A Killing in a Small Town (1990)

The gory ax-murder of one mousy, suburban Texas housewife by another is nearly as shocking as the excuse offered by the bespectacled defendant's attorney: self-defense. Could it be so?

Director:

Stephen Gyllenhaal

Writers:

John Bloom (book), James Atkinson (book) (as Jim Atkinson)

Stars:

Barbara Hershey, Brian Dennehy, John Terry

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbara Hershey	...	Candy Morrison
Brian Dennehy	...	Ed Reivers
John Terry	...	Stan Blankenship
Richard Gilliland	...	Dale Morrison
Lee Garlington	...	Peggy Blankenship
Hal Holbrook	...	Dr. Beardsley
Matthew Posey	...	Norman Billings
James Monroe Black	...	Dr. Giles (as James Black)
Dennis Letts	...	Chief McAlester
Marco Perella	...	Rick Slocum
Norman Bennett	...	Jim Ramsey
Jerry Haynes	...	Judge Scott
Rodger Boyce	...	Rex Staples
Daphne Eckler	...	Dede Alexander
Jan DeWitt	...	Connie Keating

Storyline

In a quiet Texas town, Candy Morrison and her husband, Dale, seem to live an ordinary life -- but that all changes when she begins sleeping with her husband's friend Stan Blankenship. When Stan's wife winds up dead -- the victim of a brutal ax murder -- Candy's arrest leaves the community in disbelief. And, as her attorney Ed Reivers attempts to prove her innocence, he makes a shocking discovery about his client.

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Plot Keywords:

upskirt | lifting up dress | hand up dress | murder | self defense | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 May 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Axtmörderin

Filming Locations:

Dallas, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hearst Entertainment Productions,IndieProd Company Productions,King Phoenix Entertainment

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the true story of the 1980 murder of Betty Gore by Candace (Candy) Montgomery in Wylie, Texas.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Barbara Hershey/Jeff Cesario/Dr. Henry Stenhouse (1990)

User Reviews

A Tour De Force

"Killing In A Small Town" looked every bit as ordinary as a regular made for TV fare but as the story unfolds; with the first frame of Barbara Hershey as Candice Morrison defining her sense of self to a therapist; you are instantly hooked until the end credits roll. Accused of her murderous crime in a small middle American town, Candice or Candy was initially in shock and subsequent denial. But as the horror washed over the community and all evidence point toward the mousy housewife, she starts to unravel albeit in calm revelation. Barbara Hershey is definitely one of the most underrated actress of her era, her portrayal of a strong, self- controlled, stoic yet sensitive and vulnerable woman make her a character of infinite contradiction. She pulled out all the stops in her courtroom scenes on cross examination and her hypnosis session with a doctor is unforgettably chilling. When Candice was on the stand recounting the day of the murder, the scene plays out ordinarily and then take a turn for the macabre when Peggy (victim) accused Candice of having an affair with her husband. Peggy then goes back to kitchen to fetch an axe and begins to taunt Candy. The two of them had words and then a fight ensues. Candy was desperately trying to get away but finally she turns the table and hacks Peggy over 41 timesin self defense. The entire scene was riveting like your inability to look away from a car wreck. An American tragedy played with unrelenting passion by Barbara Hershey who incidentally won an Emmy and Golden Globe for her searing performance.