Coroner to the Stars is a documentary that explores the life of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the former Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner for Los Angeles County. Through his own perspective, he reflects on some of Hollywood’s most infamous deaths from the 1960s through the 1980s, as well as the controversies that surrounded his own career.
Coroner to the Stars (★★★★☆ – 4 out of 5 stars)
What do Marilyn Monroe, Robert F. Kennedy, Janis Joplin, and Sharon Tate have in common? Dr. Thomas Noguchi served as the coroner in all of these high-profile deaths. This documentary follows Noguchi’s life as he reflects on his humble beginnings, from attending medical school in Japan at the tail end of World War II to inspiring a television series based on his life in Los Angeles.
If you have a fascination with true crime, I highly recommend seeking out this documentary. It offers a fresh perspective on these famous cases through the eyes of the person who was directly involved in their investigations.
My only complaint is that if you already have a baseline understanding of some of these cases, it can feel as though certain details are left out. There could easily be an entire documentary devoted to Marilyn Monroe’s death and the strange circumstances surrounding it, but for the sake of time and pacing, this film doesn’t spend much time addressing many of the rumors associated with her death, which is a bit of a letdown. Then again, this documentary is ultimately about Dr. Thomas Noguchi and his accomplishments. That case is just one small footnote in his long career.
Overall, it was fascinating to learn not only about these high-profile deaths, but also about how Noguchi helped pioneer modern forensic investigations and opened doors for many minorities to succeed in the field of medical examination in one of the largest cities in the world.
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