The infamous story of Charles Whitman, "America's favourite sniper" (in Stephen King's words), is told here once again.The infamous story of Charles Whitman, "America's favourite sniper" (in Stephen King's words), is told here once again.The infamous story of Charles Whitman, "America's favourite sniper" (in Stephen King's words), is told here once again.
- Ramiro Martinez
- (as Richard Yñiguez)
- Narrator
- (voice)
- Vinni Martinez
- (as Maria-Elena Cordero)
- Dan Wallace
- (uncredited)
- Mr. Valchex
- (uncredited)
- Officer Kib
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn notes left prior to the incident Whitman requested an autopsy, to see if there was a medical reason for his uncontrolled aggression. Autopsies and post-mortems were performed, and they confirmed he had a congenital brain tumor, that had recently gone from dormant to active, and the tumor could have caused his aggression.
- GoofsPolice Officers Houston McCoy and Ray Martinez both shot Whitman during the final confrontation. The autopsy credited McCoy with firing the fatal shot, but he was not included in the movie.
- Quotes
Lieutenant Elwood Forbes: Sorry to bother you, but I understand you told one of my men earlier about a guy in here buying guns and ammo. Could you tell me what he looked like?
Gun Shop Owner: Like I told the officer on the phone, I don't pay attention to how my customers look.
Lieutenant Elwood Forbes: Can't you try to remember?
Gun Shop Owner: Well, he was a big kid. Short hair, nice looking.
Lieutenant Elwood Forbes: Did you know him? Have you ever seen him in here before?
Gun Shop Owner: Like I told the officer who called, I don't pay attention to how my customers look.
Lieutenant Elwood Forbes: Well, don't you find it funny? A man walks in here and buys a high-powered rifle, a shotgun, and enough ammunition to start World War III?
Gun Shop Owner: Look Lieutenant, I don't choose the customers! If a man walks in here and wants a weapon, we sell him one. If he wants two, we sell him two. There ain't no law against that.
Lieutenant Elwood Forbes: Yes, but did you by any chance get him to sign the registration form for the purchase of the weapons?
Gun Shop Owner: Of course. That's the law.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: King Dinosaur (1990)
The Deadly Tower is the story of the massacre at the campus of the University Of Texas by former serviceman Charles Whitman suffering from an undiagnosed brain tumor who managed to sneak up some assault weapons, enough ammunition for a company who barricaded himself in the tower and started shooting at random.
The story is that of Whitman and one of the Austin police officers who took him down on that fateful day. Kurt Russell who broke from the Disney G rated mold finally got taken seriously as an actor with a wonderful performance with minimal dialog.
Richard Yniguez who should have had a breakthrough performance is also good as Austin PD officer Ramiro Martinez. I don't know why Yniguez never became a star.
Folks like John Forsythe, Clifton James, and Pernell Roberts play other police officials. Ned Beatty plays Alvin Crum, a university employee who with Yniguez and Paul Carr are the ones who finally reached the demented and troubled Whitman.
For a while as well he should, Charles Whitman became a poster child for gun control. Even with a president nearly assassinated not a decade later we still have no effective national policy to prevent future Charles Whitmans. The other view of gun control is also presented here as various citizens with hunting weapons join in to help the cops. There weapons are more effective and keep Russell pinned down.
The Deadly Tower is a fine film and good telling of one of the saddest days of the last century.
- bkoganbing
- Jul 10, 2012
Details
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1