FRONTLINE WITH JUDY WOODRUFF: THE MIND OF A MURDERER {PART 1 OF 2} (TV)
Summary
One in this documentary series hosted by Judy Woodruff. Part one of two. This program features the story of Kenneth Bianchi, otherwise known as the "Hillside Strangler," who was convicted of committing a series of murders in Los Angeles from September 1977 to February 1978. Part one takes an in-depth look at the Los Angeles police investigations of the case, from when the first murders took place, to the psychiatric examinations performed on Bianchi, in order to determine if he suffered from a multiple personality disorder. Clips from the audio and video recordings of Bianchi's psychiatric evaluations demonstrate how experts were led to believe that he suffered from a personality disorder. The program notes the necessity of the evaluations, since Bianchi could not remember the acts supposedly committed by his other identities, one of which includes "Steve," an aggressive personality whose actions are contrasted with his other self, a passive "all-American" boy named "Ken." Part one notes that the police did not accept the psychiatrists' views on the suspected murderer, and believed that Bianchi had faked the disorder to avoid a possible death sentence. Included are many interviews with police officers, doctors, and others associated with Bianchi. Continues with T91:0185.
(This program contains adult language and nudity.)
Acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Preservation of the Post–World War II American Television Documentary Collection is supported in part by a Federal Save America’s Treasures grant administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: March 19, 1984 Monday 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:51
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T91:0184
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Crime and criminals; Mental illness
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1983-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- BBC Horizon … Production Statement
- WGBH-TV (Boston, MA) … Production Statement
- David Fanning … Executive Producer, For "Frontline"
- Michael Kirk … Senior Producer, For "Frontline"
- Joanna Lu … Studio, Producer, For "Frontline"
- George Rivera … Studio, Director, For "Frontline"
- Elizabeth Arledge … Associate Producer, For "Frontline"
- Marrie Campbell … Senior, Researcher, For "Frontline"
- Louis Wiley … Executive Editor, For "Frontline"
- Jack Foley … Production Design, For "Frontline"
- Mason Daring … Theme Music by, For "Frontline"
- Martin Brody … Theme Music by, For "Frontline"
- Judy Woodruff … Anchor
- Michael Barnes … Producer, Director
- David Boardman … Researcher
- Neville Frankel … Production (Misc.)
- Will Lyman … Narrator
- Bob Cummins … Production Design
- Ralph Allison
- Elizabeth Baron
- Kenneth Bianchi
- Kelly Boyd
- Dean Brett
- Daryl Gates
- George Herrera
- Angie Kinneberg
- Don Lunde
- Terry Mangan
- Martin Orne
- Frank Salerno
- Dudley Varney
- John Watkins