Product Description

"A jury acquitted Lizzie. In a crime novel, someone would say, 'the killer is still loose out there somewhere!'

Okay, which killer? And where?"
-Author Ed McBain on Lizzie Borden

Lizzie Borden took an axe,
and gave her mother 40 whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
she gave her father 41.

Or so goes the nursery rhyme. But a hundred years later how many people know the real story of Lizzie Borden? Guilty in the minds of many, Lizzie was tried, but never convicted of the gruesome hatchet murders of Abby and Andrew Borden.

It is a fascinating murder-mystery, reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel. Once we reopen the Lizzie Borden case, the nursery rhyme may no longer sound as convincing, especially when we hear the shocking "solution" to the case, posed by one of our best-known crime fiction writers, Ed McBain.

A brave new genre in storytelling, Case Reopened fuses history, mystery and scientific research by enlisting the greatest minds in crime fiction to re-examine some of our most notorious unsolved crimes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17478 in VHS
• Released on: 1999-10-10
• Formats: Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 47 minutes

Customer Reviews

Sick and Twisted But True
Very interesting program. What makes this so interesting, is the fact that a list of things point to Lizzie (well lets say more things point to her, than anyone else) However, there is in most of our minds, some doubt in her actions, and the strange actions of several other people. If I had been on the Jury, and we used the science of 1892-3 I would have thought (after reading the 1970 page trial) She had the best chance and the closest motive for being the murderer. However, with the evidence presented at the trial, even though I think she did it, my verdict would have to be - not guilty. However, lets look at the positive side. The Borden Murder has made lots of people money and even helped out lots of animals due to Lizzie and Emma's will....... The truth is you can rant and rave all you want, and you can disagree with this video.... But what makes it so interesting, is since 1892, and my guess well into 2192, is all the "missing pieces, & all the if's, and's, & but's" - It's the mystery, and the debate we love so much. Not the fact that two humans were killed.

Lizzie: GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY! No matter how you slice it.
Being a history/unsolved crime buff--this was an entertaining and interesting program. However, attempts to make Lizzie appear innocent--laughable! PUH-LEEZ! The "O.J." of her day when "women just didn't do such things"---in today's 'real' world, she'd hang! Motive, means, opportunity and a virtual MOUNTAIN of evidence: to date, only Lizzie & OJ have been acquitted with as much. Enjoyable program nonetheless. LOVE McBain's books, too!!! ALL of them I HIGHLY recommend!

For a history junkie
The story of Lizzie Borden and what went on in her house more than 100 years ago is a fascinating one. But this documentary is the best I've seen. While other documentaries spend a lot of time going over the very gruesome deaths of Lizzie's step-mother and father, Mr. McCain sets out for answers. So he interviews authors and historians about the case and about Lizzie's life. The result is wonderful. I still don't know who killed the two people, but let's face it, no one does. It's great to get some fresh insights into other people that could have done the dastardly deeds. Highly recommended!