This gripping crime drama charts the killing spree which Donald Neilson – aka the Black Panther – perpetrated across England during the mid-70s, including the murder of three men during robberies of small sub-post offices in 1974 and culminating in the kidnapping and death in a drainage shaft of 17-year old heiress Lesley Whittle in January 1975.
Told with meticulous accuracy and refraining from any measure of sensationalism, this is a fascinating, disturbing film.
Neilson was played by Donald Sumpter and Lesley Whittle by 19-year-old repertory actress Debbie Farrington.
Although subsequently acclaimed for being a mature and responsible reconstruction of events, the film caused such a huge media controversy on its initial release in the UK in 1977 – amid claims that it was a sordid exploitation film – that many local councils banned the film sight unseen and it was pulled from distribution shortly after its release.
Donald Neilson
Donald Sumpter Lesley Whittle
Debbie Farrington Neilson’s Wife
Marjorie Yates Neilson’s Daughter
Sylvia O’Donnell Lesley’s Brother
Andrew Burt Lesley’s Sister-in-Law
Alison Key Lesley’s Mother
Ruth Dunning Det. Chief Superintendent
David Swift
Director
Ian Merrick
Video
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Told with meticulous accuracy and refraining from any measure of sensationalism, this is a fascinating, disturbing film.
Donald Neilson
