A powerful 1975 TV movie about the real life events that took place on the University of Texas campus in 1966 when a deranged 25 year old Charles Whitman began shooting people from the top of the Tower. When it was all over it would be the largest one-person murder spree in U.S. history to date. Whitman played by a young Kurt Russell who at the time was known for his light hearted Disney movies. Russell's portrayal of the killer is very effective as he keeps silent like a man possessed. This was an early glimpse of the kind of role Russell would do later in the 80's with Escape from New York and The Thing. The movie also focuses on the rescue team and police officers who put their lives on the line that fateful day. YouTube has some actual live news footage of that August day in 1966 where a camera is fixed on the Tower and you can see the assailant moving around and shots being fired. The movie is now on DVD through Warner Brothers Archive Collection and it looks great!! Also check out the real life crime TV movies Killer in the Family and The Deliberate Stranger on Warner DVD!
27 Reviews
Intelligently-crafted and appropriately grim...
moonspinner559 August 2015
Dramatization of horrific events out of Austin, Texas in August 1966 when disturbed young man Charles Whitman went on a shooting rampage from the tower overlooking the university. Well-written TV-movie (cast with familiar television actors in supporting roles, and Disney mainstay Kurt Russell effectively playing against type in the lead), is anything but entertaining; however, the approach here--tough and unrelenting--provides for a fascinating docudrama. Crossing the paths of Whitman and local police officer Ramiro Martinez (nicely-played by Richard Yniguez) gives the narrative its drive, though the real-life Martinez was unhappy with his portrayal and sued. Liberties were indeed taken for 'dramatic purposes,' yet the hard-hitting film is still memorable today for its no-nonsense handling, the realistic violence and taut characterizations.
A terrible day in Austin
bkoganbing10 July 2012
Several years ago in 1971 when I was doing the weekend warrior thing in Fort Sam Houston I visited Austin one weekend and did go on the university campus. My reason for going was to see the newly opened Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library. It's almost as big as the infamous tower. Still I did note the tower little dreaming that it would be the site of a terrible tragedy. Like passing by the former World Trade Center towers before they became infamous.
The Deadly Tower is the story of the massacre at the campus of the University Of Texas by former serviceman Charles Whitman suffering from an undiagnosed brain tumor who managed to sneak up some assault weapons, enough ammunition for a company who barricaded himself in the tower and started shooting at random.
The story is that of Whitman and one of the Austin police officers who took him down on that fateful day. Kurt Russell who broke from the Disney G rated mold finally got taken seriously as an actor with a wonderful performance with minimal dialog.
Richard Yniguez who should have had a breakthrough performance is also good as Austin PD officer Ramiro Martinez. I don't know why Yniguez never became a star.
Folks like John Forsythe, Clifton James, and Pernell Roberts play other police officials. Ned Beatty plays Alvin Crum, a university employee who with Yniguez and Paul Carr are the ones who finally reached the demented and troubled Whitman.
For a while as well he should, Charles Whitman became a poster child for gun control. Even with a president nearly assassinated not a decade later we still have no effective national policy to prevent future Charles Whitmans. The other view of gun control is also presented here as various citizens with hunting weapons join in to help the cops. There weapons are more effective and keep Russell pinned down.
The Deadly Tower is a fine film and good telling of one of the saddest days of the last century.
The Deadly Tower is the story of the massacre at the campus of the University Of Texas by former serviceman Charles Whitman suffering from an undiagnosed brain tumor who managed to sneak up some assault weapons, enough ammunition for a company who barricaded himself in the tower and started shooting at random.
The story is that of Whitman and one of the Austin police officers who took him down on that fateful day. Kurt Russell who broke from the Disney G rated mold finally got taken seriously as an actor with a wonderful performance with minimal dialog.
Richard Yniguez who should have had a breakthrough performance is also good as Austin PD officer Ramiro Martinez. I don't know why Yniguez never became a star.
Folks like John Forsythe, Clifton James, and Pernell Roberts play other police officials. Ned Beatty plays Alvin Crum, a university employee who with Yniguez and Paul Carr are the ones who finally reached the demented and troubled Whitman.
For a while as well he should, Charles Whitman became a poster child for gun control. Even with a president nearly assassinated not a decade later we still have no effective national policy to prevent future Charles Whitmans. The other view of gun control is also presented here as various citizens with hunting weapons join in to help the cops. There weapons are more effective and keep Russell pinned down.
The Deadly Tower is a fine film and good telling of one of the saddest days of the last century.
One of the best made-for-TV movies ever!
