This two-part made-for-television miniseries – telling the shocking story of the Manson “family”, their ritualistic murders and the aftermath – aired on various CBS affiliates on 1 and 2 April 1976.
Helter Skelter provided a painstakingly detailed dramatisation of the savage and senseless murders of actress Sharon Tate and seven other innocent victims in Los Angeles in 1969 by a commune of freeloading hippies disturbingly devoted to extreme ex-convict Charles Manson.
With his gaunt frame, quavering voice, and relentless intensity, Steve Railsback captured the real Manson’s disturbing mixture of messianic charisma and psychopathic menace.
Even though he was onscreen for only one hour of the three-hour-and-twenty-minute running time, watching Railsback-as-Manson preach about the beauty of an impending race war and the glory of rattling the establishment by committing mass murder felt very much like looking into the eyes of pure madness.
Helter Skelter gave equal weight to the activities of law-enforcement personnel and to the macabre exploits of the killers and showing the occasional ineptitude of people investigating the murders, and the twisted joy Manson’s people took from following a man they considered to be a reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
The investigative stuff is compelling because of how many near-misses occurred before the Manson Family was finally incarcerated, and the courtroom stuff – with much of the dialogue used in the courtroom scenes taken directly from court transcripts – is dynamite.
Vincent Bugliosi, who successfully prosecuted the Manson family and wrote the book upon which the miniseries was based, initially served as a consultant on set. However, he continuously micromanaged George DiCenzo’s portrayal of him and interfered with filming so much that director Tom Gries had Bugliosi removed from the set.
The Beatles denied permission to use their song recordings for the miniseries. Portions of the songs Helter Skelter, Piggies and Revolution are played at various points but they were performed by a Beatles sound-alike band named Silverspoon.
Vincent Bugliosi
George DiCenzo Charles Manson
Steve Railsback Susan Atkins
Nancy Wolfe Linda Kasabian
Marilyn Burns Patricia Krenwinkel
Christina Hart Leslie Van Houten
Cathey Paine Aaron Stovitz
Alan Oppenheimer Lt. Brenner
Vic Werber Phil Cohen
Marc Alaimo Tex Watson
Bill Durkin Sgt. Manuel Gris
Phillip R. Allen Harry Jones
David Clennon Mr Quint
James Brodhead J. Miller Leavy
Linden Chiles Sgt. White
Larry Pennell Steve ‘Clem’ Grogan
Steve Gries Mrs Quint
Anne Newman Bacal Everett Scoville
Howard Caine Danny DeCarlo
Rudy Ramos Ronnie Howard
Sondra Blake Paul Watkins
Jason Ronard Rosner
George Garro Judge Older
Skip Homeier William Garretson
Jon Gries Sgt. Hank Kruger
Edward Michael Bell Punchy
Roy Jenson Terrence Milik
Adam Williams Hank Charter
Jonathan Goldsmith Sgt. O’Neal
Paul Mantee Gail Bugliosi
Joyce Easton Mr Spahn
Ray Middleton Leno La Bianca
Al Checco Sgt. Brown
Raphael Baker Judge Keene
Bert Conway Gillespie
Bill Sorrells Judge Dell
John Furlong Drees Darrin
Robert Ito Bart Listen
Rod Arrants Andy Cookley
Guy Remsen Keith
Cal Haynes Susan Struthers
Louise Caire Clark Shorty Shea
Johnny Fain Rosemary La Bianca
Toni Moss Dennis Ranson
Paul Kent Steve Quint
Will Brodhead Sgt. Smith
Anthony Herrera Sgt. Franklin
Bob Hoy Sgt. Ross
Stanley Ralph Ross Sgt. Broom
Katherine Pass Virginia
Laura Ash Big Sal
Carole White Camarinos
Jim Boles Joe Dorgan
Jack Miller Struthers
Josh Albee Sanderson
John Evans Cinquanta
Ronald Gold Sayce
Blair Aaronson Le Page
Fay Martin Family Girls
Asta Hansen
Kathleen Devlin
Deborah Parsons
Mary Jo Thatcher
Deanne Gwinn
Lindsay V. Jones
Barbara Mallory
Tracy Tracton
Melody Hinkle
Eileen Dietz
Patricia Post
Leila Davis
Sondra Lowell
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With his gaunt frame, quavering voice, and relentless intensity, Steve Railsback captured the real Manson’s disturbing mixture of messianic charisma and psychopathic menace.
