WIDOW ON THE HILL

US/Canada, 2005, 80 minutes, Colour.
Natasha Henstridge, James Brolin, Jewel Staite.
Directed by Peter Svatek.

Widow on the Hill is a typical enough movie made for television. It is said that it is based on an actual case. The cast, except for James Brolin, is Canadian-born.

The film is a star vehicle for Natasha Henstridge (The Species series) as a woman who came from a poor background, had three husbands, chanced on a wealthy family and looked after the dying mother. She sets her sights on the widower (Brolin) and marries him to the disgust of his daughter. However, she has an alcoholic past and people do not immediately believe her when she makes accusations against the new wife.

The film is told in flashback, as a documentary being made for television about the widow. This gives her the opportunity to show her aplomb in being a rich widow as well as the various stages of her gold-digging.

The film says at the end that the widow was acquitted of murder – but is facing a civil suit by the daughters.

1.Interesting television? Real-life case? Crime and scandals?

2.The Virginia settings, the rich mansion and land? The town? Church? The musical score?

3.The title, the focus on Linda, the explanation that she was a widow? The comment on the property, the horses, the wealth? Hank and his life? The flashbacks via the documentary being made for television about Linda? The case against her for murder?

4.The portrait of Linda: her explanation of herself, with her third husband, her poor background, the husband abandoning her on the motorbike, her seeing the mansion, training to be a nurse, being assigned to the Cavanaugh family? Her care for Felicia? Her comfort for Hank? Jenny and her suspicions? Her behaviour in the town, her kindness? Her meeting Ransom, Kevin and Rick? Going to church? Society and their response to her? Felicia’s death, the funeral? Jenny encountering Hank and Linda together, her disgust? Monica being more supportive?

5.Hank, recovering alcoholic, wealthy, pride in his family, love for his daughters? His dying wife and his care for her? Support from Linda? After the death, the funeral, courting, the announcement to his daughters, the wedding – and the request that they wait, going to another church?

6.Linda as a married woman, living up to expectations, the socials – and having to wear the fur coat because of her inappropriate dress? The socialite event, the chairs, telling Hank to get changed? Her getting all that she wanted?

7.The relationship with Kevin, at church, Rick finding them, her seductive behaviour with Rick, forcing him to silence? Ransom and his dislike of Linda?

8.Jenny, her studies, her drinking? Coming home for her mother, working in the shop? Suspicions of Linda? Trying to talk with Monica? The suspicions about her father’s death? Looking for the morphine? Talking with Rick and his confession? Her going to the authorities, the autopsy?

9.Rick, with Linda, his shame, attacking Kevin? His confession to Jenny? Kevin, exploitative?

10.Hank, hearing the rumours about Linda from his daughter, watching her and Kevin in church, the confrontation, his pride? His back, ill-health? The morphine? His death?

11.Linda, the accusation of murder? The television interview, the questions from the interviewer? Her assured manner? Being acquitted – and facing the civil case? Her training to be a minister – and the scenes in church and communion?

12.The film based on a Vanity Fair article, the popular kind of crime and wealth story?