JimHammond16 November 2002
This is a very memorable movie - I have not seen it in over fifteen years but I still remember many scenes from it very well. It ranks right up there with the class of its genre, movies such as "Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster", "The Jericho Mile" and "The Day After". It is not only a story of Charles Whitman, but it also tells the story of Officer Ramiro Martinez (the policeman who made his way into the tower and killed Whitman). It also gives a good description of the logistics used by the entire police force that terrible day. No surrealism is used in the filming process - harsh, lusty reality sets the tone.
I do not know if this movie is available on video, but if it is, by all means take a look at it.
I do not know if this movie is available on video, but if it is, by all means take a look at it.
High tension tower ................
merklekranz20 August 2012
The movie features Kurt Russell as a sniper who uses the Austin Texas tower to carry out his short but deadly reign of terror. Do not expect any in depth explanation of his motivation, because there is none. In fact a no name actor could have easily played Russell's part, since he hardly speaks at all. When "The Deadly Tower" is creating high tension it is at it's best. When it tries to become a "message movie", it almost grinds to a halt. I say this, it is worth seeing for Kurt Russell's cold as ice performance, playing against type, and is certainly a way above average TV film. Although the Warner Brothers Archive Collection DVD shows black and white stills on the case, the movie is in color. - MERK
Real Life Sniper
AaronCapenBanner7 August 2014
Jerry Jameson directed this based-on-fact TV movie that stars Kurt Russell(effectively cast against type) as deranged sniper Charles Whitman, who targets students and passerby on a tower located at the University of Texas, in Austin. Richard Yniguez and Paul Carr play the two police officers who hunt down Whitman, aided by a civilian(played by Ned Beatty) in the tense climax. Well acted and directed film is presented in an effective matter-of-fact way, and handles the tragic events with care. Whitman remains an enigma here, but film avoids the usual clichés and heavy-handed speechifying to become a memorable docudrama of its kind.
The Texas Sniper Tower Massacre
Coventry19 December 2010
Charles Whitman was a dangerously disturbed but nevertheless deeply fascinating individual. Arguably even the most fascinating murderer in recent American history. Whitman can't really be referred to as an authentic serial killer, but due to his mariners' background and reputedly high IQ, he can't just be dismissed as an ordinary madman on a rampage, neither. The full reason why Whitman went up the Austin University tower on the 1st of August 1966 and caused a terrible bloodbath will probably never be revealed. Were it the insupportable headaches that Whitman repeatedly complained about and the brain tumor found in his head during the autopsy, or did he snap because of other personal reasons? "The Deadly Tower" is a sober but very compelling and intense re-telling of the events that occurred on that horrible day, when Whitman killed 16 people and wounded over 40 more with his shot and sniper guns. This is the second film I've seen regarding the subject, after Peter Bogdanovich's "Targets". Whereas that film was merely a statement regarding the alienation of youth and the largely uncontrolled weapon legislation, "The Deadly Tower" is a very truthful reconstruction of the facts. In an aptly stone cold manner, Kurt Russell (until then only known from silly Disney comedies like "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes" and "The Barefoot Executive") depicts Whitman from the day before the massacre until the moment when Texas police officers shot him dead. Prior to going up the tower, Whitman murdered his mother and wife, went out to buy an arsenal of artillery and – knowing very well he wouldn't return – wrote a suicide note. The film is slow-paced but moody, atmospheric and very suspenseful. Given the fact it's a made-for-TV, and out of respect for the victims and their families, "The Deadly Tower" isn't a very bloody or exploitative thriller. The emphasis lies on inhumanity of the crime and solidarity/collaboration of the people downstairs – police officers as well as civilians – to stop the killer. Jerry Jameson, the director of "Airport 77", does a professional job and the supportive cast including Clifton James and Ned Beatty deliver admirable performances.
The Vidiot Reviews...
capone66611 May 2015
The Deadly Tower
Pegging off people one-by-one from a secluded vantage point is only heroic if they aren't on your side.
However, no one told that to the ex-military marksman in this drama.
In 1966, while studying at the University of Texas, Charles Whitman (Kurt Russell), a former Marine sharpshooter, decides to murder his mother and his wife.
Afterwards, he and a cache of arms and ammunition take up residency in the university's tower.
Fortified in the pylon, Whitman continues his killing spree on campus - taking co-eds into his crosshairs.
Meanwhile, the authorities (John Forsythe, Pernell Roberts, Ned Beatty, Clifton James) amass below, aching to take Whitman out.
The television movie account of one of American's worst mass murderers, The Deadly Tower features accomplished character actors and a pulse pounding, albeit melodramatic, storyline that still resonates.
