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Southern Fried True Crime

111: The Real Garden of Good and Evil

Southern Fried True Crime

Erica Kelley

True Crime, Society & Culture, History

4.610.5K Ratings

🗓️ 18 January 2021

⏱️ 63 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 1994, a New York writer released a very southern gothic, non-fiction, crime novel. “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” became a national sensation. John Berendt’s seductive prose and his cast of eccentric characters drew readers into the lush culture of Savannah, Georgia. But the central plot was a scandal from 1981. Semi-closeted socialite, Jim Williams, had shot his lover dead in the study of his home. He went through four trials for the murder of Danny Hanson, a record in Georgia at the time. Berendt’s book became a movie in 1997, directed by Clint Eastwood. Many people don’t know the real story of the Mercer House murder. This is a look at the case, as well as the book and movie that captivated the nation.

Hosted and produced by Erica Kelley
Researched by Haley Gray and Erica Kelley
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Original Graphic Art by Coley Horner
Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio
Edited by Chaes Gray of Gray Multimedia

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Sources: https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/111-the-real-garden-of-good-and-evil

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Transcript

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0:30.0

Southern Fry True Crime covers cases that are not suitable for young listeners,

0:35.0

and there will be some explicit language used in today's episode.

0:39.0

Listener discretion is at vast.

0:45.0

In 1994, a Southern Gothic nonfiction novel became an overnight success.

0:52.0

New York magazine writer John Barrett had traveled to Savannah, Georgia to cover a society Christmas party for town and country magazine.

1:02.0

He was transfixed by the eccentric citizens and culture.

1:07.0

In the film version of the book, his character would famously say,

1:12.0

this place is fantastic. It's like gong with a wind on masculine.

1:18.0

Midnight in the Garden of Goodon Evil, spent a record breaking 216 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

1:27.0

Before Clint Eastwood, adapted it into a film in 1997.

1:32.0

The movie got mixed reviews and didn't perform well at the box office.

1:38.0

It would seem that Eastwood struggled to capture the seductive charm of Barrett's novel.

1:44.0

It didn't help that the courtroom scenes bogged down what started out as a fun movie,

1:49.0

populated with the fascinating characters of Savannah, as seen through Barrett's eyes.

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