***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.
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.