The Legend of Lizzie Borden

The film, although based on fact, is a stylized retelling of the events of August 4, 1892 when the parents of New England spinster Lizzie Andrew Borden were found brutally murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home. The subsequent incarceration of the prime suspect (Lizzie herself) as well as the coroner's inquest and trial are largely faithfully depicted, using actual testimony. What may be seen as deviation from the film's docudrama narrative, as Lizzie hears her verdict, flashbacks are shown of her actually committing the murders in the nude and bathing after each death, thus explaining why no blood was ever found on her or her clothes; however, it remains unclear whether Lizzie was actually reminiscing about the crimes or simply fantasizing how she herself would've disposed of her parents. The film's epilogue states that the killings of Andrew and Abigail Borden remained unsolved.

Elizabeth Montgomery got the best role of her career with this creepy docudrama, a sterling example of the 1970's made-for-t.v. movie at its peak. The Legend Of Lizzie Borden hold up beautifully because it was made with a level of care you might expect from a theatrical feature. William Bast's script hooks the viewer in by using an elliptical structure whose jumping back and forth in time forces the viewer to constantly readjust their thoughts on the title character. It is also a very well-researched piece of work, offering a lot of historical evidence that might challenge a viewer's casual perceptions of the case. Director Paul Wendkos lives up to the script's level of ambition, using some effective fast-editing to handle the transitions between time periods while also making sure the story flows in a style that is easy to comprehend. Wendkos also does an excellent job of handling the film's murder setpiece, filming it in a style that is intensely unnerving without ever showing too much or going overboard on cheap shocks. Finally and most importantly, The Legend Of Lizzie Borden offers a great cast delivering impressive performances: standouts include Ed Sanders as the determined prosecutor and Katherine Helmond as Lizzie's long-suffering sister. That said, the film truly belongs to Montgomery, who gives a multi-faceted performance in the title role: she manages to shift effortlessly from being childlike to conniving, resulting in a character who is both pitiable and frightening all at once. All in all, The Legend Of Lizzie Borden is an excellent t.v. production that is worth the time for true crime buffs and horror fans alike. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi