MURDER AT 75 BIRCH

US, 1996, 95 minutes, Colour.
Melissa Gilbert, Gregory Harrison.
Directed by Michael Scott.

Murder at 75 Birch is based on a true story. The focus is on two close-knit families, two brothers. When the wife of one of them is murdered, suspicion falls on the husband. However, he has covered his tracks well and made demands on his brother - who then is killed. The focus of the investigation then is on the sister-in-law who, herself, starts investigating and finds evidence of the truth.

The film is conventional material, but quite well done, good writing and performances by Melissa Gilbert and Gregory Harrison, both of whom have made their careers in television and telemovies.

1. Entertaining telemovie? For the wide home audience? Psychological thriller? Murder mystery?

2. The settings: the suburbs, homes, streets, the police precinct, the dentist's office? Musical score?

3. The title and its focus? Direct?

4. The structure of the film: Gwen and her going to the police, the flashbacks, the gradual build-up of her story, her changing attitudes, allegiances, the death of her husband, the impact of Rick and his attentions, his behaviour and affairs, discovery of the truth, confrontation? The effectiveness of the flashbacks and the gradual revelation of the truth?

5. The two families and their closeness, the rivalry between the brothers (at baseball etc.)? The friendship of the two wives? The children? The impact of the death of Pat? The repercussions for all of them?

6. Gwen, her character, love for her husband, child? Friendship with Pat? Relationship with Rick? Looking after their child? The picnics, baseball games, visits and meals? The bonds between them? The impact of Pat's death on Gwen? Shock, looking after their daughter? Discussions with her husband, his death? Her grief? Rick and his attentions, their going out together? People's suspicions? The receptionist and her relationship with Rick? Maggie and her relationship? Gwen and the build-up of the truth? Her going to the police, antagonism towards the interrogator? Her gradually revealing the truth? Getting evidence - and the necklace? The final confrontation with Rick?

7. Rick, smooth, rivalry with his brother? Family? The dentist, the aerobics, the man-about-town? The affair with the receptionist, with Gwen's friend? The assault, the police evidence, suspicions? His behaviour after his wife's death, his affairs, his attraction towards Gwen? Covering his tracks? The flashback to the murder, the necklace?

8. Pat, the good woman, forgiving her husband? The challenge and her death? Dave and his friendship with his brother, driving and his death?

9. The women in the town, the aerobics classes, the school? Maggie and her reaction to Gwen? The receptionist - and her telling the truth?

10. The authentic background of the investigation, ordinary life in the town, school, dentist, police precincts? An effective case study?