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Crimes of the Century: A Selective History of Infamy

Series: Crimes of the Century: A Selective History of Infamy

4.2

(16)

Episodes

Rating

TVPG

Year

2022

Language

English

Publisher

The Great Courses

About

Delve into some of the most infamous, ghastly, and mysterious crimes of the last hundred-odd years. Taught by Professor Richard B. Spence of the University of Idaho, this enthralling course gives you a dozen case studies of murders most foul. From an intriguing Irish domestic murder to a world-shaking political assassination, survey some of the most heinous crimes in modern history.

Related Subjects

Episodes

1. A Murder That Almost Killed Hollywood

27m

Unsolved murders are as compelling as anything you might see in the movies. It is fitting then that our first "crime of the century" is the mysterious murder of a Hollywood director in 1922. William Desmond Taylor was not who he seemed to be, and his death continues to fascinate a century later.

2. The Deadly Irish Fairy Tale of 1895

26m

The ghastly murder of Bridget Cleary in turn-of-the-century Ireland takes us into the mystery of human psychology. On the surface, it seems her husband, Michael, murdered her because he believed she was a "changeling" fairy in disguise. Could he really have believed that? Was he mad? Why else could have driven this murder?

3. The Sarajevo Conspiracy of 1914

29m

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip was one of the most world-shaking events in the 20th century. Although the events are clear and well-known, the motivation behind the murder is rife with conspiracy. Dive into a cycle of mystery and violence in early 20th century Sarajevo.

4. The Plot to Assassinate the Romanovs

27m

Shift your attention to another political conspiracy-the murder of the Russian Tsar Nicholas and other Romanovs at the hands of the Bolsheviks. For more than a century, the facts of this murder have been dissected and debated. As you will learn, time has added few facts but plenty of speculation and myth.

5. Three Serial Killers of Weimar Germany

28m

Weimar Republic Germany is a wrenching period to read about: a failed state, a political and economic roller coaster, and a psychologically traumatized era suffering a plague of madmen, sex fiends, and serial killers. Here, you will survey three Weimar-era murder cases: the sadistic Peter Kürten, the "butcher" Fritz Haarmann, and the unsolved Hinterkaifeck Murders.

6. American Nightmare: The Lindbergh Kidnapping

27m

Delve into one of the best-known and most debated murder cases in American history. Richard Hauptmann-dubbed "the most hated man in the world"-was executed for kidnapping and killing aviator Charles Lindbergh's baby, but did he act alone? Who received the ransom money? What exactly happened in 1932?

7. Murderous Maids: The Papin Sisters of France

27m

When it comes to murder, "why-dunnit" often can be more captivating than "who-dunnit." Case in point is the murder of a well-to-do French woman and her daughter at the hands of two maids who were discovered cowering in the attic and covered in blood. What drove the Papin sisters to kill, and to kill so savagely?

8. The Moscow-to-Mexico Mission to Kill Trotsky

29m

As we have seen, political assassinations are rife with conspiracy, and often leave a flashing question mark in the history books. Here, you examine the murder of Leon Trotsky, a Soviet leader exiled in Mexico. What appears on the surface to be a seamless plot to kill a political rival owes much to chance, as well as Trotsky's own stubborn nature.

9. California's Zodiac Killer

27m

More than 50 years later, the Zodiac case remains as cold as the chilly night this infamous serial killer slayed the first victims. Like an American Jack the Ripper, the Zodiac killer maintains a grip on our imagination because the killer might still be out there-somewhere. Review what we know about this captivating crime spree.

10. The Charles Manson Crime Family

29m

Despite countless books, films, and documentaries, the Manson murders still have unanswered questions and unsolved mysteries. Like so many crimes of the century, the question isn't who, but why? Explore the information, and misinformation, about the Helter Skelter murders that ended the 1960s.

Extended Details

SeriesCrimes of the Century: A Selective History of Infamy

Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great CoursesDirector

The Great CoursesProducer

Richard B. SpenceActor