Episode

Leopold and Loeb: Compulsion (1959)

Podcast
Murder Made Fiction
Published
Jun 9, 2026
Duration seconds
3190
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not_requested
Canonical source
https://traffic.megaphone.fm/BDA7515223501.mp3
Audio
https://traffic.megaphone.fm/BDA7515223501.mp3
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/v1/public/podcasts/murder-made-fiction-7006564/episodes/leopold-and-loeb-compulsion-1959
Markdown
/podcast/murder-made-fiction-7006564/leopold-and-loeb-compulsion-1959.md

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Summary

The first title in our Leopold and Loeb coverage is Compulsion, written by Richard Murphy and based on Meyer Levin's 1956 novel. Richard Fleischer's film is notable for casting Orson Welles, who delivers an impassioned speech against the death penalty in the finale. Plus: a weakened Hays Code; beautiful Dean Stockwell; and the decision to keep the murder offscreen. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on social media @murdermfiction (BlueSky & Instagram) or send us an email: [email protected] > Amanda: @amandajanestern > Joe: @bstolemyremote / @joelipsett (BlueSky) Wanna support the show? Join us on Patreon (patreon.com/murdermadefiction) for full-length primer and a month of Leopold and Loeb titles, including Rope, Swoon, Scream, and Funny Games (2007) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices