The Legend of Lizzie Borden is a 1975 American historical mystery television film directed by Paul Wendkos and starring Elizabeth Montgomery—in an Emmy-nominated performance—as Lizzie Borden, an American woman who was accused of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892. It co-stars Katherine Helmond, Fritz Weaver, Fionnula Flanagan, and Hayden Rorke. It premiered on ABC on February 10, 1975. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture Made for Television in 1976.
Although the film is based on fact, it is a stylized retelling of the events of August 4, 1892, the day the father and step-mother of New England spinster Lizzie Borden were found brutally murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home. Public interest in Borden and the murders is exacerbated by her aloof demeanor after the murders, and the public speculates about her involvement in them when she fails to express any emotion during her father and stepmother's funerals.
The subsequent incarceration of the prime suspect (Lizzie herself) as well as the coroner's inquest and the trial are faithfully depicted, using actual testimony. During the trial, various persons testify, including Bridget Sullivan, the Borden's maid from Ireland who was the only other person in the home at the time of the murders.
In what may be seen as a 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, explaining why no blood was ever found on her or her clothes; however, the film's plot with regard to Lizzie's role in the murders remains ambiguous because it does not state that Lizzie was actually reminiscing about the crimes nor does it state that she was simply fantasizing about how she herself would have disposed of her victims. When Lizzie returns home after her acquittal, her sister Emma asks her point-blank if she killed their father; Lizzie does not answer. The epilogue states that the killings of Andrew and Abby Borden remain unsolved.
Contents
Plot
On August 4, 1892, Bridget Sullivan, the maid, summons neighbor Mrs. Churchill to the Borden residence, where Lizzie Borden meets her at the door coldly stating, "Mrs. Churchill, do come in, someone has killed father." Andrew Borden's body reclines on the living room sofa with multiple hatchet wounds across his face. Police arrive to examine Andrew's body, and upon searching the house, Mrs. Churchill and Bridget find the body of Abby Borden, Lizzie's stepmother, hacked to death in the guest room.
Neighbors flock to surround the house. Emma Borden, 9 years older than 31-year-old Lizzie, returns from Fairhaven, where she was away staying with friends. Emma directly asks Lizzie if she killed father, which Lizzie denies. Lizzie is given morphine to sedate her and answers police questions inconsistently.
At the funeral Lizzie is criticized for not wearing black or showing grief. Lizzie is informed that she is a suspect, and an inquest is held.
At the inquest Bridget says she and Lizzie were the only ones in the house, besides the victims, the day of the murder. Mr. Borden left for downtown, and Mrs. Borden received a note—that nobody ever saw—asking Abby to care for an unnamed sick friend. As instructed by Mrs. Borden, Bridget was outside the house, with the doors locked, washing windows at the time of the murders. Bridget did not see anyone come to the house until Mr. Borden came home at about 10:45 and took a nap on the sofa. Bridget lay down for a nap as the city hall clock struck 11 o'clock, but 3 or 4 minutes later Lizzie called out after discovering Andrew's body.Lizzie testifies that she called her stepmother Abby "mother" when she was a child but began to call her "Mrs. Borden" later, without explaining why. Lizzie changed her story several times, unsure whether she was upstairs or downstairs when her father came home. She claimed to have last seen Abby 1 hour and 30 minutes before her body was discovered. Nobody saw the note to Abby or saw her return home. Andrew was in the house 15 to 20 minutes while Lizzie was in the barn looking for an iron sinker for her fishing line for a trip the following Monday. Lizzie cannot explain how someone unknown killed Abby an hour and half before, while both Bridget and Lizzie were around, then killed Andrew during the 20 minutes or so that she was in the barn and Bridget was preparing to nap. The magistrate judges Lizzie probably guilty and orders Lizzie committed to await trial.
Production
Casting
Elizabeth Montgomery and Lizzie Borden were sixth cousins once removed, both descending from 17th-century Massachusetts resident John Luther. Rhonda McClure, the genealogist who documented the Montgomery-Borden connection, said, "I wonder how Elizabeth would have felt if she knew she was playing her own cousin." One of the gowns which was worn by Montgomery in the film is on display at the bed-and-breakfast which now occupies the Borden house.
Irish actress Fionnula Flanagan was cast in the part of the Borden's maid, Bridget Sullivan, who was originally from Ireland.
Reception
Awards
The film won writer William Bast the 1975 Edgar Award for Best TV Feature/Miniseries. It also won two Emmy Awards, for Costume Design (presented to Guy C. Verhille) and Film Editing (John A. Martinelli), and received nominations in three other Emmy categories: Lead Actress (Montgomery), Art Direction (Jack De Shields), and Sound Editing (Harry Gordon).
The film was also nominated for Best Motion Picture Made for Television in the 1976 Golden Globe Awards.
European version
The European theatrical version is more explicit than the theatrical version which was broadcast on ABC, showing Borden nude in the scenes when she kills her father and stepmother. This version also runs an extra 4 minutes, 104 minutes total versus the United States version of 100 minutes.
Release
A Region 1 DVD release of the film was released on October 7, 2014.