Incidentally, the US army doesn't support the shooting of unarmed civilians – it sanctions bombing them instead. Green Light
vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca
Pegging off people one-by-one from a secluded vantage point is only heroic if they aren't on your side.
However, no one told that to the ex-military marksman in this drama.
In 1966, while studying at the University of Texas, Charles Whitman (Kurt Russell), a former Marine sharpshooter, decides to murder his mother and his wife.
Afterwards, he and a cache of arms and ammunition take up residency in the university's tower.
Fortified in the pylon, Whitman continues his killing spree on campus - taking co-eds into his crosshairs.
Meanwhile, the authorities (John Forsythe, Pernell Roberts, Ned Beatty, Clifton James) amass below, aching to take Whitman out.
The television movie account of one of American's worst mass murderers, The Deadly Tower features accomplished character actors and a pulse pounding, albeit melodramatic, storyline that still resonates.
Incidentally, the US army doesn't support the shooting of unarmed civilians – it sanctions bombing them instead. Green Light
vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca
Very intense movie indeed
ruthann-renaud12 November 2009
I saw this movie when it first aired in October 1975. NBC ran a viewer advisory that it was very intense and may affect sensitive viewers. Yes, indeed! Whitman was one demented person and the casting of All-American Disney actor Kurt Russell to play him was incredible...it showed Russell could do heavy stuff. The casting of journeyman Latino actor Richard Yniguez to play Officer Martinez was also great. The supporting cast (Ned Beatty, John Forsythe, Pernell Roberts, etc.) was also excellent. It was interesting to see Mr. Forsythe as a detective investigating the gun stores-a far cry from Bentley Gregg or Blake Carrington. This was also Pernell Roberts' first time on TV in a while playing Martinez' sergeant. Part of the intensity of the movie came from the fact that Whitman shot at anyone or anything that moved and any attempt to take him out (shooting from a plane or citizens shooting with their hunting rifles) only agitated him. The bookstore clerk guiding Martinez and his fellow officers into the tower showed true heroism. I was in college in California when this movie first aired and I mentioned to my father that my college's library had an observation/study deck that somebody could use for such an act! In fact the college security department worked out a plan in case of somebody doing this. Thank goodness nobody tried this. Back to the movie...it was presented from Martinez' point of view and some have said there is a Latino bias, but I say it is a very intense depiction of true heroism. 43 years have passed since that tragic day. One would hope it would never happen again anywhere, but it does (Fort Hood, San Ysidro, Orlando, to name a few).
Good dramatization of a sad day
chrismackey197210 March 2015
I saw this about a year ago, and I was too busy to make a review, but this was a very well done movie. It's an example of Kurt Russell's tremendous acting.
I personally didn't think the writers did the best job developing the characters, more than asserting they were cops and every day working people. I don't recall the movie stating even an opinion of why Charles Whitman took to the tower that fateful day and ended so many lives. He was in the Marines, and some might think he suffered from PTSD, but out of all the articles I've read about the case, that was almost never mentioned. Aside from Charles Whitman, none of the characters stood out. And Whitman seemed like a zombie, so besides shooting people, there wasn't much character development there, either.
The acting was awesome. Kurt Russell's always a reason to watch a movie for me.
From what I read about this real-life case, the movie tends to stay pretty close to the truth, which is an oddity for Hollywood films; though, this was made-for-TV.
I recommend this. I gave this a 7-star rating.
I personally didn't think the writers did the best job developing the characters, more than asserting they were cops and every day working people. I don't recall the movie stating even an opinion of why Charles Whitman took to the tower that fateful day and ended so many lives. He was in the Marines, and some might think he suffered from PTSD, but out of all the articles I've read about the case, that was almost never mentioned. Aside from Charles Whitman, none of the characters stood out. And Whitman seemed like a zombie, so besides shooting people, there wasn't much character development there, either.
The acting was awesome. Kurt Russell's always a reason to watch a movie for me.
From what I read about this real-life case, the movie tends to stay pretty close to the truth, which is an oddity for Hollywood films; though, this was made-for-TV.
I recommend this. I gave this a 7-star rating.
