HELL HATH NO FURY
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| Loretta Swit |
HELL HATH NO FURY (1991 telefilm). Director: Thomas J. Wright.
Terri Ferguson (Barbara Eden of Dead Man's Island) has a happy marriage to furniture store owner Stanley (David Ackroyd). One afternoon Stanley is murdered by an old girlfriend, Connie (Loretta Swit), who has been obsessed with him since college. Not only does Terri have to deal with the loss of a man she loved, but she discovers they were practically broke, their daughter (Amanda Peterson) far preferred her father over her mother, and now the police are zeroing in on her as the primary suspect. Meanwhile Connie changes her appearance and befriends Terri, who has no idea that this is the woman who ruined her life ...
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| Barbara Eden |
Hell Hath No Fury is an absorbing telefilm, although it never becomes the nail-biter it could have been. Loretta Swit offers the best performance as Connie, who improbably manages to hide her demented state a bit too well. Barbara Eden has been offered a terrific role in this -- better than psycho-Swit's, in fact -- but while she's competent, she simply hasn't the acting chops to really make the most of this opportunity. Amanda Peterson is adequate as Michelle, but Conor O'Farrell offers a flavorful if obvious performance as a young detective who is smugly convinced of Terri's guilt. Richard Kline and Kim Zimmer are fine as close friends of Terri's who try to help her through her ordeal and wind up paying a terrible price. William Lucking plays an older cop, and Natalie Core has a strong moment or two as Connie's very distraught mother.
Verdict: Entertaining "psycho-bitch" movie with some exciting moments. **3/4.
Used to love love love this genre...Barbara Eden was queen of the movie of the week back in the day, before Donna Mills inherited the crown. I remember this one well, Swit totally steals the film from Eden with her intense performance as you note. I met Barbara Eden once and she was as sweet and “Jeannie” as you would ever want her to be...not a great actress but a feel good personality that women could relate to.
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That's why she was so successful on TV -- she was attractive, but not threateningly so, and she gave good performances within her limited range. One of those stars you can't help but like. I enjoyed her on "Dallas" as well trading barbs with J. R. And we mustn't forget the "Country Club Dance" episode on "Lucy" in which she was utterly charming dancing with all the men while Lucy and the other ladies pouted.
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