With the upcoming film Dead Man’s Wire—directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Al Pacino and Bill Skarsgård—many viewers are searching for the true story behind the dramatization. Dead Man’s Line is the definitive documentary on the real 1977 Tony Kiritsis hostage crisis, the historical foundation that inspired the new movie.
“Dead Man’s Line is an outstanding documentary! We relied on it not just for information about the event but for inspiration as we made our movie Dead Man’s Wire.” — Gus Van Sant (Director of Dead Man’s Wire)
THE TRUE STORY
On February 8, 1977, Tony Kiritsis walked into a mortgage office in Indianapolis, wired a shotgun to Richard Hall’s neck, and held him hostage for 63 hours—while millions of Americans watched on live television.
Featuring exclusive archival footage, police recordings, news broadcasts, and first-hand accounts, Dead Man’s Line reconstructs the crisis minute by minute. It reveals how a single act of desperation exploded into a nationwide media spectacle that reshaped law enforcement, journalism, and mental-health policy.
WHY THIS MATTERS
• This is the historical reference point for Dead Man’s Wire (2026).
• Used as a resource during the feature film’s development.
• Includes rare archival material not found anywhere else.
Context: Kiritsis believed he was being financially destroyed by a predatory land deal. The standoff—and his explosive live monologue—became a national flashpoint for debates about corporate power, media responsibility, and the insanity defense.
Check out the official teaser trailer for Dead Man's Wire starring Bill Skarsgård!
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US Release Date: January 6, 2026
Starring: Al Pacino, Bill Skarsgård, Colman Domingo, Dacre Montgomery, Myha'la Herrold
Director: Gus Van Sant
Synopsis: On February 8, 1977, Tony Kiritsis entered the office of Richard Hall, president of the Meridian Mortgage Company, and took him hostage with a sawed-off shotgun wired with a "dead man's wire" from the trigger to Tony's own neck.
Get tickets - https://www.fandango.com/dead-mans-wi...
Based on a true story, the 1977 kidnapping of a prominent banker grips the nation and turns the abductor into an outlaw folk hero. As the media frenzy peaks, the standoff becomes a spectacle of desperation, defiance and blurred justice, which resonates even today.
Tony Kiritsis True Story
True Story from Dead Man's Wire
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Disclaimer: this video is a dramatized retelling of events & does not necessarily relay the original documented individuals/events. The images used to not necessarily reflect the individuals/events discussed or referenced.
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