Greg King's “Sharon Tate And The Manson Murders” to get film treatment

PanARMENIAN.Net - Kate Bosworth is attached to star in a film based on the Greg King book Sharon Tate And The Manson Murders for filmmaker-husband Michael Polish. They have worked together several times before in such films as 90 Minutes In Heaven and the psychological thriller Amnesiac. Polish will adapt and direct, while Nick Phillips — who worked with Bosworth on the Straw Dogs remake while an exec at Screen Gems — will produce. Word of the project comes a day after parole was denied for one of the Manson family killers, Deadline said.

Tate was the beautiful model-actress who was married to filmmaker Roman Polanski and was pregnant with his child when members of the Manson family broke into her home and stabbed her 16 times, slaughtering her and four others on August 9, 1969. Tate was only 26 and two weeks away from giving birth to her first baby (a boy).

She was a small woman, only 5’5″ and 117 pounds. The Dallas-born beauty had two other sisters and her father was a career military man in the Army, so the family spent a lot of time overseas. Tate spoke fluent Italian. She loved the sitar and before her death was into the hippie movement and often would host parties at her home. She described herself as unpredictable and impulsive, while friends thought of her as adventurous.

Tate was both dramatic and comedic actress in both TV and film in the 1960s. She co-starred in such films as The Fearless Vampire Killers, Valley Of The Dolls and The Americanization Of Emily. She also had guest roles in such popular TV series as The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction.

After the grisly crime, the Tate family devoted themselves to helping other crime victims. Because of their relentless fight, crime victims were given the opportunity to speak at the sentencing of perpetrators as well as at their parole hearings.

The biopic, which will look at Tate’s career, marriage and other relationships she had in Hollywood, is currently being pre-sold at the American Film Market by Paris-based WTFilms, a 5-year-old sales and production company.

Phillips, who worked for several years as an executive at Miramax Films (and at the aforementioned Screen Gems), said, “There has been so much said and written about all of the other players in this story, but no one has ever truly done justice to the life of its most tragic player.”

Polish added that he plans to “approach this film with a careful consideration, both from a visual sense and by crafting her story truthfully and with the dignity she deserves.” The filmmaker’s credits also include The Astronaut’s Wife and Twin Falls Idaho.

Bosworth also weighed in, noting that this film project marks her fourth with her husband. “I know he will bring true beauty and grace to Sharon’s story.”

The actress is currently shooting the second season of The Art Of More opposite Dennis Quaid for Sony/Crackle. It premieres this fall.