Winter Kills (film)

Winter Kills

Company type	Film
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	1979
Founder	William Richert (director and writer)
Products	Satirical black comedy thriller film

Winter Kills is a 1979 satirical black comedy thriller both written and directed by William Richert, adapted from the 1974 novel authored by Richard Condon. Drawing inspiration from conspiracy theories surrounding the John F. Kennedy assassination, the movie showcases a star-studded cast including Jeff Bridges, John Huston, Anthony Perkins, Eli Wallach, Richard Boone, Toshirō Mifune, Sterling Hayden, and Dorothy Malone.

The film condenses the intricate narrative of the novel, highlighting its comedic elements while delving into the repercussions following the assassination of fictional President Kegan, a character modeled after Kennedy. Years after the event, Kegan’s half-brother Nick (Bridges) uncovers evidence pointing toward a conspiracy behind the killing.

Plot

Nineteen years following the assassination of President Timothy Kegan, his half-brother Nick becomes entangled in a sprawling conspiracy. Onboard Nick’s father’s oil tanker, Arthur Fletcher, a shadowy figure, claims he was hired as the assassin in 1960 and confesses to hiding the murder weapon in Philadelphia before his death.

Nick journeys to Philadelphia accompanied by associates to recover the rifle but narrowly escapes an attack that results in the deaths of his companions. Though initially skeptical, Nick’s father eventually endorses his inquiry. Along the way, Nick meets various individuals who provide contradictory information: Z.K. Dawson, a wealthy adversary, accuses a deceased police captain and Lt. Roy Doty; Doty corroborates allegations of police corruption and mafia funding of Kegan's campaign.

Crime boss Irving Mentor links the assassination to financial losses suffered by a Hollywood studio due to an affair between the President and a film actress. Meanwhile, Nick’s girlfriend Yvette, purportedly working for National Magazine, is exposed as an impostor.

Back in New York, family accountant John Cerruti offers multiple theories, at one point implicating Nick’s father as the mastermind behind the assassination because of political conflicts. Cerruti suggests that the entire conspiracy, including Yvette’s involvement, is designed to mislead Nick.

When Nick confronts his father, Pa blames Cerruti for orchestrating both the assassination and subsequent blackmail. During their heated exchange, family associate Keifetz arrives with orders to eliminate Nick. A violent struggle ensues; Keifetz and another officer are killed while Pa falls from a balcony clutching an American flag. His final counsel to Nick is to invest in South America.

Cast

• Jeff Bridges as Nick Kegan
• John Huston as Pa Kegan
• Anthony Perkins as John Cerruti
• Eli Wallach as Joe Diamond
• Sterling Hayden as Z.K. Dawson
• Dorothy Malone as Emma Kegan
• Tomas Milian as Frank Mayo
• Belinda Bauer as Yvette Malone / Jenny O'Brien
• Toshiro Mifune as Keith
• Ralph Meeker as "Gameboy" Baker
• Richard Boone as Keifitz
• David Spielberg as Miles Garner
• Brad Dexter as Captain Walt Heller One
• Michael Thoma as Ray Doty
• Ed Madsen as Captain Walt Heller Two
• Irving Selbst as Irving Mentor
• Berry Berenson as morgue attendant

Screenwriter and frequent collaborator with Huston, Gladys Hill, portrayed Rosemary; character actor Joe Spinell appeared as Arthur Fletcher; and singer/songwriter Lissette Álvarez took on the role of Soledad. Additional minor roles featured actors such as Byron Morrow, Tisa Farrow, Gianni Russo, and Erin Gray. The role of Timothy Kegan was played by John Warner, while his then-wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor, made an uncredited cameo appearance.

Writing

Leonard Goldberg and Robert Sterling acquired the rights to Condon's book for $75,000 plus royalties. William Richert, who adapted the novel into a screenplay, persuaded the producers to allow him to direct the film and personally demonstrated scenes for Jeff Bridges during their meetings in Malibu to secure his involvement.

Filming

Principal photography commenced on December 13, 1976, with numerous interior scenes filmed at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, which was then the location of the American Film Institute's film school. Richert's attempt to shoot Huston's death sequence at the Pan Am Building was denied because of objections related to the presence of offices connected to the Kennedy family.

Sterling and Goldberg, producers with a background as former drug dealers and limited experience in filmmaking, had previously distributed the French softcore Emmanuelle series in the United States. They significantly underfunded Winter Kills, raising only $2.3 million against a required $6 million budget. Many cast members went unpaid or received partial payments held in escrow; Elizabeth Taylor insisted on receiving her $100,000 fee upfront. Some compensation was initially delivered in cash envelopes until union officials intervened in March 1977, halting production and leading to bankruptcy. Before the film's release, Goldberg was murdered; Sterling later served a 40-year prison term for marijuana trafficking.

Following this, Bridges and Bauer collaborated with Richert on his subsequent project, The American Success Company, enabling Richert to resume work on Winter Kills in December 1978 and finish filming within two weeks. Richert described his commitment to the film as akin to "cinematic cocaine." John Bailey took over as cinematographer from Vilmos Zsigmond. Embassy Pictures retained control over the final edit. This project also represented the last acting appearance of Candice Rialson.

Reception

Although it performed well in limited venues, Winter Kills did not achieve broad distribution necessary for commercial success, grossing $1 million against a $6.5 million budget. Embassy Pictures confined its release to preview screenings in select cities and avoided wider national or international distribution. Both Condon and Richert asserted that Avco-Embassy suppressed the film to safeguard Avco’s substantial $864 million federal contracts in 1979. Despite these limitations, the film garnered a cult following owing to its quality and restricted availability.

Critics generally responded positively to Winter Kills. Janet Maslin of The New York Times compared it favorably to films like M*A*S*H and Dr. Strangelove, highlighting its combination of humor with serious commentary on the Kennedy assassination. Vincent Canby praised writer-director William Richert’s imaginative approach, while Brendan Gill from The New Yorker valued its intricate narrative structure. David Ansen of Newsweek described it as lavishly perplexing yet compelling, emphasizing its critique of affluence and authority.

Conversely, some reviewers regarded it primarily as satire. Variety criticized its complex conspiracy plotline; Gene Siskel awarded it one star, condemning its portrayal of the Kennedy family. Charles Champlin from the Los Angeles Times found it either engaging due to its unexpected twists or frustrating because of narrative confusion. Gary Arnold of The Washington Post labeled it "extravagantly kitschy" with a storyline he found "fairly repulsive."

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 92% approval rating based on 24 reviews, with consensus highlighting its paranoid dark humor and incisive political critique.

Releases

During the early 1980s, Embassy Home Entertainment distributed the movie on VHS throughout the United States, whereas 20th Century Fox Video took charge of the release in the United Kingdom. In 1983, Richert secured the rights and issued a director's cut that included an alternate ending along with additional scenes featuring Elizabeth Taylor. More recently, in 2023, Quentin Tarantino spearheaded a fresh reissue with a newly created 35 mm print, supervised by John Bailey and finalized at FotoKem.

Documentary

The 38-minute documentary Who Killed 'Winter Kills'? (2003), directed by Perry Martin and released by Anchor Bay, explores the making of the film.