MovieChat Forums > Cell 2455, Death Row (1955) Discussion > The Real Whit Whittier (SPOILER WARNING)

The Real Whit Whittier (SPOILER WARNING)

posted 12 years ago by wtl471629
6 replies | jump to latest

His name was Caryl Chessman and this movie was based on his life even though names were changed and maybe some circumstances. Chessman was still alive when this movie was made and he kept making appeals that kept being denied. He was finally executed in 1960 under strange and fishy circumstances. This movie and other publicity caused public outcry especially foreign nations who pressured that his life be spared. When he was finally executed in the gas chamber he won another stay of execution but it came too late after the gas had stared and they couldn't open the chambers without killing the ones who opened it. (Why wasn't gas masks available - hello). It was also said it came just too late because the caller dialed a wrong number. I wonder if they did that to explain to the world why it happened. It is all fishy to me with all these circumstances. For example the last second stay of execution, the wrong number and even the lack of gas masks for guards to try to open the door and save him. Everything is too coincidental to me.

[–] Eric-1226 12 years ago

One thing I wish they had cleared up: when Whittier was nabbed as the suspect in the so-called "Red Light Bandit" crime spree, and was then incarcerated, did those attacks on "lover's lane" couples subsequently cease?

[–] wtl471629 12 years ago

That is a good point Eric and would deserve consideration and discussion if we knew the answer.

[–] carthur27 10 years ago

There were no more attacks on lover's lane couples where the perpetrator created the illusion of a red light to make the victims think he was the police. However, there have always been robberies/rapes/murders on isolated couples and so, of course, those continued. Indeed, most of the victims of another infamous California criminal, the Zodiac, were isolated couples.

[–] carthur27 10 years ago

he won another stay of execution but it came too late after the gas had stared and they couldn't open the chambers without killing the ones who opened it. (Why wasn't gas masks available - hello). It was also said it came just too late because the caller dialed a wrong number.

Chessman was already drooling by the time the phone rang. The drooling indicates he had probably already inhaled a lethal dose of the hydrocyanic acid fumes. Since the drooling had already begun by the time the phone rang, he certainly would have been irretrievably on his way towards death by the time gas masked guards could have gotten him out of the chamber.

Judge Goodman's secretary did dial a wrong number when making the phone call to announce another stay had been granted. However, even if she had dialed the correct number the first time, it probably wouldn't have been in time to save Chessman.

[–] AfterBuzz 10 years ago

And I thought the movie's ending was terrible. This would have been worse.

I accept your surrender.

[–] marktayloruk (2378) a year ago

Governor Brown should have granted a stay of execution for as long as he was Governor .