MYRA : THE MAKING OF A MONSTER & MERCY FOR MYRA? (2 DVDs)

2 x DVDs. This is a one-off British true crime documentary, originally broadcast on Channel 5 in the UK on September 3, 2003. Directed by Michael Attwell and produced by Twenty Twenty Television, it runs for approximately 60 minutes and falls under the genres of documentary, biography, and crime. The documentary focuses on Myra Hindley (1942–2002), one half of the notorious "Moors Murderers" duo who, with partner Ian Brady, abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered five children (aged 10–17) in the Manchester area between 1963 and 1965. Their crimes, including the infamous Saddleworth Moor burials, shocked the UK and led to life sentences (Brady died in 2017; Hindley in 2002). The film uses a mix of archival footage (trial clips, police reconstructions), dramatised re-enactments (with actors like Haydn Gwynne as Hindley), and exclusive interviews with journalists and detectives involved in the 1965 investigation; relatives of Hindley and victims (eg. brother-in-law David Smith, who witnessed the final murder and testified against them) and forensic experts analysing the couple's twisted psychology. At the time it was praised for its psychological depth but criticised by some as re-treading familiar ground on the infamous Moors Murders case. Approx. runtime 60mins. The second DVD : Mercy for Myra? a one-off documentary from Channel 4's Witness strand. It originally aired on October 29, 1997, running for approximately 50 minutes. Directed by David Pearson and produced by Initial Films, it's a gritty, investigative true crime piece noted for its raw interviews but criticised by some for potentially humanising a reviled figure. It fits into the UK's late-90s wave of Moors Murders retrospectives, amid debates over Hindley's impending parole hearings (which were repeatedly denied until her death in 2002). The film examines Myra Hindley (1942–2002), the "Moors Murderess," focusing on whether she deserved "mercy" after 32 years in prison for her role in the 1963–1965 child murders with partner Ian Brady. It covers: The Crimes Revisited; Parole and Redemption Debate; Interviews and Perspectives; Societal Impact. The title's question mark underscores its balanced (if controversial) tone, blending horror with ethical inquiry — did environment (abusive upbringing) or choice make her a "monster"? Approx. runtime 50mins. Includes 2 loosely inserted newspaper cuttings both dated November 15, 2002 the date of Hindley's death + one smaller one to fr. cover (see image). Two DVDs in plastic case. As New.