Manson 1973 Documentary

Manson (1973) is a documentary film directed by Robert Hendrickson and Laurence Merrick that explores the life of Charles Manson and his followers, known as the Manson Family.
The film was released in 1973 and provides insight into the origins of Manson and his disciples, as well as the lead-up to the Tate–LaBianca murders.
It features interviews with members of the Manson Family, including Charles Manson, "Squeaky" Fromme, and Sandra Good, as well as original footage of the group at their Spahn Ranch compound, Devil's Canyon, their Barker Ranch hideout in Death Valley, the Hall of Justice in Los Angeles, and various other locations.

The film was initially distributed by American International Pictures, with re-releases handled by Tobann International Films. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
The film was banned by a United States district court judge in 1975 after "Squeaky" Fromme attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford, in order to preserve Fromme's constitutional right to a fair and speedy trial.

Manson (1973) is considered a rare and once-banned documentary, with limited availability on home video. It was released legitimately on VHS in 1987, but due to an alleged mafia plot, Hendrickson spent much of the 1990s suing eBay for allowing bootleg DVD copies of the film to be released. The film has been released and sold in limited copies on DVD signed by Hendrickson on Amazon before his death in 2016.

The documentary is known for its verité footage of the Manson Family doing their daily routines, intercut with interviews with them. It provides a chilling look into the mindset of the Manson Family and their beliefs.
The film has been praised for its unique access to the Manson Family and its realistic depiction of their life.
It remains one of the better documentaries made about the subject, despite the challenges it faced in distribution.