Up until this 1976 debut, based on the novel by Richard Condon, William Richert was better know as a documentary maker. The film took nearly three years to complete and within a few weeks of its release the distributor pulled it. Perhaps America was not ready for the thinly disguised retelling of the Kennedy assassination.

Jeff Bridges stars as Nick Kegan, the half-brother of an assassinated President. Kegan has 'dropped-out' in an attempt to get away from the expectations, and influence, of his father (played by John Huston). At the time of the assassination it was reported to have been carried out by a lone gunman. However, rumours abounded about there being a second gunman. Since no one came forward, nothing found and no proof uncovered, it has remained just another conspiracy theory. Now nearly two decades after the killing, a dying man tells Kegan that he was the real killer and, as proof, tells Kegan where to find the rifle used in the shooting. This puts Kegan on the trail of those responsible, setting in motion a series of events that are surreal, funny, scary and more plausible than they have any right to be.

Bridges is brilliantly supported by John Huston as the patriarch relying on transfusions from local children to stay alive, Anthony Perkins, Sterling Hayden, Eli Wallach and even an unaccredited appearance by Elizabeth Taylor.

The story behind Winter Kills is worthy of a film in its own right. Financed by soft-porn distributors and drug money, the production had cash-flow problems at every turn. Richert even had to suspend filming so he could go off and earn money by directing another film (The American Success Company). On its completion it received excellent reviews but its availability was restricted to a few cities. Writer Richard Condon even went as far as publishing an article blaming the Kennedy's and the military for its failure.

Winter Kills is not the only Richard Condon novel to hit the big screen. The Manchurian Candidate, directed by John Frankenheimer, is a highly regarded political thriller starring Laurence Harvey, Frank Sinatra, Janet Leigh and Oscar nominated Angela Lansbury. This film has had an almost as troubled history as Winter Kills. Prior to commissioning of the book as a movie, Arthur Krim, the then President of United Artists and Finance Chairman of the Democratic Party, is known to have felt uneasy about its subject matter. President John F. Kennedy, as a favour to his friend Frank Sinatra, called Krim to let him know that he had no objection to a film version being made. After John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, owner Frank Sinatra, who was concerned that some would draw parallels between Lee Harvey Oswald and the film's brainwashed assassin, pulled the film from circulation. (He had also heard a rumour that Oswald saw the film before killing Kennedy.) After nearly 25 years, Sinatra relented and allowed a re-release in 1987.

Condon is also responsible for the multi-Oscar-nominated Prizzi's Honour (directed by John Huston) and starring Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, and Angelica Huston who took the film's only Oscar win (from 8 nominations), for Best Actress).

Finally, like The Stunt Man, Winter Kills is only available on DVD. And, like The Stunt Man, the DVD release comes with an excellent second disc full of interviews and background material. In yet another similarity with The Stunt Man, the DVD is available from Anchor Bay. Unfortunately there the similarity ends, as this is Anchor Bay USA. Unless you intend to import the DVD, take this opportunity to see Winter Kills - it could be along time before you have another chance.

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