On the evening of october 8, 1984, over onethird of all american television sets were turned to nbc for the premiere of the burning bed, starring farrah fawcett and. The husband didnt just stomp her head, he stabbed her multiple times and left her partly paralyzed. Francine hughes wilson, 69, domestic violence victim who took. Unlike last years big frat hazing drama, this years entry to the quicklygrowing genre is a complete work of fiction. In the realm of men, women and rape, still regarded as the definitive study of rape as an act of violence, the burning. The burning bed is the true story of francine hughes who killed her abusive exhusband, mickey, after enduring over a dozen years of emotional, financial and physical abuse. But thats neither here nor there, and the burning bed is neither musical nor romance. On october 8, 1984, the burning bed premiered on nbc. At trial, hughes was found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity in one of the first cases. Farrah fawcett earned emmy and golden globe nominations for her portrayal of francine hughes in the television movie the burning bed.
The movie the burning bed is based upon a book of the same title written by faith mcnutly, which is the true story of battered housewife francine hughes, who set fire to her sleeping husband. Having adapted the book into a madefortelevision movie, goldembergs screenplay, the burning bed, premiered on nbc on october 8, 1984. Her case, which was the subject of the burning bed, a book and a television movie, helped transform the publics understanding of domestic. The burning bed dvd is a dramatic roller coaster and fawcett delivers a magnificent performance. The burning bed told the story of francine hughes, a local woman who, seven years earlier, had been acquitted of murder after she poured gasoline around her sleeping ex. The house that served as the hughes home is no longer there. So, the fact that the police dont help the woman and her family does not support her and how unrealistic it all seems only adds to the impact of the. Ive been a fan of the movie for many years and pleasantly surprised that the movie was true to the book a horrific story of what it was like years ago for. The movie the burning bed was based on her story she was the victim of years of domestic violence who killed her husband by setting the bed on fire. Faith mcnulty published francines story in the book of the same name in the early 80s, well worth a read, tho be prepared, its an. The wooden nickel, a local bar with huge wet burritos and cold beer, is the closest place to that. August 17, 1947 march 22, 2017 was an american woman who, after years of domestic abuse, set fire to the bed of her livein exhusband mickey hughes, on march 9, 1977. They gathered there in 1984 to watch the madefortelevision movie called the burning bed.
Akin to burning bed, fawcett rings in an absolute superb performance as she realistically and accurately portrays the sociopath known as diane downs. So, the fact that the police dont help the woman and her family does not support her and how unrealistic it all seems only adds to the impact of the story since it is true. Francine hughes wilson, abused michigan wife who inspired. When the film debuted in 1984, a upi story quoted wilsons attorney, aryon greydanus of michigan, as saying he did not agree of the films. Everywhere she turns for help, theres not much anyone will do. It became a cause celebre when the burning bed, a 1980 book by the new yorker writer faith mcnulty, was made into a television movie with the same title in 1984, with farrah fawcett as francine and paul le mat as mickey. The film is structured as a series of flashbacks while. Fawcett garnered an emmy nomination for role in this acclaimed television adaptation of a true story. Recounts the tragic story of francine hughes, a battered wife who in desperation murdered her abusive husband, detailing their marriage, the deterioration of their relationship, the murder, and the trial that followed. The movie starring farrah fawcett the burning bed was about the horrific struggles that she endured as a battered woman that left her in such mental distress and fear that she, by temporary.
With farrah fawcett, paul le mat, richard masur, grace zabriskie. Francine hughes wilson, who inspired the burning bed. Its a madefortv, true life horror story that brought the subject of abuse to american living rooms in a way that cant be remembered without being applauded. For more than 12 years, francine hughes endured physical abuse at the hands of her husband james mickey hughes. On march 9, 1977, in her home in lansing, michigan, francine hughes poured gas around her exhusbands bed and lit it on fire. The case, widely reported, helped transform the publics understanding of domestic violence.
