The Honeymoon Killers
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| The Honeymoon Killers | |
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| Directed by | Leonard Kastle |
| Produced by | Warren Steibel |
| Written by | Leonard Kastle |
| Starring | Shirley Stoler Tony Lo Bianco Mary Jane Higby Doris Roberts |
| Music by | Gustav Mahler |
| Cinematography | Oliver Wood |
| Editing by | Richard Brophy, Stanley Warnow |
| Distributed by | American International Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 1970 |
| Running time | 115 min |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Honeymoon Killers is a 1970 American film written and directed by Leonard Kastle, and starring Shirley Stoler and Tony Lo Bianco. It tells the story of Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez, the notorious "Lonely Hearts Killers" who murdered at least 12 women in the 1940s. Martin Scorsese originally was hired to direct the film, but was replaced due to creative differences with the producer. The film soundtrack is a selection from the works of Gustav Mahler.
[edit] Plot
Martha Beck is an overweight, unattractive nurse in a southern town. To help her find a man, her sister writes to a "lonely hearts" service, which results in a letter from Ray Fernandez of New York City. Overcoming her initial resistance, Martha corresponds with Ray.
When they meet in New York, Martha becomes aware that Ray has been corresponding with other women, with the intent of taking their money. But Martha doesn't care. She begins to travel with Ray as he moves from woman to woman. Posing as his sister, he helps her rob and kill these women.
Martha is jealous of these women, and when she learns that one of them has had sex with Ray, she tells Ray that the woman had become aware of Ray's motives. Ray kills the woman and Martha drowns the woman's young daughter. Martha then notifies the police. They are executed at New York's Sing Sing prison.
[edit] Truth vs. fiction
The movie, though substantially based on fact and using real names, takes substantial liberties with the historical record.
It does not disclose that the real Martha Beck had been married and had children whom she abandoned. The assertion that Beck called the police contradicts accounts of the case, as does the movie's portrayal of Beck as being homicidal and Ray Fernandez as being more passive.
A new film, Lonely Hearts about the same past events is in production and scheduled for release in 2007. Leonard Kastle is not associated with the new film.
