Winter Kills

Winter Kills is a 1979 satirical black-comedy political thriller film written and directed by William Richert, based on the 1974 novel by Richard Condon. Inspired by the John F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy, its ensemble cast includes Jeff Bridges, John Huston, Anthony Perkins, Eli Wallach, Richard Boone, Toshirō Mifune, Sterling Hayden, Dorothy Malone, Belinda Bauer, Ralph Meeker, Elizabeth Taylor, Berry Berenson and Susan Walden. Bridges portrays Nick Kegan, who, 20-years after the assassination of his brother, U.S. President Timothy Kegan (patterned after Kennedy), discovers hard evidence that there had been a conspiracy behind it. Despite its all-star cast and high production values, the film was independently financed by novice producers Leonard Goldberg and Robert Sterling, and directed by unknown filmmaker Richert. The film had a difficult production, with production shutting down due to a lack of funds, and cast and crew failing to be paid. Goldberg was murdered and Sterling arrested and convicted of drug trafficking. Failing to find wide distribution, Winter Kills was a commercial failure and received mixed reviews from critics. In time, it gained a cult following.