The Legend of Lizzie Borden

TV Movie
1975
TV-14
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Elizabeth Montgomery in The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975)

In 1893 Massachusetts, 32-year-old spinster Lizzie Andrew Borden is put on trial for killing her father Andrew and stepmother Emma with an ax. The film explores complex family relationships ... Read allIn 1893 Massachusetts, 32-year-old spinster Lizzie Andrew Borden is put on trial for killing her father Andrew and stepmother Emma with an ax. The film explores complex family relationships and uses facts to provide a possible solution.In 1893 Massachusetts, 32-year-old spinster Lizzie Andrew Borden is put on trial for killing her father Andrew and stepmother Emma with an ax. The film explores complex family relationships and uses facts to provide a possible solution.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 2 Primetime Emmys
- 3 wins & 3 nominations total

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
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."

Goofs
High voltage power cables on pylons can be seen on the hills behind the Borden house.

Quotes
Adelaide Churchill: Lizzie what's wrong?
Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Borden: Oh Mrs Churchill, do come in. Someone has killed Father.

Alternate versions
A European video release runs about 3 minutes shorter than the original American version One version shows a glimpse of Elizabeth Montgomery's breast while she is murdering her stepmother. Some prints have a different camera angle that does not show this. The closing credits of the American version says "A George Lemaire Production in association with" then fades to black and shows the Paramount logo while the end music is still playing. The European video release says "A George Lemaire Production in association with" then fades to black and does not show the Paramount logo. The 2014 DVD from Cinedigm uses the original American broadcast version.

Connections
Featured in The 27th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1975)

User reviews62

Review

Featured review

One of the best TV movies ever!

"the Legend of Lizzie Borden" is possibly one of the best TV movies ever made! I DO NOT say this lightly! The filmakers have taken such care to recreate the tone and atmosphere of New England in the 1890s.It puts theatrical productions to shame!From the flawless photography,authentic props and scenery,masterful costume and hairstyles,and the documentary feel of the cool,muted visual design of the film.The viewer gets a rare look into the case of Lizzie Borden from both HER viewpoint and the viewpoint of the legend itself! The case story is by now well known (however legally"unsolved") Lizzie Borden is accused of a brutal double-murder of her father and step-mother.The trial and legal proceedings are taken (almost exactly) from the transcripts of 1893.The filmakers have introduced one of the theories of how Lizzie could have committed the murders without actually bringing it out in the courtroom(which it never was) This is done quite effectively through use of flashbacks and "daydreaming" and would not have been possible without the performance of Elizabeth Montgomery.She is alternatingly cold,fierce,manipulative,and above all believable as Lizzie ( the real Lizzie was heavier,shorter and not very pretty) Miss Montgomery makes one realize that there really WAS some magic behind that "witch twitch" we all knew from TV.