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6.4 / 10(13 votes)IMDb19961h 54mUnited States of America

Crime of the Century

Synopsis

In 1932, the nation was shocked when the 14-month-old son of Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped, held for ransom, and murdered. Two years later, Bruno Richard Hauptmann was arrested, convicted, and executed. This film dramatizes the investigation against Hauptmann, the trial, and the execution, painting a picture of a corrupt police force under pressure to finger a killer framing an innocent man by manufacturing evidence, paying-off and blackmailing witnesses, and covering up exculpatory evidence.

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

September 14, 1996

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Mark Rydell
Screenplay & Story
William Nicholson
Original Score
John Frizzell
Original Title
Crime of the Century
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 54m
Production Studios
Astoria Productions Ltd., HBO

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Mark Rydell

Screenplay & Story

William Nicholson, Ludovic Kennedy

Original Score & Music

John Frizzell

Director of Photography

Toyomichi Kurita

Film Editing

Antony Gibbs

Producers

Mike Moder, Barbara Broccoli, Amanda Schiff

Literary Origin & Source Material
Novel:Ludovic Kennedy

Department Leadership Roster

Mark Rydell

Mark Rydell

Director

William Nicholson

William Nicholson

Screenplay

Toyomichi Kurita

Toyomichi Kurita

Director of Photography

Mike Moder

Producer

Steven Legler

Production Design

Yvonne Blake

Yvonne Blake

Costume Design

John Frizzell

John Frizzell

Original Music Composer

Antony Gibbs

Editor

Official cinematic photography and background stills for Crime of the Century.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Crime of the Century.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Crime of the Century

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is Crime of the Century about?

In 1932, the nation was shocked when the 14-month-old son of Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped, held for ransom, and murdered. Two years later, Bruno Richard Hauptmann was arrested, convicted, and executed. This film dramatizes the investigation against Hauptmann, the trial, and the execution, painting a picture of a corrupt police force under pressure to finger a killer framing an innocent man by manufacturing evidence, paying-off and blackmailing witnesses, and covering up exculpatory evidence.

Who directed Crime of the Century?

Crime of the Century was directed by Mark Rydell.

Who stars in Crime of the Century?

The principal cast of Crime of the Century includes Stephen Rea, Isabella Rossellini, J.T. Walsh, Michael Moriarty, Allen Garfield.

When was Crime of the Century released and how long is it?

Crime of the Century was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 1h 54m.

Who composed the musical score for Crime of the Century?

The original motion picture soundtrack for Crime of the Century was composed by John Frizzell.

Is Crime of the Century based on a book or true story?

Crime of the Century is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Ludovic Kennedy".