Compelling, but not history
markcarlson22226 September 2007
I first saw this film on TV (late-night) about 8 years ago. It intrigued me to do some research. I found Gary Lagergne's book "A Sniper in the Tower" and read it. Whitman (Russell) was much the brooding silent tortured man as portrayed, but had a very violent streak and seemed to be amused by other peoples' pain. The film does seem to support the 'brain tumor' theory, but it doesn't touch any of Whitman's life. He was raised by a very rich and dominating, physically abusive father who loved guns and demanded obedience and success from his sons. Charles never knew what compassion and love were, but for achievement and abuse. He had to be the best at everything. He was the youngest EVER to become an Eagle scout, at age 12. He joined the Marines as a way of escaping his father's abuse and control. The Corps did, for a time, keep him in line, but when he attempted to get a degree at UT Austin in 1964 he was out of their control and failed to reach the standard they demanded. Then came his marriage and more problems. He was ambitious but not able to achieve anything. Failed jobs, a court-martial, getting out of the Corps he now hated, and a failed attempt at an engineering degree again at UT Austin caused him great anguish and depression. Above all, he was financially dependent on a father he hated. This couldn't have helped his self-respect. When Whitman killed his wife, mother and dog, and went into the University Tower on August 1, 1966, he was plagued with headaches, anger and severe depression. The film, with the never-happened 'airplane' sequence, and the compassionate detective (Forsythe) who tries to find out his name is overly dramatic and complicated. The 90-minute siege on the tower, finally ended by Martinez, Crumm and Foss was dramatic enough. Technically, it's accurate enough, despite being filmed in Baton Rouge LA since Austin didn't want to let the UT tower be used. But the amount of gunfire Whitman is loosing from the tower is beyond belief. He's using, early on, a bolt-action rifle. Time between shots as he pulls and cycles the bolt is at least 2 seconds. Yet as people below are running for cover, you hear shots like from a semi-automatic rifle. It hurts what needed to be simple, more stark and horrible, not a hail of bullets raining down from above. So as in my other comments, Hollywood doesn't always get it right, even though they can tell the authentic story and do it well, if they trusted the intelligence of their viewers. But when was that ever the case?
Charles Whitman, American psycho
raegan_butcher14 August 2005
When Charles Whitman did his psycho-sniper act in 1966 it seemed like an unfathomable act of total madness and a one-of a kind nightmarish freak occurrence. Flash forward to the 21st century and see the depressing regularity with which American men nut-up and start killing people.
At the time this played on TV Kurt Russell was known only from his appearances in light-hearted Disney comedies, so it must have been unnervingly effective to see him going off the deep end, sweating and approaching his sleeping mother with a knife clenched in his hand( he never says a word in the film) and then calmly loading up his arsenal for the trip to the bell tower.It is an amazingly dark role and kudos to the producers for casting him against type.
This is a very low-key approach to a fairly hair-raising true story. Kudos all around.
At the time this played on TV Kurt Russell was known only from his appearances in light-hearted Disney comedies, so it must have been unnervingly effective to see him going off the deep end, sweating and approaching his sleeping mother with a knife clenched in his hand( he never says a word in the film) and then calmly loading up his arsenal for the trip to the bell tower.It is an amazingly dark role and kudos to the producers for casting him against type.
This is a very low-key approach to a fairly hair-raising true story. Kudos all around.
Extremely Entertaining and Intense
Michael_Elliott25 January 2017
The Deadly Tower (1975)
*** (out of 4)
Highly entertaining and intense made-for-television movie about Charles Whitman (Kurt Russell), the man who went on a shooting rampage on top a tower in Austin, Texas on August 1st, 1966. The film follows his rampage while at the same time following police officer Ramiro Martinez (Richard Yniguez) as he tries to reach the tower.
THE DEADLY TOWER is without question one of the better made-for-television films from this era where, quite frankly, there were several very good ones. The story of Whitman is probably going to be known by most people going into this film but it does a very good job at showing the horrors of that day as well as showing the intense pressure that was on Martinez as he tried to make it to the tower on his day off of all things.
There's a lot of great things here including the performances from the cast. Russell doesn't have too many lines of dialogue so instead he must "act" with his eyes and he really lets you see a rather sad and pathetic person. I really thought Russell delivered an extremely cold performance that said so much without words. Then you've got Yniguez who is simply wonderful in his role. I won't give away some of the subplots surrounding the character but the actor certainly makes you feel and believe that this was a good guy out there willing to risk his life to save others. Ned Beatty is also good in his supporting role as was John Forsythe.
Director Jerry Jameson does a very good job at holding your interest throughout the 100-minute running time. Even better is the fact that he does an extremely good job at building up the tension during the shooting sections. Mix in the great performances and you've got an extremely good movie on the subject. Those interested in the subject should also check out an unofficial version that Peter Bogdanovich made in TARGETS.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC is certainly an original picture, which isn't something that happens too often these days. We've seen movies about strange families before but this one really hits all the right notes.
