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HANNIBAL: THE REAL CANNIBAL
THE STORY BEHIND THE MOVIE

STORY CHAPTER LINKS
1. STORY PREFACE
2. WHO WAS ALBERT FISH?
3. YOUTHFUL TRAUMA
4. THE SETUP
5. KIDNAP OF GRACE BUDD
6. FISH TAKES THE BAIT
7. THE ARREST
8. THE UNSPEAKABLE
9. THE TRIAL
10. THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
11. USED AND RECOMMENDED SOURCES

PREFACE

The story becomes a little more
repugnant as we go along.

Dr. Frederic Wertham
At the trial of Albert Fish

March, 1935

Hannibal Lecter’s gruesome habits are hard to break. Watching the fictional character on screen, we safely conclude: "Well, it’s only a movie. It’s not like it’s real or anything."

Except that Hannibal Lecter is loosely based on a real man. A man so fiendish that his story makes Hannibal’s exploits seem tame by comparison. At least Hannibal Lecter didn’t harm children.

Hamilton Albert Fish - the real-life cannibal - was tried and electrocuted for doing unspeakable things to innocent children. What he did in real life would never be part of a movie script. No reasonable person would take fiction that far.

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Author: Carole D. Bos, J.D.