The burning bed 1984 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. A 1984 madefortv movie starring the late farrah fawcett as a battered wife who kills her husband, played by paul le mat. Francine hughes life story reads like a nightmare, and the book based on her ordeal, faith mcnultys the burning bed, is as much horror story as true crime reportage. Mcnulty begins with the crimethe 1977 arson murder, in a small michigan town, of mickey hughes by wife francine, mother of fourand then flashes back to reconstruct francines entire life. Burning bed evokes strong response the washington post. Not sure what year, but i think the late 70searly 80s. Yet, this story was one of the firsts of its kind and not to mention the best. Fawcett gives one of her most powerful performances ever in the burning bed dvd. Francine hughes wilson, whose burning bed became a tv film. Francine hughes killed her abusive husbandand changed u. The movie carefully plots the turn of events without over dramatizing. Is the movie the burning bed based on a true story answers.
Francine hughes wilson, abused michigan wife who inspired the. An abused battered wife has had enough of husband beating up on her. The true story of an abused wife from the worlds largest community of readers. Thousands saw the 1984 nbctv movie, based on a 1980 book by. Cbs fox video a michigan mother of three and battered wife sets fire to a gasolinesoaked bedroom where her exhusband is sleeping. That evening, nbc aired the burning bed, a madefortv movie based on the true story of an abused wife who killed her husband by setting fire to. After more than a dozen years of being abused, francine hughes of dansville set fire to her home on march 9, 1977, killing her exhusband, james mickey hughes. The film is an adaptation of the book by the same name, written by faith mcnulty the book is based on the true story of francine hughes and her killing of her abusive husband after over a decade of extensive domestic abuse at his hands.
The movie, we must remember, is based on a true story that took place in a completely different time and place than we know now. Francine hughes wilson, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity after setting her abusive exhusband on fire as he slept in 1977, a homicide. After more than a dozen years of being abused, francine hughes of dansville set fire to her home on march 9, 1977, killing her exhusband, james \u0022mickey\u0022 hughes. The tvmovie starring farrah fawcett and based on faith mcnultys 1980 book portrayed the true story of domestic violence survivor, francine hughes. A cry for help the tracey thurman story lifetime movie dvd based on a true story. I speak spanish and shouldve noticed the incorrect translation of the title the burning bed, for maltratada. Tracey thurman nancy mckeon leaves her abusive marriage entertainment movie in the 1989 movie, a cry for help. Download the burning bed movie online free lifetime. The burning bed is both a 1980 nonfiction book by faith mcnulty about battered housewife. Farrah fawcett, paul lemat, penelope milford, richard masur. The violence she imparts upon her husband gives her. Directed by robert greenwald, the film starred farrah fawcett as francine hughes and paul le mat as mickey hughes. Fawcett garnered accolades for her performance as the battered wife who couldnt take it anymore. Francine hughes wilson, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity after setting her abusive exhusband on fire as he slept in 1977, a homicide dramatized in the tv movie the burning bed that directed national attention toward domestic violence, died march 22 in sheffield, ala.
Based on a true story, although some of the names are fictitious and some of the events have been condensed for dramatic purposes, the burning bed is clearly this seasons major exercise in. The dignity the cast and director were able to conjure for this sad story is far better than television deserves. Directed by robert greenwald, the film starred farrah fawcett as francine hughes and. Watching her harrowing plight, the public perspective of domestic violence was forever altered. The events in the film are real, though certainly dramatized. Both that movie and the burning bed were based on true stories. Hughes story was made into a book and a subsequent film in 1984 titled the burning bed starring.
The burning bed the 1984 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. For the best experience please update your browser. Francine hughes wilson, 69, domestic violence victim who. August 17, 1947 march 22, 2017 was an american woman who, after years of domestic abuse, set fire to the bed of her livein exhusband mickey hughes, on march 9, 1977, in dansville, michigan. The burning bed 1984 dvd represents a true story with the brutal honesty of a home where domestic violence occurs. The burning bed 1984 francine hughes farrah fawcett suffers the abuse of her husband, mickey paul le mat, for almost a decade because she cannot find any help. Abused wives, marital violence, biography, wife abuse, true crime. The 1984 nbc telepic with farrah fawcett probably got more attention than faith mcnultys book on which it was inspired.
Burning bed a turning point in fight against domestic. Francine hughes wilson, whose burning bed became a tv. For more than 12 years, francine hughes endured physical abuse at the hands of her husband, james mickey hughes. As a child, francine moran watched her alcoholic father abuse her mother. Mickey was killed and the house destroyed in the resulting fire. This movie brings out into the open the realization of.
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