Murder in Texas (1981) (TV)

Director:

William Hale

Writers:

Ann Kurth (book)
John McGreevey (writer)

Release Date:

3 May 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Based on a true story, this film tells of a plastic surgeon who was suspected of causing the death of his first wife...

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Houston Texas | Beautiful Woman | Murder | Based On True Story

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Katharine Ross	...	Ann Kurth Hill
Sam Elliott	...	Dr. John Hill
Farrah Fawcett	...	Joan Robinson Hill
Andy Griffith	...	Ash Robinson
G.W. Bailey	...	Richard 'Racehorse' Haynes
Barry Corbin	...	Dist. Atty. McMasters
Pamela Myers	...	Mary
Craig T. Nelson	...	Jack Ramsey
Royce Wallace	...	Wilma
Dimitra Arliss	...	Gina Meier
Jude Farese	...	Casselli
Philip Sterling	...	Dr. Helpern
Vernon Weddle	...	Dr. Joe
Lesley Woods	...	Reah Robinson
Parley Baer	...	Ann's attorney

Runtime:

200 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 (part 2) | Iceland:L (part 1)

Filming Locations:

Harold Lloyd's Greenacres Estate - 1740 Green Acres Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Dick Clark Productions

Movie Connections:

References Un homme et une femme (1966)

Soundtrack:

The Yellow Rose of Texas

Excellent film

This movie was well-acted, notably Farrah Fawcett finally getting a positive review. She has been a highly underrated actress. I live five minutes from River Oaks, so I know the houses (Ash Robinson's renovated house is my favorite in River Oaks).

The downside. I've read both Ann Kurth's and Thomas Thompson's books. Ann Kurth's deserves a huge eyeroll. In her mind she was this clueless, naive, divorcée who suffered because she loved too much. Uh, in Houston, we call women like her homewreckers and a few other choice words. The ending as said above is just preposterous, and I can't believe she put that in her book. It loses all credibility. First of all, the autopsy on John Hill is indisputable that it is him. Secondly, let's defy logic and reality and suppose that John Hill did make it to Mexico, WHY would he call his ex-wife and play his piano concertos? He's trying to start over again unnoticed and incognito. So after Ann's ending, you just have to wonder how much other BS she's written in her novella.

Thompson's book is engrossing, in depth, and the movie should have been based on this.

I believe that John Hill was involved in his wife's death. Anyone in Houston would wonder why would he take his wife to Sharpstown Hospital when they live in River Oaks, where the med center is only ten minutes away? That to me was extremely suspicious. And really, why would he wait so long to finally get her to the hospital?

This is an intriguing note in Houston's history.