Wikipedia

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax

Lizzie Borden Took an Axis a 2014 Americanbiographicaldramatelevision film aboutLizzie Borden,a young American woman tried and acquitted of the August 4, 1892,axe murdersof her father and stepmother inFall River, Massachusetts.It premiered onLifetimeon January 25, 2014, and starredChristina Ricciin the title role.[1]The film was so successful it was followed by a miniseries,The Lizzie Borden Chronicles,which aired from April to May 2015. Ricci has described the film and its follow-up as being "self-aware, campy, and tongue-in-cheek".

Lizzie Borden Took an Ax
Official poster
GenreDocudrama
Slasher
Mystery
Biopic
Written byStephen Kay
Directed byNick Gomez
StarringChristina Ricci
Clea DuVall
Billy Campbell
Theme music composerTree Adams
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerMichael Mahoney
CinematographySteve Cosens
EditorHenk Van Eeghan
Running time87 minutes
Production companySony Pictures Television
Original release
NetworkLifetime
ReleaseJanuary 25, 2014(2014-01-25)
Related
The Lizzie Borden Chronicles

Plot

edit

In August 1892, Fall River, Massachusetts Sunday school teacher Lizzie Borden comes across the terrible murder scene of her father Andrew, who had been brutally killed with a hatchet. Local law enforcement arrives, also discovering the body of Abby Borden, the stepmother of Lizzie and her older sister Emma. As the case progresses, the evidence seems to point to Lizzie as the prime suspect. Her lawyer, Andrew Jennings, maintains that a woman could not commit such a cruel and gruesome crime. Still, Lizzie is put on trial for the murders, and the case makes headlines in newspapers throughout the country, which call it the most infamous of the century.

Eventually, the jury finds Lizzie not guilty of all charges. Despite the acquittal, she has become the town pariah. During a final confrontation between Lizzie and Emma, the former asks her sister if she wants to know the truth. Lizzie then whispers into Emma's ear as a series of flashbacks show Lizzie committing the murders. A visibly upset Emma leaves the room, and eventually, moves out of their home, never seeing Lizzie again. Lizzie walks outside and hears three children jump roping to the famous nursery rhyme: "Lizzie Borden took an axe/She gave her mother forty whacks/When she saw what she had done/She gave her father forty-one."

Cast

edit

Tagline

edit

Theteaser trailerfeatured the time period's popular children'sskipping-rope rhyme:

Lizzie Borden took an axe
She gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one.
Lizzie Borden got away
For her crime she did not pay.

Ratings

edit

In its original January 25, 2014, premiere on the Lifetime network, the film was watched by 4.4 million viewers, making it the night's number-one telecast among all key demographics.[2]

Reception

edit

Lizzie Borden Took an Axreceived mixed reviews despite praise for Ricci's performance; as of 6 May 2015,based on 14 reviews, the film holds a 43% rating on review aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes.[3]

Series

edit
Main article:The Lizzie Borden Chronicles

In October 2014, Lifetime announced plans for an additional limited series based on the film. Originally namedLizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles,the series took place after Lizzie's trial.Christina RicciandClea DuVallreprised their roles as the Borden sisters.Cole HauserportrayedPinkertondetective Charlie Siringo, who investigates other strange occurrences, including murders, centered around the Bordens.[4]Jessy Schramplayed Lizzie's actress/dancer friend, Nancy O'Keefe, andJohn Heardplayed Lizzie's father's business partner, William Almy.[5]The limited series was written by Greg Small, Rich Blaney, Barbara Nance, Jason Grote, andDavid Simkins.Stephen Kaydirected the first two of the episodes, which began airing April 2015.[4]

A teaser trailer aired on December 8, 2014, during the second part ofThe Red Tentminiseries that was calledThe Lizzie Borden Chronicles,along with "The series coming in 2015." DespiteThe Hollywood Reporterstating the series would be a six-hour limited miniseries,[6]on February 5, 2015, it was increased to eight hours.[5]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^Hunter, Craig (November 18, 2013)."Christina Ricci stars in Lifetime movie 'Lizzie Borden Took an Ax'".The Hollywood News.RetrievedDecember 16,2013.
  2. ^Kondolojy, Amanda (January 27, 2014)."'Lizzie Borden Took an Ax' Premiere Draws 4.4 Million Total Viewers "(Press release).TV by the Numbers.Archived fromthe originalon January 31, 2014.RetrievedMay 6,2015.
  3. ^"Lizzie Borden Took an Ax".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedMay 6,2015.
  4. ^ab"Lifetime Greenlights Limited Series" Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles ""(Press release).Lifetime.October 22, 2014.RetrievedApril 16,2016– viaThe Futon Critic.
  5. ^abElavsky, Cindy (February 5, 2015)."Ricci takes an ax to her latest role".Naples Florida Weekly.Celebrity Extra (column). Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 9,2015.
  6. ^Goldberg, Lesley (October 22, 2014)."Lifetime Returns to 'Lizzie Borden' With Six-Hour Limited Series".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedMay 6,2015.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lizzie_Borden_Took_an_Ax&oldid=1257927232"