A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story (1992) (TV)

Director:

Martin Davidson

Writers (WGA):

Earl W. Wallace (written by) &
Pamela Wallace (written by) ...

Release Date:

13 September 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Plot Keywords:

Courtroom | Beautiful Woman | Hung Jury | Lawyer | Trial

Cast

Virginia Madsen	...	Carolyn Warmus
Chris Sarandon	...	Paul Solomon
Ned Eisenberg	...	Det. Richard Freedman
Tom Mason	...	Det. Mike McCormick
Robert Picardo	...	David Lewis
William H. Macy	...	Sean Hammel
Olivia Burnette	...	Kristan Solomon
Jay Acovone	...	Lt. Robert Carlino
Johnny Williams	...	Vincent Parco
Tracy Kolis	...	Barbara Ballor
David Spielberg	...	Gary Pillersdorf
Herb Mitchell	...	Judge Carey
Lenore Kasdorf	...	Betty Jeanne Solomon
Steven Marcus	...	Jimmy Russo
Charley Lang	...	Douglas Fitzmorris

Also Known As:

The Lovers of Deceit: The Carolyn Warmus Story (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M

Company:

Spectacor Films

Trivia:

In the film, the telephone number from which Betty Jeanne Solomon dialed 911 immediately before she was murdered was 555-6316, at 51 Sentinel Place, Granville Springs.

A little better than the other version

There are two versions of Carolyn Warmus' story - this one and another 1992 version starring Jenny Robertson and Joe Penny. So Carolyn doesn't beat out Amy Fisher, of whom it was said, "Jesus Christ didn't have that many movies made of his life."

This TV movie, starring Virginia Madsen and Chris Sarandon, is superior to the other, which isn't saying too awfully much. The cast is definitely better. Though I am a fan of Joe Penny's, I never considered Robertson much of an actress; however, in recent years, now that she is more in the leading lady stage of her career, she is much better. Both films portray Carolyn as a man magnet with a great body and loads of sex appeal. In both versions, much is made of her grand, electric entrance into the courtroom on the first day of her trial. This film has one thing the other lacked - the real-life character of Vincent Parco, the detective who sold Carolyn the murder weapon (with a silencer). For an important figure in the case, it's strange that he isn't a character in the Robertson-Penny movie. I actually have spoken with Vincent Parco, so I admit to finding this version more interesting.

Without going into enormous detail, Warmus is the woman suspected of killing her boyfriend's wife, Betty Jean Solomon. At first, her boyfriend is the chief suspect. Eventually the focus falls on Carolyn.

I thought Madsen was great showing how unstable and obsessive Carolyn was, trashing a room and stalking Carlin and his wife in Puerto Rico (in flashback). Chris Sarandon, as Michael Carlin, the guilt-ridden, overwrought, cheating husband, is very good.

Peter Haskell, another favorite of mine, plays Carolyn's father in flashback. He's uncredited. Ned Eisenberg, another favorite and a good actor is the detective assigned to the case.

So for me, the dice are loaded in favor of this version. Both are routine, and as we know, the beautiful and talented Madsen has gone on to much better.