The Legend of Lizzie Borden - Elizabeth Montgomery

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Lizzie Borden')

Directed by Paul Wendkos
USA 1975

"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.

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Television Premiere: February 10th, 1975

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DVD Review: New Video Group - Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	New Video Group - Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:36:09
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.54 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: New Video Group Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: October 7th, 2014 Keep Case Chapters: 12

Comments:

After watching and reviewing Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story with Elizabeth Montgomery I was strongly reminded of this other memorable TV-made movie with the same actress as a non-fictionalized murderess. I note that this film is almost exactly 40-years old - to the day I just watched it. This is great TV... heck, a great film, in any sense. The historical points are well-established, it is intelligently shot and Elizabeth Montgomery is wonderful.

The disc is represented by New Video Group and although not listed as an MoD (Made-on-Demand) disc, it sure smells like one being bare-bones, region free and interlaced (see last screen capture). Otherwise it looks acceptable for SD - not too thin and only a very few speckles. It may be a shade faded but the presentation is certainly consistent and watchable.

The audio is indicative of TV - unremarkable, flat - but dialogue is completely audible. Billy Goldenberg (Spielberg's Duel, some Columbo, Smile Jenny, You're Dead etc.) did the score and its a good one really adding some suspense and tension to the period murder-mystery. There are no subtitles and the media is Region FREE in the NTSC standard.

The DVD inferiorities didn't interfere with my viewing as I guess I had some nostalgia going on as well - watching this, riveted, as a young boy back in 1975. This is still a superior piece of entertainment. One we can endorse - holding revisitation value at a purchase under $15.