*** (out of 4)
Highly entertaining and intense made-for-television movie about Charles Whitman (Kurt Russell), the man who went on a shooting rampage on top a tower in Austin, Texas on August 1st, 1966. The film follows his rampage while at the same time following police officer Ramiro Martinez (Richard Yniguez) as he tries to reach the tower.
THE DEADLY TOWER is without question one of the better made-for-television films from this era where, quite frankly, there were several very good ones. The story of Whitman is probably going to be known by most people going into this film but it does a very good job at showing the horrors of that day as well as showing the intense pressure that was on Martinez as he tried to make it to the tower on his day off of all things.
There's a lot of great things here including the performances from the cast. Russell doesn't have too many lines of dialogue so instead he must "act" with his eyes and he really lets you see a rather sad and pathetic person. I really thought Russell delivered an extremely cold performance that said so much without words. Then you've got Yniguez who is simply wonderful in his role. I won't give away some of the subplots surrounding the character but the actor certainly makes you feel and believe that this was a good guy out there willing to risk his life to save others. Ned Beatty is also good in his supporting role as was John Forsythe.
Director Jerry Jameson does a very good job at holding your interest throughout the 100-minute running time. Even better is the fact that he does an extremely good job at building up the tension during the shooting sections. Mix in the great performances and you've got an extremely good movie on the subject. Those interested in the subject should also check out an unofficial version that Peter Bogdanovich made in TARGETS.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC is certainly an original picture, which isn't something that happens too often these days. We've seen movies about strange families before but this one really hits all the right notes.
Russel is scary in title role
VegasGuy124 April 2019
After being known for so many years as the squeaky clean nice guy in several Disney roles is downright scary how convincing Kurt Russel is a the former marine turned psycho sniper. He sent shivers down my spine in how realistic he made the role seem.
Chilling...
poe42626 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Kurt Russell's eye-opening performance (which might well have inspired both Peter Bogdanovich's TARGETS and Arnold Schwarzenegger's implacable killing machine approach in THE TERMINATOR) only adds to the tension in this made-for-TV docudrama. Russell comes across as an almost emotionless automaton, moving through scenes with truly frightening purpose. While I don't think this one ever needs to be remade, some of the more recent revelations regarding Whitman's final moments would certainly satisfy the more blood thirsty among us: the man who finally killed Whitman has mentioned that Whitman, hit in the head at one point during the gun battle that ended his murder spree, fell back into a sitting position against a wall and began to throw his head violently from side to side; from the description, it reminded me of the scene in BLADE RUNNER where Daryl Hanna is shot and bucks furiously before succumbing to her wounds.
Texas sniper on the rampage!
The_Void6 April 2008
The Deadly Tower is yet another example of an excellent seventies made for TV movie. This film is the first to be based on the real life Texas Sniper Charles Joseph Whitman who killed a series of people during a tower top sniper rifle rampage in Texas in 1966. The movie is clearly a TV movie as it all looks very cheap and there's nothing particularly all that special about it; but in spite of that, director Jerry Jameson has taken a harrowing story and made a film that entertains the viewer as well as providing food for thought and ensuring that the reaction of the killer's actions come through also. The film sticks to the facts well and as such the story is very simple. We focus on Charles Joseph Whitman, a troubled young man who one day decides to kill his mother and his wife before going to the gun shop, buying "enough guns to start world war 3" and taking them to the top of a university tower in order to blow away a load of people around the campus. The is mixed in with the story of police officer Ramiro Martinez as he tries to stop the killer.
In a way, it's a shame that this movie was made for TV because the sniper plot could have given the film a lot of room for plenty of gory special effects; which unfortunately don't feature due to the TV restraints. However, on the other hand; out of respect for the victims and their families, this may be a good thing. The film is notable for featuring an early performance from the great Kurt Russell. Russell doesn't deliver a performance here that is up there with his best; but the script doesn't really allow for that, and he certainly does convince as the cold and murderous lead character. The main bulk of the movie focuses on the killer and the film features some effective shots detailing the sniper's actions against the local community, but the director also includes some meatier topics. The effect of the victims' deaths features somewhat and the film also makes a point against America's liberal gun laws; although both of these could have been more defined and better focused. Even so, The Deadly Tower is certainly a very notable seventies TV and is well worth seeing if you can find it.
In a way, it's a shame that this movie was made for TV because the sniper plot could have given the film a lot of room for plenty of gory special effects; which unfortunately don't feature due to the TV restraints. However, on the other hand; out of respect for the victims and their families, this may be a good thing. The film is notable for featuring an early performance from the great Kurt Russell. Russell doesn't deliver a performance here that is up there with his best; but the script doesn't really allow for that, and he certainly does convince as the cold and murderous lead character. The main bulk of the movie focuses on the killer and the film features some effective shots detailing the sniper's actions against the local community, but the director also includes some meatier topics. The effect of the victims' deaths features somewhat and the film also makes a point against America's liberal gun laws; although both of these could have been more defined and better focused. Even so, The Deadly Tower is certainly a very notable seventies TV and is well worth seeing if you can find it.
