Guyana: Crime of the Century - Cult of the Damned
Our Price: $5.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $1.99 (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, 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
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.Art House & International 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: $9.99
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: $28.72
Shadow of a DoubtUniversal; Release date: 2006-02-07; DVD
Best price: $10.33
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: $27.99
Hers To HoldDVD
Best price: $18.99
GaslightWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-02-03; DVD
Best price: $10.19
Price in other shops:
Since You Went AwayTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2004-10-19; DVD
Best price: $6.76
Price in other shops:
I'll Be Seeing YouTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2004-10-19; DVD
Best price: $7.66
Price in other shops:
Duel in the SunTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2004-05-25; DVD
Best price: $4.97
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
![Guyana Tragedy: Story of Jim Jones [VHS] Image](/images/Guyana-Tragedy-Story-of-Jim-Jones-VHS-B00002VW6C-X.jpg){kind=small}
Guyana Tragedy: Story of Jim Jones [VHS]Vci Video; Release date: 2003-01-23; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.24
Price in other shops:
Our Father Who Art in Hell: The Life and Death of Jim Jonesby James Reston Jr.
IUniverse; Published: 2001-01-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.21
Price in other shops:
Dear People: Remembering JonestownHeyday Books; Published: 2005-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.95
Helter SkelterWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-04-20; DVD
Best price: $11.59
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: $9.01
Price in other shops:
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim JonesRelease date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $14.85
Raven: The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His Peopleby Tim Reiterman
Tarcher; Published: 2008-11-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.56
Price in other shops:
Story of Jim Jones - Guyana TragedyRelease date: 2008-02-26; DVD
Best price: $3.01
Price in other shops:
Guyana Tragedy: Jim Jones StoryRelease date: 2007-08-28; DVD
Best price: $7.15
Price in other shops:
Jonestown - The Life & Death of Peoples TempleParamount; Release date: 2007-04-10; DVD
Best price: $13.46
Price in other shops: