Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story (2002)

The 1946/1947 murder trial of young and beautiful Evelyn Dick remains the most lurid murder case in Canadian history. After children find only the torso of her missing husband, John, Evelyn... See full summary »

Director:

Alex Chapple

Writers:

Marjorie Freeman Campbell (book), Dennis Foon

Stars:

Kathleen Robertson, Victor Garber, Brenda Fricker

3 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kathleen Robertson	...	Evelyn Dick
Victor Garber	...	J.J. Robinette
Brenda Fricker	...	Alexandra MacLean
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Inspector Wood
Ken James	...	Donald MacLean
Jonathan Potts	...	Detective Sgt. Preston
Tom McCamus	...	Crown Prosecutor Rigney
Jim Boeven	...	John Dick
Joseph Scoren	...	Bill Bohozuk
Bruce Gray	...	Third Trial Judge
Gerry Quigley	...	Willy Landeg
Joan Gregson	...	Prison Matron
Hannah Lochner	...	Heather Dick
David Gardner	...	Bohozuk's Lawyer
William Pappas	...	First trial judge

Storyline

The 1946/1947 murder trial of young and beautiful Evelyn Dick remains the most lurid murder case in Canadian history. After children find only the torso of her missing husband, John, Evelyn is arrested for his murder. The head and limbs had been sawed from his body and evidence that they had been burned in the furnace of her home (she and her adolescent daughter shared with her parents) later surfaced. (There is some weird twist involving her parents and a supposed baby boy that she gave up for adoption some 3 years prior to the murder.) After she was sentenced to hang, lawyer J.J. Robinette appealed her case, and won an eventual acquittal. But, when police are tipped-off by her father, the decayed remains of Evelyn's baby boy encased in cement under the floor boards of her home are found. Although she is acquitted of the murder of her husband, she is sentenced to 11 years in prison for the murder of her infant son. No one was ever convicted of the murder of John Dick. Evelyn was ...

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Plot Keywords:

cigarette smoking | fatal attraction | manipulation | scheme | 1940s | 

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Genres:

Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent images and sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally was to premiere on 11 September 2001, but was postponed due to the terrorist attacks of that day.

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Connections

References Love and Murder (2000)

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Soundtracks

Melancholy Lullaby
Written by Alex Pangman
Performed by Alex Pangman & Her Alleycats
Vocals by Alex Pangman
Guitars by by Jesse Barksdale, by Roberto Rosenman
Trumpet by Chris Whitely
Bass by Ka-Cheong Liu

User Reviews

Riveting, unexpectedly twisted

This is a riveting tale of a beautiful young woman emotionally crippled by her abusive, controlling parents. The plot has many unexpected twists and as more is revealed about Evelyn Dick's life the story is increasingly compelling. She leaves the film almost as much an enigma as when she enters it. Good performances -- Kathleen Robertson is stunning in the lead role, and Brenda Fricker turns in a wicked performance reminiscent of some of Kathy Bates' characters. I enjoyed the use of high and straight-overhead camera angles and the use of stark lighting in many of the scenes. The costuming was terrific and the director made good use of the details in the closeup work. Visually a feast, all-around very good!

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 2002 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Torso

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shaftesbury Films, Shaftesbury Mysteries 111 Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital (5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1