Review of The Legend of Lizzie Borden

The Legend of Lizzy Borden is often seen as one of the best TV movies of the seventies and considering excellent TV films such as The Deadly Tower, Sweet Hostage and Scream Pretty Peggy; I did go into this one with quite high hopes. The plot focuses on a famous murder that took place in 1893 Massachusetts and saw a girl accused of killing her father and step mother with an axe. I can't claim to have any familiarity with this case, but the story is certainly interesting enough to make a good TV movie out of, and while this is not a bad film; I have to admit that I don't agree with the idea of it being one of the best made for TV movies of the period. The film is apparently considered to be quite shocking; and perhaps it was in 1975, especially considering that it's a TV movie...but the shocking elements aren't all that shocking today. The film's main positive element is definitely the story, and while it's certainly interesting; a lot of it is caught up in the court case which is not so interesting. However, the film is bolstered by an excellent performance from Elizabeth Montgomery in the lead role who convinces excellently and helps to keep up the mystery. Overall, I wouldn't call this one of the best made for TV movies of the seventies myself; but it's certainly an interesting watch and is worth seeing.