Guyana: Crime of the Century - Cult of the Damned
Our Price: $5.99
Availability: Usually ships in 7 to 12 days
Buy Used: from $3.89 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Erika Carlson, Gene Barry, Jennifer Ashley, Joseph Cotten, Yvonne De CarloComposer: Nelson Riddle
Composer: Bob Summers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.77:1
Running Time: 115 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-02-15
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Vci Video
Movie Reviews of Guyana: Crime of the Century - Cult of the Damned
Movie Review: Oh The Humanity: This Was Bad
Summary: 1 Stars
I first watched Guyana: Crime of the Century back in the early 90's when Guyana Tragedy:The Jim Jones Story(Powers Boothe) was getting lots of airplay. I was convinced then as a high school kid as I am now that in comparison/contrast to other attempts to dramatize and explore the Jonestown Massacre of Novemeber '78...the stale acting, painfully predictable plots, senseless/purposeless/overexaggerated acts of violence, and the rediculously uncreative attempts to change the names of the "innocent"(ie, Alla Kazan) leave viewers with little more than a makeshift horror/docudrama/exploitation film based on the Jonestown Massacre, little to no nutritional value, and based on little to no fact.
This production is everything that the better film, Guyana Tragedy:The Jim Jones story, is not. While Guyana Tragedy detailed Jim Jones' life and progression from evangelism and humanitarianism into drug addiction, paranoia, and insanity...Crime of the Century comes off as a stale, innacurate attempt to scare people out of their wits(and money)...a bad horror film as opposed to a docudrama as "James Johnson" is "led by God" to lead his flock to paradise. A keeper only because the movie picks up(and parallels the historical account of the Jonestown Massacre) during the last 40-50 minutes of the film...which features the Congressman and the press's visit, the cover-up, the notes, the stabbing of the Congressman as he was rallying defectors for a return to the U.S., culminating with a chilling recreation of mass cuicide/murder,reminscent of the news footage following the massacre...but that's only enough to merit a star from me(considering the airstrip shooting had "Johnsontown" gunmen massacring defectors on the airstrip while armed Guyanese officers stood in plain sight and just watched...get real) . I strongly recommend Guyana Tragedy:The Jim Jones Story and Jonestown:The Life & Death of the People's Temple over this one(or purchase all 3 if you're as big a completist as I am). Peace & prayers to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.
Summary of Guyana: Crime of the Century - Cult of the Damned
Nearly 1,000 people - even tiny babies and children - lay dead and rotting in the morning sun in the South American country of Guyana, all victims of cult leader Jim Jones, who had ordered the mass execution of his followers in the 1978 incident called by many "The Crime of the Century". An horrific dramatization of the Guyana tragedy where the names have been changed to protect the "innocent," "Guyana: Crime of the Century," traces the steps of Rev. Jim Johnson (Jim Jones - portrayed by Stuart Whitman), a highly charismatic, but profoundly paranoid man of the cloth, who, after years of evangelism and good deeds, starts his own church in the United States. When Johnson becomes increasingly obsessed with the belief that the CIA is "a wicked enemy" who is out to get him, he emigrates with his congregation to Guyana where he plans to create a utopia. But Johnson's "utopia," consists of a society where he demands his followers turn their minds, bodies and possessions over to him, and a lifestyle that is rife with orgies, physical violence, mental torture, and sexual abuse of children and adults. When Congressman Lee O'Brien (portrayed by Gene Barry) makes a special trip to Johnsontownship in Guyana to investigate allegations of Johnson's bizarre activities, Johnson's paranoia reaches a fever pitch that culminates in him taking savage action against the congressman and ultimately, against his own congregation. From the director of "Survive," "Cyclone" and "Treasure of the Amazon". Bonus Features: Scene Selection Menu| Trailers| Bios. Specs: DVD5; Dolby Digital Mono; 115 minutes; Color: 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1979; SRP - $5.99.Drama DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in If you want to discover Joseph Cotten (1905 - 1994)
Citizen Kane (Two-Disc Special Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2001-09-25; DVD
Best price: $9.39
Price in other shops:
![Lydia ( Illusions ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ] Image](/images/Lydia-Illusions-NON-USA-FORMAT-PAL-Reg-2-Import-Spain-B000X1EJ3K-X.jpg)
Lydia ( Illusions ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]DVD
Best price: $28.98
The Magnificent AmbersonsDVD
Best price: $24.55
Shadow of a DoubtUniversal; Release date: 2006-02-07; DVD
Best price: $10.76
Price in other shops:
![Journey Into Fear [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ] Image](/images/Journey-Into-Fear-NON-USA-FORMAT-PAL-Reg-2-Import-Spain-B0019D3FIQ-X.jpg)
Journey Into Fear [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]DVD
Best price: $28.99
Hers To HoldDVD
Best price: $19.99
GaslightWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-02-03; DVD
Best price: $11.24
Price in other shops:
Since You Went AwayTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2004-10-19; DVD
Best price: $6.74
Price in other shops:
I'll Be Seeing YouTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2004-10-19; DVD
Best price: $3.09
Price in other shops:
Duel in the SunTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2004-05-25; DVD
Best price: $2.81
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
The Bermuda TriangleRelease date: 2005-01-25; DVD
Best price: $2.91
Price in other shops:
Salvation and Suicide: Jim Jones, the Peoples Temple, and Jonestown (Religion in North America)by David Chidester
Indiana University Press; Published: 2003-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $39.80
Price in other shops:
Waco - The Rules of EngagementRelease date: 2003-12-09; DVD
Best price: $12.36
Price in other shops:
Dear People: Remembering JonestownHeyday Books; Published: 2005-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.80
Price in other shops:
Helter SkelterRelease date: 2004-04-20; DVD
Best price: $11.06
Price in other shops:
Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Templeby Deborah Layton
Anchor; Published: 1999-11-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.44
Price in other shops:
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim JonesRelease date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $14.85
Guyana Tragedy: Jim Jones StoryRelease date: 2007-08-28; DVD
Best price: $7.35
Price in other shops:
Jonestown - The Life & Death of Peoples TemplePARAMOUNT PICTURES; Release date: 2007-04-10; DVD
Best price: $15.04
Price in other shops:
Guyana Tragedy: Story of Jim JonesVci Video; Release date: 2003-01-23; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops: