Murder in Texas (1981)

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Based on true events, Sam Elliott is a doctor married into a rich prominent Texas family, wife Farrah Fawcett and her father Andy Griffith. He meets Katherine Ross, whose character in real life wrote the book this TV-movie is based. He falls hard for Katharine and tries to have his cake and eat it too. It began too slow for me, as the first hour was about Sam wooing Katherine and as I knew Farrah's demise would be imminent. But when things did happen, they happened. What develops is too disturbing. Father Andy is determined to get justice for his daughter's death, and Andy Griffith gives a truly memorable role as a "Big Daddy" type. He and Sam Elliott's character's vanity and superiority are the whole show. And, the scenes when Katharine is alone in the house were truly scary. You know what I mean, if you've see it. And, the ending will blow you away, if you haven't. A superlative television movie, but is this really how it played out in real life! Are things embellished! This is more than "Murder in Texas;" this will haunt you even months after you see it.

In the spring of 1972 I, at age 24, had just moved to Houston, Texas, and soon the city was absorbed by the mystery of Dr. John Hill's death. Two of my friends were patients of the physician in partnership with Doctor Hill, so they felt they knew Dr. Hill personally and that he never could harm anyone. I too worked in the medical field, and on my Wednesday afternoons off I would drive north on Kirby Drive and through the scenic River Oaks Neighborhood, all the while thinking the neighborhood must be like heaven on earth. I do recall the two-story white mansion with the black horse head hitching post out front, and I soon learned it had been the home of Dr. John and Joan Robinson Hill, the supposed victims in two separate murders. The hitching post remained as Joan's personal touch on the property since she had loved horses all her life.From the beginning the story of Joan Robinson had been shrouded in mystery. Her adopted mother, Mrs. Robinson, told the story of how the Robinsons had adopted Joan from the Edna Gladney Home, an orphanage shown in the Greer Garson film, "Blossoms in the Dust." Other people circulated the rumor that Joan was the result of an affair Ash Robinson had had with his secretary and that Mrs. Robinson was agreeable to covering her husband's indiscretions and bringing up Joan as their "adopted" child. The Robinsons worshiped Joan, an accomplished equestrienne who appeared with her horse, Beloved Belinda, in the annual Pin Oak Stables Horse Show in Houston.Dr. Hill supposedly was from a strict Baptist family of modest means in McAllen in South Texas, and he was impressed with the opportunity to study and practice medicine in Houston. The Robinsons, glad to have a promising young medical student marry Joan, agreed to put Hill through medical school. Eventually Dr. Hill founded the Sharpstown Hospital in a Houston suburb, and it was to this hospital that Joan Robinson Hill finally was taken. Such was the quaint, fairy-tale world of 1950s-1970s Houston, and the stage was set for the drama and mystery about to unfold.I read Thompson's Book, "Blood and Money," and I believe the film was true to the book. Thompson's account left everyone speculating about what really had happened and what everyone's motives were. I personally believe the portrayals by Sam Elliott, Farrah Fawcett, Andy Griffith, and Katherine Ross were excellent. I would recommend the Kurth and Thompson books on the subject, and I would love to find a DVD version of "Murder in Texas" so that I could share this great film with my friends.

When "Murder in Texas" premiered on network television in two parts, it was a big deal. It's a very intriguing, true story of a Texan plastic surgeon (Sam Eilliott) suspected of causing the death of his very wealthy wife, portrayed by Farrah Fawcett. For years, Ash Robinson, the victim's father, was convinced of Dr. Hill's guilt. Andy Griffith is a great Ash.The story is based on Ann Kurth's book - Ann Kurth was Dr. Hill's second wife, who in the film is played by Katherine Ross. I could never find a copy of Kurth's book, so I read another book on the subject. The actual events are much, much more complicated than could ever have been shown on screen. In fact, the end of this movie is pure fiction, as are scenes that support the ending. The reason for this, I believe, was a legal one, as some participants were still living at the time of the filming.Today it is believed that Joan Robinson Hill died of toxic shock syndrome before it became a known entity. What her husband had to do with it - by direct act or simple neglect - I don't believe has ever been decided other than in the mind of Ash Robinson.While the movie made fascinating watching, particularly Part I, if this case interests you, I suggest you read a book on the subject for the true story. The acting is marvelous, particularly from Elliott, Fawcett, and Griffith, and the movie will hold your interest.

