Auto Focus

Criminal Adaptations

In this episode, we dive into Paul Schrader’s Auto Focus (2002), a darkly fascinating film about the life and career of TV star Bob Crane, best known for lead his role on Hogan’s Heroes. We discuss the film’s portrayal of Crane’s rise to fame, his complicated relationships, and his descent into scandal and sex addiction, culminating in his unsolved murder in 1978. Then, we compare Auto Focus to the real events behind the drama, examining how closely the movie stuck to the facts and what was left out. Join us as we unpack the true story of Bob Crane’s life, his obsession with sex and technology, and his untimely death, unraveling the line between truth and Hollywood storytelling.
Primary Sources:
Graysmith, Robert. The Murder of Bob Crane: Who Killed the Star of Hogan’s Heroes? The Crown Publishing Group (1993).
Entertainment Weekly

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Music: He_s Changing The Game by Darren-Curtis _ https___soundcloud.com_desperate-measurez_Music promoted by https___www.free-stock-music.com_Creative Commons _ Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)_https___creativecommons.org_licenses_by_3.0_deed.e

Chapters

1. Auto Focus (00:00:00)

2. True Crime Stories in Film (00:00:13)

3. Autofocus (00:04:05)

4. Night at the Burlesque Club (00:16:31)

5. Double Life and Betrayal (00:22:58)

6. Life of Bob Crane in Transition (00:35:50)

7. Downward Spiral of Bob Crane (00:42:03)

8. Autofocus (00:54:15)

9. Bob Crane's Rise to Fame (01:02:27)

10. Bob Crane's Personal and Professional Downfall (01:10:01)

11. Unsolved Murder of Bob Crane (01:23:40)

12. Trial Acquittal and Legacy Disclosure (01:38:24)

13. Assessing the Accuracy of Autofocus (01:45:43)

14. Exploring American Drug Traffickers in Film (01:51:04)