The Burning Bed
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Movie Reviews of The Burning Bed
Movie Review: "Outstanding Film"
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the greatest TV movies ever made, Farrah Fawcett proved she was an excellent actress that could do more than just be a pretty face from her days on "Charlie's Anegels". I remember vividly when this movie made its debut on NBC in the fall of 1984. The network spent thousands promoting the film both in print and on the airwaves as the film became a must see event. "The Burning Bed" was based on a nonfiction novel written by Faith McNulty about a Michigan housewife and mother who is battered both physically and mentally by her husband for years. Finally one night after having too many beatings she sends her children to the car and sets her husband ablaze while he is sleeping. She eventually goes to the police and confesses what she did. The film is heartbreaking, well-acted, emotional, and most of all extremely graphic in its depiction of family violence. Farrah Fawcett actually suffered bruises from filming the physical abuse scenes. Paul LeMat plays the husband superbly and as a viewer you want his character to pay for the harm he has inflicted upon his wife. "The Burning Bed" went on to enjoy the highest ratings for any TV movie of the 1980's and is widely used in college classrooms as a tool in educating students on domestic abuse. Farrah Fawcett also recieved an Emmy Award nomination for Best Actress in a movie made for TV, but unfortunately lost.Movie Review: A Cautionary Tale
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Burning Bed" is a made for tv movie based on the life of Francine Hughes while she was married to, divorced from, and after killing Mickey Hughes. The movie displays the story by starting with the burning bed incident. We see Francine coming out of the garage and into the house with a gas can in her hands. The kids are already in the car when she sets fire to the bed. They drive off after the fire is going and Francine turns herself in at the police station. After that the story progresses through a series of flashbacks while undergoing preparation for trial. Francine is found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity.
It feels like you are on the journey with Francine as she tries to get help from local law enforcement and social services offices. Her efforts are fruitless not due to her lack of pursuit, but due to the negative responses from those who should have helped her.
What I don't think some people realize is how true this situation can be for others. I have heard people dismiss the film as a piece of "feminist tripe," which is too bad. The film does not vilify men (which it should not do since men and women can experience abuse), but shines a light on the reality of domestic violence.
Movie Review: FARRAH'S CATALYST AS A CREATIVE FORCE !!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
1984's THE BURNING BED was the movie that literally shocked America for two main reasons. It brought out of the closet the hideous reality of domestic abuse, as well as made people realize that FARRAH FAWCETT has amazing depth as a dramatic actress. This bit of cinema so helped the situation for so many struggling women, and made the general public see that FARRAH was so much more than a pretty face. Her perfomance was Emmy nominated and deservable so; and for the next twenty years MISS FAWCETT churned out many stellar performances mostly in television features. This piece holds up well twenty-five years later, and I higly recommend it, despite its often intense and uncomfortable subject matter. FARRAH FAWCETT recently died, and I found that sad as I thought she was a kind woman who was a much underated creative force. Other excellent performances worth noting are SMALL SACRIFICES, JEWEL, POOR LITTTLE RICH GIRL: THE BARBRA HUTTON STORY, DOUBLE EXPOSURE: THE STORY OF MARGARET BOURKE WHITE, THE SUBSTITUTE WIFE, and EXTREMITIES. Less well known, is the fact she was a wonderful painter and sculpture. Rest in peace FARRAH as you will be much missed.........Movie Review: Landmark TV Movie - Harrowing
Summary: 5 Stars
The Burning Bed is the true story of a woman who endures years of abuse mental and physical from her husband before finally snapping and killing him. The subject matter is still as relevant today as it was when it was released to much acclaim in 1984. In fact it should be essential viewing and therapy for any abusive person to see how they destroy lives.
The movie would not have worked without the powerful central performance of Farrah Fawcett who deservedly was nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe. She is abley supported by Paul Le Mat as the abusive husband and Garce Zabriskie as the apathetic mother in law. Although Fawcett had already turned in good performances in the 1981 movie Murder in Texas and on stage in Extremeties,it was this landmark tv movie that finally brought her recognition as a serious actress. Its a harrowing subject unsensationally handled and brilliantly written and acted.
Plaudits to MGM for releasing it on DVD however given the importance of the film and its subject its unfortunate that there are no 'extras'
Worthwhile.
Movie Review: True Story- Intense Abuse drives a woman to the brink of insanity
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a true story about a woman who was driven to the point of insanity because of an abusive husband. The movie is set during a day and age where there was no help for the abused. My mom had bought this movie off of Amazon and shown it to me. Its worth every star and more. You start to feel deeply for the children and their mother who suffer great abuse at the hands of their father/husband. This movie is full of vivid horrendous scenes that feel very real. You start to feel immense hatred towards the husband, his parents, and her mother. How can they sit back and do nothing when their son is beating on his wife infront of his children?! How can her own mother tell her to go back to her husband, that no matter what, her place is by his side?! The Burning Bed made me feel a lot of things, including happiness when the husband died, I felt he deserved it for all the pain he inflicted on others. Watch this movie and you wont be disappointed, its a must see.