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** Televised in the spring of 1981 over 2 nights, "MURDER IN TEXAS" is based on the book "PRESCRIPTION: MURDER" that was written by ANN KURTH. There were several books written about this drama that unfolded in the affluent neighborhood of River Oaks in Houston, Texas between 1969 to 1972. Unfortunately, the book used here was definitely the most biased and one sided since ANN KURTH was the mistress and then second wife of possible murderer DR. JOHN HILL, the story's main character.DR. JOHN HILL(SAM ELLIOTT)who came from fairly modest means near the Rio Grande, went to Houston in the 50s to attend medical school. In Houston he met JOAN ROBINSON (FARRAH FAWCETT), a beautiful blond equestrian in her mid 20s of privilege with 2 divorces already behind her. JOAN was also absolutely adored by her parents. JOHN and JOAN married in the late 50s, had 1 child, a son named ROBERT, and all appeared well for 10 years. DR. JOHN HILL developed one of the best plastic surgery practices in the Houston area largely in thanks to his father in law's largesse. Around 1968, JOHN began an affair with a divorcee named ANN KURTH(KATHARINE ROSS). JOHN and JOAN separated, then got back together. In March of 1969, vibrant healthy athletic JOAN suddenly gets deathly ill and according to some accounts is basically ignored by her doctor husband until it is too late to save her. Now widowed, JOHN marries his mistress. More & more details about JOAN'S mysterious death come to light pointing the finger of guilt at JOHN. JOAN'S father ASH ROBINSON(ANDY GRIFFITH) believing that his former son in law is responsible for the death of his beloved daughter, makes it a full time occupation to prove JOHN'S guilt. Wife # 2 ANN KURTH also comes to believe her husband guilty. ANN divorces him, and soon enough JOHN is on wife # 3. Arriving home from a trip JOHN and his new bride are attacked by a lone gunman who shoots JOHN dead.The actual events were a little more involved than what is contained in this tv movie, but you have to remember that this is based on the recollections of ANN KURTH. The other books based on these events are pretty clear that the real ANN KURTH was not the sweet, naive woman portrayed by KATHARINE ROSS. ROSS has always exuded nobility & good intentions. In actuality the real ANN KURTH was far from naive. This was the first time that FARRAH FAWCETT was given a positive review. She comes across as more desperate than anything and wrings her hands on occasion to show us that she is well suited to play women that are victimized. The critics so raved over FARRAH'S portrayal as a victimized wife that she turned that role into a career ! It is ANDY GRIFFITH however that comes off best. His ASH ROBINSON is stern, unwavering,completely focused in his search. SAM ELLIOTT is sinister personified as DR. JOHN HILL. Although enjoyable to watch, this would have been far better had TOMMY THOMPSON'S book "BLOOD AND MONEY" been used instead. Critical elements are omitted in this tv movie, such as the fact that 2 of the people eventually convicted in the murder of DR. JOHN HILL clearly pointed to ASH ROBINSON as the man who hired the man who killed JOHN. One of those behind JOHN'S murder was rumored to be the adopted JOAN'S biological mother. And in any event, we still don't know what killed JOAN ROBINSON HILL. An early case of toxic shock syndrome caused by tampon usage, bacteria laced pastries, an untraceable poison administered by her husband, something picked up via food from a trip to Mexico, or an unknown disease were some of the considerations. This fascinating story of greed & murder would have been better represented had the THOMPSON version been used because in actuality the characters involved were far more fascinating than what we are presented with here.