Criminal Adaptations

On December 9, 1980, Mark David Chapman assassinated one of the most famous musicians to ever live, John Lennon. Nearly 30 years later, director Jarrett Schaefer cast Jared Leto to portray Chapman’s life during the three days leading up to the murder in Chapter 27 (2007). This week, we unpack the controversy behind the movie, Leto’s preparation for the role, and learn just how accurately it captured Chapman’s movements, thoughts, and mental state. Complete with a rundown on Chapman’s entire life, there is bound to be something that will intrigue every listener.

Primary Sources:
Jones, Jack. Let Me Take You Down: Inside the Mind of Mark David Chapman, the Man who Killed John Lennon. Villard Books (1992).
Washington Post (1983)
NY Times (2017)

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Before he won his Academy Awards for the smash-hit Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), Daniel Scheinert directed the dark comedy The Dead of Dick Long (2019), inspired by the death of Kenneth Pinyan in 2005. This case, dubbed the “Enumclaw horse sex case,” went on to fascinate and deeply disturb society and led to Washington making bestiality illegal in 2006. As we will learn, sometimes reality truly is stranger than fiction.

Primary Sources:
The Seattle Times (2005)
Seattle Times (2010)
New York Daily News (2018)
Herald Net (2014)
The London Free Press (2016)
Zoo (2007)

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For our season four premier, we take a deep dive into the dazzling world of Rob Marshall's Academy Award winning musical Chicago (2002) and compare it to the gritty crimes that inspired it. Behind all that jazz and glittering costumes lie true stories of scandal, murder, and courtroom drama in 1920s Chicago. We explore the real women who inspired Roxie Hart, played by Renée Zellweger, and Velma Kelly, played by Catherine-Zeta Jones, and learn how American's fascination with female murderers inspired a Broadway play, failed movie adaptation, and Broadway musical before it made its way back to the silver screen.

Primary Source:
Perry, Douglas. The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust, and the Beautiful Killers who Inspired Chicago. Penguin Books (2010). 

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For our two-part season finale, we are unpacking movies about two men who smuggled cocaine for the Medellin Cartel into the states, largely by air. In our second episode, we dive into the thrilling world of Doug Liman’s American Made (2017) and the real-life story of Barry Seal, the infamous pilot turned drug smuggler turned DEA informant. We break down how the movie, starring Tom Cruise, dramatizes Seal’s high-flying exploits, comparing Hollywood’s version to the actual events. Did Seal really work for the CIA, DEA, and Medellin cartel simultaneously? How accurate is the portrayal of his dangerous double life? Tune in now to find out.

Primary Sources:
Hahn, Del. Smuggler’s End: The Life and Death of Barry Seal. Pelican Publishing Company (2016).
Special Report: Murder of a Witness – The Barry Seal Story

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For our two-part season finale, we are unpacking movies about two men who smuggled cocaine for the Medellin Cartel into the states, largely by air. In our first episode, we dive into Ted Demme’s Blow (2001), starring Johnny Depp as small-town boy turned infamous drug smuggler, George Jung. How accurate was Depp’s portrayal of Jung? What details about his life did Hollywood dramatize or leave out? Listen now to learn about the true story of the man who played a pivotal role in the cocaine boom of the 1970s and 1980s, exploring his relationships, rise to power, and downfall.

Primary Source:
Porter, Bruce. BLOW: How a Small-Town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellín Cocaine Cartel and Lost It All. St. Martin’s Griffen (2015).

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In this episode, we dive into Paul Schrader’s Auto Focus (2002), a darkly fascinating film about the life and career of TV star Bob Crane, best known for lead his role on Hogan’s Heroes. We discuss the film’s portrayal of Crane’s rise to fame, his complicated relationships, and his descent into scandal and sex addiction, culminating in his unsolved murder in 1978. Then, we compare Auto Focus to the real events behind the drama, examining how closely the movie stuck to the facts and what was left out. Join us as we unpack the true story of Bob Crane’s life, his obsession with sex and technology, and his untimely death, unraveling the line between truth and Hollywood storytelling.

Primary Sources:
Graysmith, Robert. The Murder of Bob Crane: Who Killed the Star of Hogan’s Heroes? The Crown Publishing Group (1993).
Entertainment Weekly

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This week we examine Ridley Scott’s All the Money in the World (2017), the thrilling drama based on the infamous 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, the grandson of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. We dissect the film’s intense portrayal of wealth, power, and familial dysfunction, while comparing it to the true events that shocked the world. The episode also explores the Getty family’s vast fortune, their legacy in the oil industry, and the personal tragedies that plagued the bloodline for generations. Why did one of the richest men in history refuse to pay his grandson’s ransom and what does this reveal about the darker side of immense wealth? Whether you’re a fan of the film or curious about the true story behind it, this episode is a deep dive into a family saga that continues to intrigue the world.

Primary Source:
Pearson, John. Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortune and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty. St. Martins Press (1995).

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What if the bright lights of Hollywood couldn't mask the darkest shadows of a child's life? This episode takes you on an emotional journey through the brief, yet impactful life of Judith Barsi, whose voice as Ducky in The Land Before Time and Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven still resonates with audiences today. In this special bonus episode, Ashley and Remi highlight Judith’s quick rise to fame, the murder-suicide orchestrated by her father in July 1988, and the lasting impact her death had on everyone who knew her. Grab your tissues because this one is guaranteed to be a tearjerker.

Primary Sources:
LA Times
Grapevine

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What if an annual movie screening in your town was based on real-life, terrifying events? In this episode of Criminal Adaptations, we offer a deep dive into Charles B. Pierce’s controversial 1976 film, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, exploring its shocking connection to the true story of the Phantom Killer responsible for the Texarkana Moonlight Murders. Join us as we recount the chilling events beginning in February 1946, analyzing how the film's portrayal of these horrific crimes left a lasting impact on both the horror genre and the community of Texarkana.

Primary Source:
Presley, James. The Phantom Killer: Unlocking the Mystery of the Texarkana Serial Murders: The Story of a Town in Terror. Pegasus Books, LLC, 2014.

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