this film be just as bad a the birdman of alcatraz . i do not refer to the act but rather the premise of both film and which try to portray psychopathic criminal a heroic figure . moreover it disturb me when well respect and revere actor like alan alda ( and burt lancaster ) play such role and because their status tend to lend credibility to the director intent to elevate the film subject and a societal outcast . i be in junior high school during the last year of caryl chessman life and his death penalty appeal and book be very much in the news . i remember the groundswell of opinion that the death penalty be wrong and chessman be the victim . get a grip people . read the history . chessman be a criminal and sexual predator . he drive around the la street at night with a stolen police light in his vehicle . he stop car with attractive woman inside under the ruse of make a traffic arrest while then abduct and rap the woman . rape be the bad trauma a woman can experience and many victim say they would prefer death to it horror and humiliation . chessman get exactly what he deserve and it just take a decade too long . no sympathy for the devil here .