Real Bad Moms: Movies Based on True Stories

Diane Downs was played by Farrah Fawcett in Small Sacrifices

Farrah played evil Diane Downs in “Small Sacrifices,” based on Anne Rule’s true crime book of the same name. Diane shot her three young children in order to start a new life with a man who did not want children. She attempted to place the blame for the foul deed on an unknown carjacker but two of the kids survived.

Farrah Fawcett previously succeeded in her bid to be regarded as a serious actress in an off-Broadway play named “Extremities” on the Broadway stage, playing a woman who turns the tables on her would-be rapist. In “The Burning Bed” (1984), Farrah played Francine Hughes, a woman who killed her abusive husband, Mickey, while he slept. Paul LeMat played Mickey and Grace Zabriskie played his rotten mother, Flossie.

The role isn’t exactly against type for Grace, a wonderful character actress, but she did such a great job, you didn’t wonder at all how the husband turned out so evil. The film was based on Faith McNulty’s book of the same name, subtitled “The True Story of Francine Hughes, a Woman Who Rebelled.”

Cate Blanchett played the title role in the Joel Schumacher film, Veronica Guerin (2003), about the murder of this real life Irish reporter. During the time she was attempting to expose criminal drug activity in Ireland, Veronica was threatened and shot in her home, and also received threats against her young son, which she ignored.

On one level, Cate’s not really playing against type since some still see Veronica Guerin as a dedicated hero. Others have, however, looked askance at her decision to continue reporting on dangerous criminals with full knowledge of the jeopardy she was putting herself and her child in. What price glory?

Irish criminal, John Gilligan was tried and acquitted for the murder and later stated that the hit on Guerin was arranged by John Traynor, her connection to the crime figures she wrote about.

Share

You may also like...

12 Responses

  1. VJ says:

    well, “Mommie Dearest” was a true story, Cece… not that I doubt there have been/are women as abusive as Precious’ mom in real life. Still, that Joan Crawford story was reprehensible to me (I read the book, too). Actress Helen Hayes said “they” knew (stars in Joan’s circle) she was mistreating those kids but they were afraid of Joan. Still, she said, she didn’t “hold” with those tell-all stories. So in other words, Crawford’s legacy was more important. Shameful. I wonder what Hayes would think of the Cosby mess.

    PS – Faye Dunaway’s portrayal of Crawford was as amazing as Meredith Baxter’s as Betty Broderick!

    • Cece says:

      Yeah, I know Precious is fictional and Mommie Dearest isn’t; I was just speaking in terms of watching dysfunctional moms on the screen. Although Joan Crawford was a despicable excuse for a mother I was able to sit through Mommie Dearest when I rented it. Now Precious, although I know to be fictitious, I just cannot watch it.

      Yes, it is shameful that Crawford got away with a lot. And this Hayes person would probably think that Cosby’s legacy needs to be protected too.

      • VJ says:

        There’s actually supposed to be two more pages to this article but I guess the next page function in this theme isn’t working. LOL.

        I’m looking to try a new theme out on here next week. If I don’t like it, I guess I’ll tackle fixing that.

        • Cece says:

          Good plan. :):)

          On another note (still regarding movies), yesterday we watched “Séraphine” again — about the artist Séraphine de Senlis. We saw it at the Theatres years ago. It’s simply stunning. Have you ever seen it?

        • VJ says:

          no, but thanks for the tip — I just looked it up on IMDB and they have it on there.

          Right now I am watching this comedy Walk of Shame LINK

        • Cece says:

          On its comedic merits, how do you rate it?
          (I haven’t seen it.)

        • VJ says:

          I guess about a 7 since I watched it to the end. I’m kind of notorious for not watching movies till the end. LOL. It was amusing.

  2. Cece says:

    Precious’mom makes “mommie dearest” seems angelic by comparison. Just watching the above clip made my solar plexus cramp up. I don’t know how anyone could/can sit through the whole movie.