The Legend of Lizzie Borden
| The Legend of Lizzie Borden | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Drama History Mystery |
| Written by | William Bast |
| Directed by | Paul Wendkos |
| Starring |
Elizabeth Montgomery Katherine Helmond Ed Flanders Fionnula Flanagan Fritz Weaver Amzie Strickland Hayden Rorke |
| Music by | Billy Goldenberg |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | George LeMaire |
| Cinematography | Robert Hauser |
| Editor(s) | John A. Martinelli |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Paramount Television George LeMaire Productions |
| Distributor | ABC |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | February 10, 1975 |
The Legend of Lizzie Borden is a 1975 American made-for-television historical mystery-drama film starring Elizabeth Montgomery as accused murderer Lizzie Borden, along with Katherine Helmond, Fritz Weaver and Hayden Rorke. It premiered on ABC on February 10, 1975.
The film, although based on fact, is a stylized retelling of the events of August 4, 1892 when the father and step-mother 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. In 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 is left ambiguous whether Lizzie was actually reminiscing about the crimes or simply fantasizing how she herself would have disposed of her victims. In another deviation, after Lizzie's acquittal, her sister Emma asks her point-blank if she killed their parents; Lizzie does not answer. The epilogue states that the killings of Andrew and Abby Borden remain unsolved.
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 worn by Montgomery in the film is on display at the bed-and-breakfast that now occupies the Borden house.
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