Despite a troubled production history including bankruptcy and the Mob-ordered murder of one of its producers, director William Richert’s debut is a satisfyingly labyrinthine conspiracy thriller encompassing the worlds of both politics and high finance. Based on a novel by Richard Condon, as was The Manchurian Candidate, and with many obvious parallels with the Kennedys, the film begins 19 years after the assassination of the President when his brother Nick (Jeff Bridges) hears the deathbed confession of a man claiming to be the real killer. Bridges brings the news to his corporate giant father (John Huston, playing another monstrous patriarch), who uses his authority to orchestrate Nick’s investigation into the truth behind his brother’s murder. Twist follows twist as Nick is led down a series of blind alleys where no one is who they seem. Huston brings a disquieting likeability to an utterly amoral character who casually disregards the rights of others in his constant quest for power. (Notes by Kevin Coyne). The screenings will include Who Killed Winter Kills?, a 40-minute making-of documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew on the film’s difficult production.