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Based on a Chilling True Story - Billy Cook (Links)


I saw this film about a decade ago, and it still haunts me. Excellent direction by Ida Lupino, and Talman was a relevation as Emmett Myers, the Hitch-Hiker. A few years ago, I was suprised to learn that this fine film was based on a true story. The real Hitch-Hiker was a young man named William Cook. The real life murder was a close match to the Emmett Myers character, even to the "eye that never sleeps". Here is a link to the full true story of Billy Cook, the inspiration for this movie.

http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/C/COOK_william.php

and another

http://www.prairieghosts.com/peace.html

I also strongly reccomend a new book by John Gilmore, "L.A. Despair", which has a detailed account of Billy Cook's crime spree. Be aware that there are some unsettling crime scene photos of the Mosser Massacre (the family that Cook wiped out).

http://www.johngilmore.com/Books/preview_hard_luck.html


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It's odd that you were surprised to learn the film was based on a true story a few years after seeing it when that very fact is stated at the onset of the film:

"This is the true story of a man, a gun, and a car...What you will see in the next seventy minutes could have happened to you. For the facts are actual."

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Welll...sometimes we hear these words about it being a true story and then find out it wasn't, so some people sometimes doubt the claims.

Enrique Sanchez

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Thanks for links, FEF312

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.

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"http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/C/COOK_william.php";


Good link. I suspected it may have been based on this killer. I see you also mentioned "L.A. Despair" by John Gilmore, which I was about to mention until I read the rest of your post. Yeah, this movie is outstanding and the fact that John Gilmore could create a whole long form essay on one part of this person's crime spree, inspired by this movie, makes The Hitch-Hiker a classic in my estimation! Good call!



Live Long and Prosper!

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thanks for the links. I was very curious to read about the actual man after seeing this good movie. I was very impressed with Talman's performance after growing up watchin him on Perry Mason years ago. I'm also a huge Ida Lupino fan be it her movies or directing. thanks again!

You're damned if you do and damned if you don't ~ Bart Simpson

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