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The Legend of Lizzie Borden
USA 1975
produced by
George LeMaire for Paramount TV/ABC
directed by Paul Wendkos
starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Fionnula Flanagan, Ed Flanders, Katherine Helmond, Don Porter, Fritz Weaver, Bonnie Bartlett, John Beal, Helen Craig, Alan Hewitt, Gail Kobe, Robert Symonds, Hayden Rorke, Iggie Wolfington, Amzie Strickland, John Zaremba, J.Edward McKinley, Tracie Savage
written by William Bast, music by Billy Goldenberg
review by
Dale Pierce
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An interesting look at the New Enlgand murder case and how Lizzie Borden might
have indeed murdered her father and stepmother with an ax, then beat the
charge. The real murder was never conclusively solved, though abundant
theories still abound, now as much as then. This movie touches on one of them.
Borden grows tired of her annoying, skinflint father and her abrasive
stepmother who looks to be swindling her from her and her sister's rightful
inheritance. A series of incidents press her past the breaking point and she
snaps, doing the pair in with no reservation whatsoever. (It seems funny to
see Elizabeth Mongtgomery, the star of Bewitched in this role as a calm, emotionless psychopath for a
change). She gets rid of the murder weapon by dropping it down the shitpot (Thank
God they did not have indoor plumbing) and avoids getting blood on
her clothing by stripping naked before each murder.
Much emphasis is placed on the trial and how Borden is able to avoid
prosecution. In the end, when confronted by her sister about her guilt, she
only stares blankly and refuses to answer, while the end credits role and the
famous Lizzie Borden song starts to play. "Lizzie Borden took an ax and
gave her father fourty whacks. When she saw what she had dobne she gave her
mother fourty one." She has gotten away with the deed and knows it,
though history will forever judge her guilty, regardless of the court
decision.
The odd thing is many viewers will find themselves cheering her on and
rejoice in the verdict, even though she is obviously guilty and shown to be
so. The parents are such assholes, most people watching the movie will find
themselves wondering if they would have done the very same thing if placed in
her shoes.
Other theories have circulated concerning this case. One has Lizzie and a maid
getting caught by the stepmother, in a lesbian affair, with them killing her
to silence her. Another theory blames the maid, snapping after being pushed
too far by the demanding household and killing the owners, with Lizzie as a
scapegoat. Yet another theory mentions the posibility of an intruder after
all, though unlikely, simply entering and killing for the joy of it or getting
caught in acts of burglary. While these possibilities all seem somewhat sound,
the version of what may have happened as presented in this script is as good
as anything else.
In real life, the town of Fall River, Mass. has turned the Borden affair into
a grim tourism vehicle. At least up into a few years ago (I am not sure now),
the actual Borden House was a guest house and inn. The grave where Lizzie was
eventually laid to rest is also frequented by the tourists, while books on the
crime are a big seller in all the stores.
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review © by Dale Pierce
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Robots and rats,
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Tales to Chill
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Tales to Chill
Your Bones to
the new anthology by
Michael Haberfelner
Out now from
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find The Legend of Lizzie Borden at adultvideouniverse.com