Mixed messages
inspectors7128 March 2006
NBC greenlighted The Deadly Tower, a retelling of the Charles Whitman incident of 1966, but the network was apparently unwilling to let it go as a kid-goes-nuts-and-shoots-up-a-college-campus thriller. Instead, they packed and padded this painful and unnerving story with lots of social commentary about a young Latino patrolman, one of the principals who got to Whitman, battling prejudice.
NBC's prudence (or cowardice, depending on your take) just about squelches the lean, dark, and amazingly gory (for TV) story of Whitman (a ne'er do well played creepily by Kurt Russell) losing his mind, offing his family, and carrying his fight with whatever lurking head-demons to a university tower where he unloads on an unsuspecting campus.
I've seen a documentary about Whitman which told the story of a profoundly damaged young man who breaks under familial pressures and seeks vengeance against the world. You don't get that from the movie; there isn't much more than a blurb about a suspected brain tumor to explain his actions.
Yet, on a suspense level, the movie works quite well. It's when the screenwriters pull their punches by injecting social issues that the movie loses its focus (but probably gains that old expectation of containing significant social value).
The Deadly Tower is ugly and sweaty and filled with mayhem, and if you can get by the issue stuff, you'll either be rewarded by or repulsed by a brutal and suspenseful voyeuristic wallow.
NBC's prudence (or cowardice, depending on your take) just about squelches the lean, dark, and amazingly gory (for TV) story of Whitman (a ne'er do well played creepily by Kurt Russell) losing his mind, offing his family, and carrying his fight with whatever lurking head-demons to a university tower where he unloads on an unsuspecting campus.
I've seen a documentary about Whitman which told the story of a profoundly damaged young man who breaks under familial pressures and seeks vengeance against the world. You don't get that from the movie; there isn't much more than a blurb about a suspected brain tumor to explain his actions.
Yet, on a suspense level, the movie works quite well. It's when the screenwriters pull their punches by injecting social issues that the movie loses its focus (but probably gains that old expectation of containing significant social value).
The Deadly Tower is ugly and sweaty and filled with mayhem, and if you can get by the issue stuff, you'll either be rewarded by or repulsed by a brutal and suspenseful voyeuristic wallow.
Kurt Russell's First Dramatic Role of Any Significance
zardoz-1310 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Airport '77" director Jerry Jameson's methodical reenactment of Charles Whitman's infamous sniper spree in Austin, Texas, back in 1966, that left sixteen citizens dead and another 32 wounded provided affable Disney star Kurt Russell his first major dramatic role. You've never seen Russell like he is here, and his performance is notably taciturn. Before he climbed atop the tower at the University of Austin campus, Whitman stabbed his mother as well as his wife to death. As usual for a Hollywood made-for-television feature, scenarist William Douglas Lansford and writer Antonio Calderón have played fast and loose with the facts. Hispanic Austin Policeman, Ramiro Martinez (Richard Yniguez of "Cancel My Reservation"), was one of the cops who ultimately stormed the tower and killed Whitman. Actually, none of Martinez's bullets killed Whitman. Nevertheless, in the name of political correctness and diversity, the producers probably appropriated his ethnicity to make things compelling. Interestingly enough, by the time that Whitman started blasting away at random targets, an army of private citizens armed with their own rifles turned out in numbers to retaliate with their own hailstorm of bullets. Meantime, Whitman did not discriminate in his choice of targets, but Jameson couldn't depict this murderer in too harsh a light since "The Deadly Tower" was a made-for-television movie. For example, Whitman pulls a knife on his mother and wife, but Jameson doesn't show this psycho carving either woman up. Indeed, he doesn't lay a finger on his cute little puppy. Jameson cross-cuts between Whitman and Martinez. The day that Whitman launched his one-man massacre, Martinez had learned grudgingly that the department refused to promote him to the rank of sergeant. John Forsythe, Pernell Roberts, and Clifton James play Austin cops in supporting roles as everybody mobilizes for the situation. Jameson maintains tension, suspense, and atmosphere throughout this competently made, 92-minute, crime thriller without resorting to obligatory blood and gore. Furthermore, he doesn't let an abundance of plot hinder the action. Russell is particularly outstanding because he had never played such a homicidal hellion. In real life, Whitman wore sneakers, while the producers showed our protagonist polishing his Marine boots with fetish-like appreciation. Quite possibly, the producers added this fascination with boot leather because the sniper that Andrew Robinson played in the theatrical feature "Dirty Harry" wore paratrooper jump boots and kept them gleaming. Of course, Jameson and his writers take the opportunity to slip in some anti-gun rhetoric. As far as made-for-television movies rate, "The Deadly Tower" qualifies as one of the best despite some of its anti-gun propaganda.
This is unfortunately real life.
mark.waltz30 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The fear of the poor mother and later the wife of the real life completely insane Charles Whitman right before they are murdered by him will really stick in your gut in the scenes before he goes into the tower at the University of Texas in Austin and perceives to create a massive shootout that will kill over a dozen people and wound several dozen more. The bravery of Kurt Russell to take on this role and really act without saying much of anything truly makes him one of the great American acting icons of the past 60 years. Then there's the second key character, overworked cop played by Richard Yñiguez and the events in his life up to his involvement in taking Whitman down.
Films like this are always difficult to watch and rate because you are witnessing a true American tragedy, something that could have been prevented and as discussed here in regards to gun laws. The fact that Whitman was able to walk into a gun store and walk away with as much ammunition as he did horrifying, and we are still having this debate 55 years later. John Forsythe as the police chief is the one to bring it up here and when he says it, you can feel the anger in him as to how easy it is to purchase weapons and ammunition.
What happens here in 100 minutes only took 90 minutes in real life and the fact that people don't get out of the area and into safety boggles the mind. We have seen these stories over and over again hundreds of time since this happened, and it's always difficult to get the ambition to watch a film like this but once you are into it, there's no turning back. What is amazing though is the number of people outside of law enforcement who did what they had to aide the police that day, and we even get to see Ned Beatty, playing a college bookstore employee, out there with his own weapon indicating that he knows a way of how to get into the tower. This is an excellent TV film and one that should be brought up and shown every time there is a debate over the right to bear arms and how to make it tougher for the public to get them.
Films like this are always difficult to watch and rate because you are witnessing a true American tragedy, something that could have been prevented and as discussed here in regards to gun laws. The fact that Whitman was able to walk into a gun store and walk away with as much ammunition as he did horrifying, and we are still having this debate 55 years later. John Forsythe as the police chief is the one to bring it up here and when he says it, you can feel the anger in him as to how easy it is to purchase weapons and ammunition.
What happens here in 100 minutes only took 90 minutes in real life and the fact that people don't get out of the area and into safety boggles the mind. We have seen these stories over and over again hundreds of time since this happened, and it's always difficult to get the ambition to watch a film like this but once you are into it, there's no turning back. What is amazing though is the number of people outside of law enforcement who did what they had to aide the police that day, and we even get to see Ned Beatty, playing a college bookstore employee, out there with his own weapon indicating that he knows a way of how to get into the tower. This is an excellent TV film and one that should be brought up and shown every time there is a debate over the right to bear arms and how to make it tougher for the public to get them.
Kurt Russell leaves Disney behind with a bang
DavidsGuy22 July 2022
Captivating and well-done dramatization of Charles Whitman's 1966 shooting spree (one of the first of many to come in the USA) and of course it happened in Texas. What a surprise. Whitman was an abused time bomb with a brain tumor who also murdered his wife and mother so they wouldn't have to be put in the spotlight and face the shame and public scorn of his crime. This was a breakout role for Kurt Russell and he does a very convincing job as a mass murderer.
A made-for-tv classic
pmtelefon18 March 2024
I saw "The Deadly Tower" for the first time it aired on television many years ago. I saw it a bunch of times after that when it was repeated. Today was the first I watched it in years. It's excellent. It's edge-of-your-seat stuff. Kurt Russell does a nice job playing the sniper. He doesn't have much dialogue. The rifle does his talking. The rest of the cast is also very good with the stand outs being Richard Yniguez and Ned Beatty. Yniguez gives a terrific performance. He should have nominated for an Emmy. There isn't a lot of music in "The Deadly Tower". Just the sounds of gun shots. That adds a lot tension to the movie. "The Deadly Tower" come out during the golden age of made-for-tv movies and it's one of the best.
Really intense thriller movie.
HorrorDisasterGuy-9061713 August 2023
I found this to be a pretty great made for tv movie based on a real life event. The movie shows how terrifying it is to be in the same situation as the people in it. It gets pretty suspenseful with the people fleeing from the gun fire and them surviving it. The actor did a great job playing as the characters and put emotional to their roles. Also, the movie may be sensitive to some viewers if they were there during the time that it happen. The movie have pretty good cinematography to itself with the actions that happen throughout the movie. And the movie works as a action and thriller movie to view.
