30-Day Horror Movie Challenge - Made-For-TV Horror Film…

Tagline: Could this woman commit the crime of the century?

Synopsis: In 1893, Massachusetts spinster Lizzie Borden (Elizabeth Montgomery) is accused of murdering her father and stepmother with a hatchet. A lengthy trial ensues, but the case is not as airtight as the prosecutors would like. There is no physical evidence at the scene of the crime, nor did Lizzie have any blood on her in the wake of the murders. Amid intense media scrutiny and wild speculation about her motives, Lizzie maintains her innocence to the end. (Google)

I was going to go with "The Dark Secret of Harvest Home" (1978), based on the excellent book by Thomas Tryon, in keeping with my current love of folk horror (If you're intrigued, you can watch it on YouTube - Part One and Part Two), but MAN...I've always been obsessed with everything Lizzie Borden. I pretty much read everything about her, fiction and non-fiction, and watch every TV show or movie. This obsession began in 1975 with "The Legend of Lizzie Borden." Yup, Elizabeth Montgomery did a great job of portraying a not-so-innocent Lizzie (though she was acquitted at her trial, her innocence has always been speculated). Turns out, Montgomery was Lizzie's sixth cousin, once removed. Perhaps she was channeling the real Lizzie?

If you haven't seen this one, watch it. It's from the seventies, but I watched it again in recent years and I think it has stood the test of time. You can watch it on YouTube too...here.

What is your favorite made-for-TV film?