Madness in the White City

Taking the best selling book "Devil in the White City," National Geographic returns to the Chicago World's Fair to meet America's first serial killer. A look at Daniel Burnham and H.H. Holmes.

At first I thought this was something of a bait and switch, luring viewers in with Holmes, but really focusing on the World's Fair. And this could be argued. But really, what it seems more like is a fleshing out of a time (1893) and a place (Chicago), showing both the best and worst the city had to offer.

While I would have liked more on Holmes, I ended up learning a good deal more about the World's Fair than I ever knew before. For example, I had no idea that Hershey's chocolate had its germ at the event.

But back to Holmes -- this is the second documentary I saw on him, and both have come up short. Both good, but lacking. I would love to see more examination of his autobiography and checking into if he was ever really a doctor and who his parents were...

What's the link between the fair and the serial killer?!

The sick life of H.H. Holmes would make for an interesting documentary. And, the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 would also make a very interesting documentary. However, the link between the two, at least through "Madness in the White City" is tenuous at best--a case of some interesting material assembled in a rather sensationalistic and silly manner.

Much of the first portion of the show is about the Columbian Exposition. However, because this only occupies a small portion of the show and other shows tackled this much better and much more in depth, I was left a bit cold and would MUCH rather re-see the great documentary "EXPO: Magic of the White City". Then, somewhat abruptly, the film talks on and on about H.H. Holmes and sensationalized his actions and tried to somehow link it to the Exposition. However, if you listen carefully to this film, only two murders (out of possibly hundreds this sick creep committed) were actually done in Chicago during the fair's run. So why link the two events?! Three were killed and discovered in Toronto--so why not talk about Toronto and its link to Holmes?! An additional problem is that often the film really says nothing--stretching details out to the point where the viewer is tempted to change the channel. And, sensationalistic dialog doesn't help--especially since there is a lot of sick and real stuff we know about Holmes that was never discussed in the film. All in all, a very weak film that never should have linked Holmes with the Exposition. Instead, see a documentary or read a book about both.

I agree this doc, as well as others I've watched, falls very short of the book Devil in the White City. Reading the book ties the two together beautifully. If you love thrillers, American history, early medical research and serial killers (a perfect combo of my favs) the book is a must read. Movies and docs don't allow for plot development of such a complicated and fascinating true crime story. My top 5 best book list! The book helps us understand how and why Holmes killed so many people, especially women; and why so many women were available who would not be missed for long periods of time!!!