A great TV thriller.
Hey_Sweden30 July 2020
'The Deadly Tower' is a case study in straightforward storytelling and filmmaking, as it dramatizes a notorious real life story. Charles Whitman (Kurt Russell, leaving his Disney roles far behind) is a mentally unbalanced sniper picking people off indiscriminately from his vantage point on the title location. Repeatedly firing without taking many breathers, Whitman ultimately kills about a dozen people and critically injures over 30 more. Among the brave folks who attempt to stop him are Mexican-American police officer Ramiro Martinez (Richard Yniguez), and a gun-toting bystander named Allan Crum (Ned Beatty).
With the excellent cast also including Clifton James, Pernell Roberts, John Forsythe, Alan Vint, Paul Carr, and Pepe Serna (and Gilbert Roland as the narrator), this is an efficient true-crime thriller. You really feel the tension throughout (the actors sweat buckets before this is over), thanks to first-rate action and a cracking pace. The script takes the time to flesh out the Martinez and Crum characters, enabling us to care about them and root for them. Martinez is a good man, albeit perturbed that he was passed over for a promotion. Crum had spent some time in the service, but had not seen any action. Lt. Forbes (Forsythe) goes about trying to determine Whitmans' identity, in the hopes that he can talk him down. Whitman, played with cold-eyed effectiveness by Russell, is less developed as a character, although the postscript does say that he had a tumour that *might* have had something to do with his mental condition.
Director Jerry Jameson gives the tale good, no-frills guidance, cutting right to the heart of the material. Don Ellis supplies a score that is sparingly used in order to maximize the suspense. All in all, this is worth checking out, especially if you want to see Russell in a rare antagonist role.
Eight out of 10.
With the excellent cast also including Clifton James, Pernell Roberts, John Forsythe, Alan Vint, Paul Carr, and Pepe Serna (and Gilbert Roland as the narrator), this is an efficient true-crime thriller. You really feel the tension throughout (the actors sweat buckets before this is over), thanks to first-rate action and a cracking pace. The script takes the time to flesh out the Martinez and Crum characters, enabling us to care about them and root for them. Martinez is a good man, albeit perturbed that he was passed over for a promotion. Crum had spent some time in the service, but had not seen any action. Lt. Forbes (Forsythe) goes about trying to determine Whitmans' identity, in the hopes that he can talk him down. Whitman, played with cold-eyed effectiveness by Russell, is less developed as a character, although the postscript does say that he had a tumour that *might* have had something to do with his mental condition.
Director Jerry Jameson gives the tale good, no-frills guidance, cutting right to the heart of the material. Don Ellis supplies a score that is sparingly used in order to maximize the suspense. All in all, this is worth checking out, especially if you want to see Russell in a rare antagonist role.
Eight out of 10.
Giving Kurt a ride home.
nedgarland-2645522 September 2019
Not a review. Just an interesting event while Kurt was filming. Was in high school working at a restaurant that night. Later that night after I got off work, I was giving my friend a ride home and came upon a porsche that had run off the road. We stopped to help. It was two men and a beautiful woman. They had a flat that we helped change and as we were changing it my good fruend Mark said to Kurt, "you look just like Kurt Russell". He said I am Kurt Russell. We asked what are you doing in Baton Rouge in the middle of the night?Said he was filming a movie. We helped change the tire and drove off. They werent behind us so we went back to check on them. The car wouldnt move because they bent a disk rotor when they ran off the road. We gave them a ride in my moms Vista Cruiser station wagon 😀 back to the Bellemont hotel on Airline which is now gone. Think about it sometimes and wonder if he remenbers. Probably not his most memorable chauffeured ride. He was kind but im sure he was just ready to get to the hotel.
Ten stars are not enough
searchanddestroy-118 October 2022
Tense, powerful, awesome, I don't find words strong enough to speak of this TV movie, that could have easily been a big screen topic, in the line of TWO MINUTE WARNING, ROLLERCOASTER, or even TARGETS. Plus, it is inspired from actual events, that's maybe the reason why it remained a TV industry project, so that it can be close to real facts, without any fiction elements as in a Hollywood film, with happy endings and so on. This masterpiece is actually factual, and that's of course a good point. For me it is at the same level as Paul Greengrass' 22 JULY or even Gus Van Sant's ELEPHANT and also a bit of Jon Mostow's FLIGHT OF THE BLACK ANGEL, but only about the basic scheme and the criminal profile. A real must see.
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