Guyana: Crime of the Century - Cult of the Damned
by Jr. Ren Cardona
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Erika Carlson, Gene Barry, Jennifer Ashley, Joseph Cotten, Yvonne De CarloDirector: Jr. Ren Cardona
Brand: Video Communications Inc.
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, 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: Fantastic, soft-spoken actors, human underlying action
Summary: 5 Stars
Guyana: Crime of the Century (1979) featuring the actors Stuart
Whitman playing the Rev. Jim Jones, and Gene Barry as
Congressman Leo Ryan (among others) is a professional, non-juvenile
treatment of the astonishing events in Guyana from the 1970's that
made international headlines.
The film is wide-screen, tastefully accompanied with music, and
well edited, though lacking subtitles.
The humanity of the film is enhanced by the multicultural
composition of the members all towing the line.
Fast forward over 30 years later, and today sometimes people hear
the quip of "drinking the Kool-Aid", suggesting a gullible
person.
The film starts out in the USA, with Jim Jones in Indianopolis,
mentoring members of his cult in his interpretation of age-old
texts, with a constant emphassis in the imperfection of the
day-to-day world, the weaknesses and failings of people in the USA
in juxtaposition with the perfection of another world, a utopia
that Jones calls the Eden. Already, Jones is keen in setting an
example or an ideal for the world to follow, of "purity" and
"devotion", guaranteeing his success in his line of work, in his
mind, as a preacher.
Still in the USA, suspicion of a stranglehold over followers is the
case, as suggestions are made that members cannot leave once
they've joined the organization, comprising 30,000 members.
The film depicts punishment techniques for misbehaviors of various
kinds, that are no longer accepted in today's civilized society
(snakes, water wells, whip.)
The camp finally comprised approx. 1,000 members, in Guyana.
Realistically, such a camp cannot exist in isolation, not when the
world has so many citizens around the world. As such Jones is
shown relying on an Amateur /Ham radio to communicate yet pressured
to give it up, by the FCC, for a regular form of transmission.
The movie management pressures of various sorts, including income
tax lapses, charitable contributions and non-standard payments
received in the form of social security and welfare payments from
the US, for example, on which the organization depends all the
while there existing an agricultural production from field work.
Obviously, the mass media is tremendously important in managing the
message between the camp and the outside world, and is a constant
struggle, namely at the time of a 10 person Congressial visit to
the camp investigating the operations of the settlement.
Jones micro-manages his flock, convincing himself that they cannot
subsist without him, literally, in the form of personal direction,
advice and lectures: "These people are mine ! " he says.
Jones apparently fathered a number of babies in the camp.
Jones' health is shown to impoverish (perhaps from the intake of
Valium, Quaaludes and similar ) accelerating his dream of "taking
out" the lives of his followers with Kool-Aid, comprised of similar
substances but laced with potassium cyanide and chloride - the
ritual having been practiced over a number of months earlier, in
preparation for the final moment.
The final revelation is heard as Jones justifies his decision by
recalling that historically, what he's decided has been done in the
past many times by various peoples, he says, that have faced
trials and tribulations that were not solvable, thereby requiring a
dignified self-putting down.
Jones assures everyone that "they're free at last!", meeting again
in another time and place, that it was good, a friend, a good
outcome for everyone.
Summary of Guyana: Crime of the Century - Cult of the Damned
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