Next up is a 1963 exploitation film featuring Arch Hall Jr. as Charlie Tibbs and Marilyn Manning as his girlfriend Judy. Both of them were fresh off of costarring in the film Eegah the year before. The film is loosely based on the real killing spree of Charles Starkweather that occurred in January of 1958. This was the first film based on the murders but it wouldn't be the last. Badlands from 1973 stars Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek as the demented killers. In 1994 Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis would take a turn playing them in Natural Born Killers. As I have seen both of them previously I will be able to figure out which version of the story I prefer and can recommend.
The film also features Richard Alden, Helen Hovey, and Don Russell (none of which have many other acting credits, in fact this is Hovey's only film credit) play three unlucky teachers. While on their way to a Dodgers game in L.A., their car breaks down. When they pull into the first gas station they see they cross paths with the two fugitives. That, of course, is what they get for going to a Dodgers game in the first place.
The film was made on a shoestring budget which for some reason translated into using real guns and real ammunition in the film. Sounds kinda risky even by today's standards. Unfortunately you could ask Alec Baldwin what he thinks of that idea. Sad. Tragic. Aside from the five main characters, Arch Hall Sr. can be heard as the voice on the radio announcing. So where does this one fall into the trio of films based on the real life crimes of Charles Starkweather? Badlands is my favorite of the three with Natural Born Killers a close second. This would fall in third place and just squeeze out three broken gas pumps out of five.
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