Narrator: On July 30th, the defense finally took charge of the room. ", Darrow showed up for his first meeting with his clients in a rumpled seersucker suit and a shirt that bore traces of his breakfast. The Clarence Darrow Digital Collection/ University of Minnesota Law Library Because he knows what Darrow is doing. As he told the reporters who crowded around the defense table, he now planned to launch a campaign to end capital punishment in Illinois. Brown Brothers, Sterling, PA A Perfect Crime. He'd been sent by Nathan's father with information Mr. Leopold was sure proved the boys' innocence. They had come to hear Clarence Darrow's closing argument -- rumored to be the last the legendary attorney would give before his retirement. In other words, the defining factor is the primary causative influence of the criminal's ability to avoid investigation and reprisal, and not so much the ability of the investigating authority to perform its duties. She has been having a secret affair with her married boss Fuyuki for years. And he felt he was not in the common run of humanity. You had some ministers saying it was because Americans were over-educating their children. Olivier Manchon I hope the seas are subsiding and the wind is falling, and I believe they are, but I wish to make no false pretense to this court. The Process, a documentary film that takes the audience for an inside, behind the scenes look of world renowned acting and directing coach, Larry Moss. Price: $19.95 FREE Shipping Get free shipping Free 5-8 day shipping within the U.S. when you order $25.00 of eligible items sold or fulfilled by Amazon. Carol Steiker, Professor of Law: They said they did it because they could, because he was there, because it was fun -- for the thrill of it. Then, the Leopold family's chauffeur showed up at Crowe's office. You couldn't help looking at him. Alisa Placas Frutman (TV Movie 1997). From the very start he has an attitude towards the investigators and from there on he just adds on the bad qualities - threatening, scheming, mysterious, defensive - yup he's got them all. Paula Fass, Historian: The psychiatrists argue that, in fact, it was Loeb and not Leopold who was responsible and that Leopold had been his servant, that there had been a master/slave relationship between the two of them. Narrator: On May 22nd, 1924, just hours after the body of Bobby Franks was found, the hunt for his killers got underway. The glasses, he said, must have fallen at some point from his jacket pocket. See All Audience Reviews Perfect Crime Quotes. Narrator: Suddenly, Leopold and Loeb were everywhere, and the horror of the murder began to pale before the specter of the murderers: two arrogant young men in stylish suits, smoking cigarettes and chatting blithely with reporters about the killing of Bobby Franks. Narrator: "The actor-egoist in him sought opportunities to play great parts," one writer said of Darrow. Crowe takes those details to Nathan and Nathan realizes that Richard is confessing, and then immediately Nathan also starts confessing but blaming everything on Richard. As used by some criminologists and others who study criminal investigations (including mystery writers), a perfect crime goes unsolved not because of incompetence in the investigation, but because of the cleverness and skill of the criminal. Although Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb came from similar backgrounds, they were very different young men. Simon Baatz, Historian: Richard Loeb graduated from high school when he was 14 years old and immediately matriculated at the University of Chicago as a full time student. Narrator: Loeb corroborated his friend's alibi. American Experience is a production of WGBH, which is solely responsible for its content. A better script would have allowed him to play these characteristics in a more subtle way and allowed us some doubt in our minds.I'm sure that the real-life events were tragic and produced a more conclusive conclusion (it must have been - all subsequent appeals have been turned down), but this is dull from start to finish - this case was supposedly something of a legal milestone but you wouldn't know that from this. Narrator: The body was found on the morning of May 22nd, 1924; a 14-year-old boy named Bobby Franks, who'd gone missing from his Chicago neighborhood the day before. Overview of A Perfect Crime, 1921, directed by Allan Dwan, with Monte Blue, Jacqueline Logan, Stanton Heck, at Turner Classic Movies Cathleen O'Connell, Original Music by They never said sorry. Convinced the officer committed the crime but hindered by lack of physical evidence (including a body), she must interview military personnel who have differing views of the events and circumstances surrounding the murder. Chicago History Museum She tracks her down, only to find that she has another daughter, and both are connected to a dangerous crime element. For many Americans, what hung in the balance was not merely the fate of Leopold and Loeb, but the very meaning of justice. John A. Farrell, Writer: One of the most interesting things about Judge Caverly's ruling is how, in the end, how little all that scientific testimony, all the alienists' testimony, that talk about glandular secretions, how little it all mattered. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. "The court believes that it is within his province," Caverly explained, "to decline to impose the sentence of death on persons who are not of full age.". But the perpetrators of the "perfect crime" would continue to compel fascination for decades to come. Simon Baatz, Historian: Richard had this fantasy of being a master criminal and Nathan had the fantasy of being a slave to a king. So Richard is blaming Nathan, Nathan is blaming Richard. "Hero parts. When asked how he felt about Bobby Franks' murder, Leopold casually replied that it didn't concern him. When Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two well-educated college students from a wealthy suburb of Chicago, confessed to the brutal murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks, the story made headlines across the country. Although Kaori can't see a future with Fuyuki, she still loves him and continues their relationship. It is loosely based on the 1892 novel The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill.. A criminologist sets out to prove there is such a thing as a perfect crime, and commits a murder without leaving any clues. Reporters jumped and ran to the rooms and all the afternoon newspapers was that Leopold and Loeb are pleading guilty. Explore photos of the investigation and trial. John Logan, Playwright: It was crime that fascinated Loeb. Narrator: The murder would rivet the nation, all the more so when police at last caught the killers: Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb -- wealthy, well-educated teenagers, who had done it, they said, for the sheer thrill. Searcy is forced to play Russell as the worst man on earth - from the start he comes across like he's not bothered if his wife is dead, then we find out he's a racist (his wife is black), then we find out he beats her, then we find .......etc. Directed by Andrew Davis. Darrow, disheveled as ever, his thumbs hooked under his trademark suspenders, spoke first, and turned the entire case on its head by entering a plea of guilty. It wasn't just Clarence Darrow defending Leopold and Loeb it was "Clarence Darrow's last stand.". Perfect Movie cmmalt4 September 2005 I have seen this movie before and enjoyed it very much. John Logan, Playwright: Unfortunately they invested in their own sort of dark and twisted version of the Nietzschean ideal where they began to self-identify as the Nietzschean superman. Alfred Hitchcock was no stranger to a perfect … The shocking story of Richard Leopold and Nathan Loeb, two wealthy college students who murdered a 14-year-old boy in 1924 to prove they were smart enough to get away with it. Caleb Moses "It was remarkable," one observer noted, "to see two kids on trial for their life acting like that.". They were in this very sheltered life with cold families and that therefore they should be pitied rather than hated. Simon Baatz, Historian: The intention was always to murder from the very beginning. Narrator: But the judge went on, and it swiftly became clear that Leopold and Loeb were headed not for the gallows, but for prison. Crime movies have been popular as long as movies have been around, and the world keeps providing ever stranger real-life material for them to use. Simon Baatz, Historian: Robert Crowe was very politically ambitious, and his ambition was eventually to become mayor of Chicago, to become one of the most powerful men in the city. Paula Fass, Historian: Leopold's father came to every single day of the hearing. John Jenkins. Love Is the Perfect Crime (French: L'Amour est un crime parfait) is a 2013 French-Swiss drama thriller film directed by Arnaud Larrieu and Jean-Marie Larrieu. Simon Baatz, Historian: One of the things that was very striking was their absence of remorse. So I think once they were on each other's radar there was a sense of them sniffing each other out, of realizing here, in a way, is a kindred spirit. Richard, in particular, was "a little child emotionally, still talking to his teddy bear," one psychiatrist told the court. Paula Fass, Historian: There are mysteries wrapped inside of enigmas in this case and it's why it won't go away. Chumphon/ Shutterstock When Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two well-educated college students from a wealthy suburb of … A Perfect Murder is a 1998 American crime thriller film directed by Andrew Davis and starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen. Liberty, Bash, and their friend Jesse served together in a war in Central America. They became almost braggarts about it. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Narrator: What would end with the murder of Bobby Franks had begun almost innocently, with a scheme Richard devised to cheat at cards. The two graduated high school and … Noel Powell/ Pond5 John Logan, Playwright: They both zoomed through school, zoomed into college well ahead of their peers. He was worth about $10 million by 1924. Historic Films Archive, LLC. Simon Baatz, Historian: The two boys were originally held separately in separate rooms, and Robert Crowe first went to Richard. He was a brilliant man. The curious spectators began to descend on the Criminal Court Building at mid-day on Friday, August 22nd. He was very popular as a student. It was a case of tremendous sensation. Chicago Film Archives Throughout, Leopold and Loeb, sat just behind their attorneys, snickering. It escalated more and more, and then eventually Richard suggested the idea to Nathan of committing a murder. Narrator: The police had few clues: the ransom note, a tip about a grey sedan that had been idling where Bobby Franks was last seen, and a pair of eyeglasses found near the body. Narrator: Leopold and Loeb would never again dominate headlines. "We'll pay you anything, only for God's sake, don't let them hang." He frequently led birding expeditions near the place Franks' body had been found. The truth of the matter, of course, is the complete opposite. Netflix docuseries A Perfect Crime chronicles a story described as Germany’s version of the JFK assassination. All Rights Reserved. We've curated a list of lesser-known films to help you explore the space-time continuum from the comfort of your couch. Leopold who was intense and brooding and his hair was always shining and he was very sort of well put together. Narrator: Referring to the two as Babe and Dickie, their childhood nicknames, the witnesses for the defense argued that both boys suffered from stunted emotional growth. I'm unaware of the real-life case so this movie may have very accurate and detailed, but the way the murderer and the victim were so polarised as good and evil from the first second of the film I wouldn't be surprised if the real Darnell's family paid for this to be made. It didn't seem to make any sense. Simon Baatz, Historian: Those two girls that they did pick up refused to have sex with them so they dropped them off, and then they continued home. Are we going in the wrong direction? Narrator: On July 21st, two months after Bobby Franks' murder, Darrow and his clients joined Prosecutor Crowe in the Criminal Court Building, to present motions before Judge John Caverly. So the boys made a secret pact. Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Rich Remsberg, Photo Animation Streamline Films, Inc. Katharine Duffy, Contracts & Rights Manager In 1991, Detlev Karsten Rohwedder, the man given the … John A. Farrell, Writer: Clarence Darrow was, at this point in his life, 67 years old. He lost the first one to the hangman, and he never got over it. Leigh Moran Armstrong Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? And then Clarence Darrow who was a complete shambling mess. It was all part of the plan to commit the perfect crime. He was the know-it-all who would have an opinion on everything. John A. Farrell, Writer: The major effect of all the scientific testimony was that it convinced the people of Chicago, America and around the world that there were indeed motivations. Hal Higdon, Writer: Attorney Crowe really was sort of between a rock and a hard place. Production for American Experience. Narrator: While Crowe interrogated Leopold, police ransacked his bedroom and study -- and turned up a letter to Richard Loeb, which suggested the boys were lovers. Some of it is clever (as I'm sure it was in real-life) but the way the film makes it look it is a) very dodgy and b) a complete anti-climax for those hoping for some legal fireworks at the end. A young girl from an affluent family rebels and becomes involved with a much older photographer. Getty Images Noah Connelly is a boxer with a tireless opponent: Autism. And when his relative came in to identify the body he said, "Well, those aren't his glasses." Narrator: To Crowe, the entire defense was preposterous. Simon Baatz, Historian: He believed that everything we do is determined by our upbringing, by our childhood, by our parents, and therefore there's very little free choice. Director:Tony Scott|Stars:Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Luis Guzmán, Victor Gojcaj. It's actually quite dull and predictable. Narrator: "Get them a life sentence instead of death," Loeb's uncle begged Darrow. Caverly is not very happy with this situation because the whole responsibility rests upon his shoulders. Narrator: Speaking continuously for the better part of three days, Darrow offered the court a rambling summary of the reasons Leopold and Loeb should be spared. John Logan, Playwright: They were the last people who had any reason to commit a kidnapping, much less a murder. "It is as easy to justify such a death," he said, "as it is to justify an entomologist impaling a beetle on a pin."Â. 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