Vous voulez voir cette page en français ? Cliquez ici.


or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Honeymoon Killers

Shirley Stoler , Tony Lo Bianco , Donald Volkman , Leonard Kastle    R (Restricted)   DVD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
List Price: CDN$ 49.99
Price: CDN$ 37.49 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
You Save: CDN$ 12.50 (25%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Friday, May 24? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout.

Product Details


Product Description

Amazon.ca

There's Bonnie and Clyde--then there's Martha and Ray. One-shot writer-director Leonard Kastle set out to make a film about lover-murderers that was everything Arthur Penn's movie was not. He succeeded. Consequently, The Honeymoon Killers, based on the Lonely Hearts Killers case of 1949, may be too lurid for some. But there's a heart beating inside its (tawdry) chest and Kastle clearly cared about these two crazy, mixed-up kids who should never have met. But met Martha (Shirley Stoler) and Ray (Tony LoBianco) did and proceeded to fleece several widows before doing them in. The film isn't graphic in its violence, but each murder is increasingly disturbing. Dramatic lighting and dark passages from Mahler keep the mood close and clammy throughout. Keep an eye out for Everybody Loves Raymond's Doris Roberts in a sharp cameo--and for shots directed by original helmer Martin Scorsese (fired for working too slowly). --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

Leonard Kastle's cult thriller about a pair of murderers known as "the Lonely Hearts Killers". Based on a true story, the tale of duplicity, jealousy and twisted love stars Tony Lo Bianco and Shirley Stoler in iconic performances. Includes a new interview with the director and an illustrated essay on the true crime story.


Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5 stars
Most helpful customer reviews
By Kasey G TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
*NOTE - This review may contain spoilers*

"The Honeymoon Killers" is an odd little film in that though filmed in 1969, has more in common with Independent Film of the '90s than the era from which it came.

Lensed in black-and-white and possessing a quasi-documentary feel, it's based on a true-crime story of the '40s in which a charming but shady gigolo (Tony LoBianco) meets lonely but bitter nurse (Shirley Stoler) through a lonely hearts club called "The Friendship Club". LoBianco preys on spinsters and widows, promising hearts and flowers. As soon as they're hooked, he proposes marriage so that he can get hold of their money and dump them. His plans are constantly hampered by Stoler, who has dumped her elderly mother into a nursing home to run away with him. She poses as his sister, but begins to get increasingly jealous, causing things to get complicated.

Along the way, they steal from a school teacher, poison a pregnant woman, murder an annoying old lady, and kill a widow and her young child. It's during the last incident that things reaching a breaking point for Stoler and she cracks.

The action moves very swiftly, which makes the film unique. The way it's written, the dialog let's us know the duo have long since moved on to their next conquest.

There's some comedic moments from the annoying frugal old woman (Mary Jane Higby) and some famous character actresses show up. There's Barbara Cason, and even a young Doris Roberts! Actually, it's Roberts who sets the whole plot in motion because she's the one who placed Stoler's ad in the Friendship Club in the first place. She also utters the memorable line "You're a little on the heavy side, but you're not an old bag, you know", when Stoler frets that no one will want her.

The audio on the DVD is very poor and it becomes somewhat frustrating to make out what is being said.

This film is like a cross between "Multiple Maniacs" and "Natural Born Killers", but I didn't find it as entertaining as either of those and doubt I would watch it a second time. There's not very much violence shown onscreen , so I wouldn't say it's objectionable despite the subject matter.

Stoler acts the same here as she did playing Big Aggie in the "Caged Angel" episode of "Charlie's Angels", and LoBianco looks great in his swim trunks during the lake scene.

An oddity you may want to watch for curiosity sake, but IMO it doesn't have much replay value.
Was this review helpful to you?
5.0 out of 5 stars Campy and fun Feb 18 2004
Format:DVD
This movie is alot of fun especially if you like bad acting and a good script. The DVD's picture quality is excellent especially compared to this VHS I bought about 6 years ago the sound is not very good but that is because of the film's extremely low budget.
Was this review helpful to you?
4.0 out of 5 stars Manipulative affection in drama-documentary... Jan 29 2004
Format:DVD
Honeymoon killers is based on the true events that took place during the late 40s when a heavy nurse, Martha Beck begins to exchange letters with the sly and manipulative Raymond Fernandez who she met through an add in a Lonely Hearts club. Raymond uses the club to con lonely women, but it turns out that Raymond and Martha have something in common. Together the two begin to pick victims and steal women's savings, which eventually leads to murder. Honeymoon Killers is a monstrous story that reveals the dark nature of Martha's passion for Raymond as they tour east USA leaving a trail of corpses. Yet, it is a sad story as Martha is incapable of recognizing their failing love as she desires the need to feel loved by Raymond. Honeymoon Killers is a black and white drama-documentary that leaves the audience with a good, yet mind numbing cinematic experience.
Was this review helpful to you?
Want to see more reviews on this item?
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars THE ORIGINAL NATURAL BORN KILLERS
I know that sounds a little extreme, but the Honeymoon Killers is actually based on real events. The violence is almost non-existent compared to Stone's slaughter-fest, but the... Read more
Published on Dec 29 2003 by El Smoksta
5.0 out of 5 stars WATCH IT ALL THE TIME
I bought this DVD on impulse. That was two weeks ago I'm still watching this movie over and over. It's well directed. I love Shirley Stoler and Tony Lo Bianco's acting. Read more
Published on Sep 6 2003 by K. Coronel
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally....
For years I had to watch a pan and scan video of this dark, sad movie. Now Criterion has released an enhanced widescreen DVD which is like a Holy Grail for lovers of this... Read more
Published on Aug 16 2003 by Wil-n-Tally
4.0 out of 5 stars LOVE KILLS
Love'em or hate 'em, idiosyncratic films that dabble with subversive notions and stories of fringe people make some viewers uncomfortable. You either get it or not. Read more
Published on July 31 2003 by Robin Simmons
5.0 out of 5 stars "DEAR MARTHA"...
The true story of Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck is sad and depressing. Their arrests, trial and subsequent executions are vividly described through actual newspaper clips and... Read more
Published on July 30 2003 by Mark Norvell
4.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected Emotional Punch in B Movie Classic
Shirley Stoler, (a regular on Pee Wee's Playhouse,) gives a standout performance in this B movie classic. Read more
Published on Jun 4 2003 by LA Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing tale of real life husband & wife murder team.
Raymond Fernandez & Martha Beck were a notorious husband and wife murder team in the late 1960's that preyed upon older, lonely women in search of love and companionship, but... Read more
Published on May 14 2003 by P. Ferrigno
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Amazon.ca Privacy Statement Amazon.ca Shipping Information Amazon.ca Returns & Exchanges