Swoon Movie Review 1991

Kalin's directorial debut is a stylish rendering of the sensational 1924 kidnapping and murder of Bobby Franks by Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold Jr. and their subsequent trial and imprisonment. Core elements of the case remain but Kalin imposes contemporary styles and morals on the past, particularly his protest against the homophobic attitudes influencing the trial while acknowledging the jaded and dispassionate behavior of the two young men. Previous cinematic versions of the murder case include "Rope" and "Compulsion" but Kalin graphically portrays the characters homosexuality, which was only hinted at in the earlier films.

Distribution

Image Entertainment, 20525 Nordhoff St., Ste 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311, Phone: (818)407-9100, Email: inquiries@image-entertainment.com, URL: http://www.image-entertainment.com

Available on VHS
Running time 95 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

True Crime, Gays, Period Piece: 1920s, Order in the Court, Law & Lawyers

Screenplay

Tom Kalin

Cast

Daniel Schlachet, Craig Chester, Ron Vawter, Michael Kirby, Michael Stumm, Valda Z. Drabla, Natalie Stanford

Cinematography

Ellen Kuras

Director

Tom Kalin

Music

James Bennett

Producer

Christine Vachon, American Playhouse Theatrical Films, Fine Line Features

Awards

Sundance 1992: Cinematog.