The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975)

77% of users liked it
(374 ratings)

"Lizzie Borden took an axe/And gave her mother forty whacks/When she saw what she had done/She gave her father forty-one". New England spinster Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the charge of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892, but this made-for-TV movie, like most recreations of the murders… More "Lizzie Borden took an axe/And gave her mother forty whacks/When she saw what she had done/She gave her father forty-one". New England spinster Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the charge of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892, but this made-for-TV movie, like most recreations of the murders and subsequent trial, adheres to the popular consensus that Borden was guilty. Elizabeth Montgomery takes a break from playing victims to portray the enigmatic Borden. The trial scenes are lifted directly from the original court records; scripter William Bast's speculation as to what really happened the night the elder Bordens were hacked to death is pure (but credible) conjecture. Accompanied by a "parental guidance suggested" tag, The Legend of Lizzie Borden was first broadcast February 10, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Paul Wendkos
Genres: Drama, Television

In Theaters: Feb 10, 1975 Wide

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

familiar s

It's a traditional thriller except that it's based on real events. In fact, the movie claims that it's considered to be one of the most infamous and bizarre cases of the 19th century. Just because I'd never heard of it before doesn't change the fact. Putting… More
It's a traditional thriller except that it's based on real events. In fact, the movie claims that it's considered to be one of the most infamous and bizarre cases of the 19th century. Just because I'd never heard of it before doesn't change the fact. Putting aside the topic of my (never-ending) ignorance, while it might be considered well executed for a TV movie that released more than 35 years ago, it didn't suit my taste. Almost all the old-fashioned horror elements were present: an actress laughing loudly, behaving weirdly almost all the time, the sound of ticking of clocks, etc. It's kinda Montgomery's transformation to Psycho. Whatever it was, I failed to like it. Since it's "based on a true story", they could have put the creative license to better use. Some of the facts that are twisted don't do any good to the movie. Despite of its gritty subject, they should have added a few light moments. The lack of light moments was another let-down. The dialogues weren't effective either. The rhyme towards the end was exceptionally great, though.
jay n

Great performance by Elizabeth Montgomery, good period feeling, far superior to most made for TV movies. Shows what the medium is capable of.
Lafe F

A courtroom drama, a murder mystery, and a horror film. Mr. and Mrs. Borden are found hacked up by axe one morning in historical smalltown Fall River, Massachusetts. Everyone is suspicious of the daughter, Lizzie Borden, played chillingly and charmingly by Elizabeth Montgomery. A… More
A courtroom drama, a murder mystery, and a horror film. Mr. and Mrs. Borden are found hacked up by axe one morning in historical smalltown Fall River, Massachusetts. Everyone is suspicious of the daughter, Lizzie Borden, played chillingly and charmingly by Elizabeth Montgomery. A powerful and haunting film, as we flash back to the events leading up to the murder during the trial scenes. Part of the effectiveness is the spooky music.

Cast

            John Alvin as Dr. Draper

            Helen Craig as Abby Borden

            Joan Crosby as Companion

            Ed Flanders as Hosea Knowlton

            Katherine Helmond as Emma Borden

            Alan Hewitt as Mayor Coughlin

            Gail Kobe as Alice Russell

            Jon Lormer as Bailiff

            J. Edward McKinley as Marshall Hilliard

            Elizabeth Montgomery as Lizzie Borden

            Don Porter as George

            Hayden Rorke as Julien Ralph

            Tracie Savage as Young Lizzie

            Olan Soule as Eli Bence

            Amzie Strickland as Adelaide Churchill

            Gloria Stuart as Store Customer

            Robert Symonds as Andrew Jennings

            Fritz Weaver as Andrew Borden

            Iggie Wolfington as Store Proprietor

            Lynn Wood as Mrs. Raymond

            John Zaremba as Judge Blaisdell

            John Beal as Dr. Bowen

            Fionnula Flanagan as Bridget Sullivan

            Bonnie Bartlett as Sylvia Knowlton

            Patricia Wilson as Hannah Reagan
See full cast