The '70s were a boom time for TV crime dramas: Helter Skelter, The Legend of Lizzie Borden and The Marcus-Nelson Murders hold up well decades later. Buzz Killin's The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case (1976) is a shakier effort. It reconstructs the titular crime and trial dutifully rather than dramatically.Aviator Charles Lindbergh (Cliff De Young) is America's premiere hero in 1935, with a beautiful wife (Sian Barbara Allen) and infant son Charles Jr. Then Baby Lindbergh is abducted, with the kidnapper leaving a cryptic ransom note. New Jersey State Policeman Norman Schwarzkopf (Peter Donat) investigates despite false leads and media scrutiny; John Condon (Joseph Cotten) becomes a self-promoting mediator. After Charles Jr. is found dead, the police zero in on Bruno Hauptmann (Anthony Hopkins), German carpenter with a shady past.
Despite meticulous period recreations, The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case never catches fire. J.P. Miller's script stays reasonably close to history, but neither probes the case nor humanizes his cast. He skims over Lindbergh's interference in Schwarzkopf's investigation and doubt over Hauptmann's guilt. It doesn't help when Miller detours into inconsequential asides, like the New Jersey Governor's (Laurence Luckinbill) meddling and a visit to the German-American Bund. Lindbergh harps on the case's media frenzy and public furor, but there's nothing substantial to hook viewers.
At least Cliff De Young resembles Lindbergh, but he seems stiff and unengaged. Shouldn't your child's murder inspire more than mild consternation? As Lindbergh's wife, Sian Barbara Allen lacks the screen time to register. Anthony Hopkins naturally gets the meatiest role: he plays Hauptmann with disarming humor and misplaced arrogance, overcoming an iffy accent.
Lindbergh benefits from a deep supporting cast. Joseph Cotten relishes his role, all air-headed posturing with a greed for the limelight. Peter Donat's (The Godfather, Part II) tough cop dominates the movie's first half; Martin Balsam plays Hauptman's defense attorney. Smaller roles go to Dean Jagger (Elmer Gantry), Tony Robbins (Serpico) and Walter Pidgeon (Man Hunt), all in fine form. Daniel Spielberg deserves credit for engaging Hopkins in ham-to-ham combat - and coming off best!
In our age, TV productions regularly challenge film in ambition, budget and quality. '70s television strained under budgetary concerns, relying on cast and writing to excel. The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case falls down on the latter, failing to bring its interesting story to life.
