<P> Upon its October 1974 release, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was banned outright in several countries, and numerous theaters later stopped showing the film in response to complaints about its violence . While it initially drew a mixed reception from critics, it was enormously profitable, grossing over $30 million at the domestic box office . It has since received a positive reappraisal and gained a reputation as one of the best and most influential horror films in cinema history . It is credited with originating several elements common in the slasher genre, including the use of power tools as murder weapons and the characterization of the killer as a large, hulking, faceless figure . The popularity of the film led to a franchise that continued the story of Leatherface and his family through sequels, remakes, one prequel, comic books and video games . </P> <P> Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns) and her paraplegic brother, Franklin (Paul A. Partain), travel with three friends, Jerry (Allen Danziger), Kirk (William Vail), and Pam (Teri McMinn), to visit the grave of the Hardestys' grandfather to investigate reports of vandalism and grave robbing . Afterwards, they decide to visit the old Hardesty family homestead . Along the way, they pick up a hitchhiker (Edwin Neal) who talks about his family who worked at the old slaughterhouse . He borrows Franklin's pocket - knife and cuts himself, then takes a Polaroid picture of the others and demands money for it . When they refuse to pay, he burns the photo and slashes Franklin's arm with a straight razor . The group forces him out of the van and drive on . They stop at a gas station to refuel, but the proprietor (Jim Siedow) tells them the pumps are empty . </P> <P> They continue toward the homestead, intending to return to the gas station once it has received a fuel delivery . When they arrive, Franklin tells Kirk and Pam about a local swimming - hole and the couple head off to find it . They stumble upon a nearby house . Kirk calls out for gas, entering through the unlocked door, while Pam waits outside . Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen) appears and kills Kirk with a hammer . Pam enters soon after and trips into a room filled with furniture made from human bones . She attempts to flee, but Leatherface catches her and impales her on a meathook, making her watch as he butchers Kirk with a chainsaw . Jerry heads out to look for Pam and Kirk at sunset . He sees the house and finds Pam, still alive, inside a freezer . Before he can react, Leatherface kills him . </P> <P> With darkness falling, Sally and Franklin set out to find their friends . As they near the neighboring house and call out, Leatherface lunges from the darkness and kills Franklin with a chainsaw . Sally runs toward the house and finds the desiccated remains of an elderly couple upstairs . She escapes from Leatherface by jumping through a second - floor window and flees to the gas station . The proprietor calms her with offers of help but then ties her up, gags her and forces her into his truck . He drives to the house, arriving at the same time as the hitchhiker, now revealed as Leatherface's brother . The hitchhiker recognizes Sally and taunts her . </P>

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