While I enjoyed Capote's writing I never cared much for Capote that i got to know through his many talk show interviews i saw all through my childhood. Yes, he was talented but didn't strike me as someone I'd like to get to know. The one day on the recommendation of a friend I read Gerald Clarke's biography of Capote. For someone that I wasn't all that interested in, tremendous credit and praise must go to Clarke's book. It is so thoroughly researched and well-written that I could not put it down. And, I found Truman Capote's life story very, very interesting. This film is only 90 minutes and as such there is a lot that is not addressed and much is addressed only topically. He was a complicated man with a few complicated relationships. We don't really get a deep dive into the man but for those that are curious this is an interesting introduction worth checking out.

Truman Capote's legacy -- encompassing a literary masterpiece, "In Cold Blood", a beloved Hollywood Movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's", an incomplete and truly controversial novel, "Answered Prayers" -- (incomplete in that only 3 Chapters of it were ever published), and memorable appearances (for us old-timers) on all the major talk shows of the time from Johnny Carson, to Dick Cavett, to Merv Griffin, to a poignant, funny 1-man Tony award winning Broadway Show, "Tru", featuring the great actor Robert Morse, is now beautifully, succinctly yet comprehensively examined in this excellent documentary, which manages to cover this complex, controversial, pathetic, sometimes funny, sometimes tragic life of Capote. No punches are pulled. In addition to the magical world of celebrity and wealth and fame, a spotight also shines on the sadder aspects of Capote's life, from his sad/poignant upbringing, essentially abandoned by his mother, to his moments of glory with the success of his early literary work and celebrity, and his famous Black & White Ball to his tragic, lonely downfall, created by his own undoing. Black & White! That's Capote's life -- The highest of successes, and fame and money, and recognition -- to the lowest of failures, and infamy and derision, loneliness and sadness. A true American original, who's name will live on. AND this wonderful documentary will most certainly help that legacy long continue!

This was a good idea to conduct the interviews both on audio tape and video and then turn it into a movie (documentary). Relevant photos, clippings, and such are displayed during the audio recordings. The interviews really do add to the depth and breadth of perceptions of the person of Truman Capote. Interviews include Dick Cavett, Lauren Bacall, and many others; in fact several segments of Cavett's and Johnny Carson's interviews of Truman are shown. ... Intriguing. ... The film is well done and excellently curated.

// As is well-known, near the end of his life (and of the film) Truman basically undermines himself and then gradually self-destructs. (As an aside, from having seen the 'authentic' and well-done film of Truman's life, "Capote," this documentary, "The Capote Tapes" confirms that the movie (with Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman), "Capote," is highly on-point and accurate.)

You learn about aspects and significant persons in Truman's life that you might not have known about at all. Also, seeing this much more fully explained the early end to Truman Capote's life. // A few stars missing from the stars-rating since it perhaps could have been a two- or three-part limited series to be even more comprehensive and in-depth.