A Death in California is a 1985 American crime drama television miniseries directed by Delbert Mann and starring Cheryl Ladd, Sam Elliott, Alexis Smith, and Fritz Weaver. It follows a Beverly Hills socialite (Ladd) who experiences Stockholm syndrome over a psychotic killer (Elliott) after he murders her fiancé and then rapes and terrorizes her at a ranch in Tulare County, California. It is based on the 1981 book of the same name by Joan Barthel, which chronicled the real-life assault against Los Angeles socialite Hope Masters and the murder of her fiancé, Bill Ashlock, in 1973.
The series received some critical acclaim, and was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards.
Cast
Release A Death in California premiered in two parts, the first airing on ABC on May 12, 1985, followed by the second on May 13, 1985.
Home media The Warner Archive Collection released A Death in California on made-on-demand DVD on January 10, 2010.
Reception
Critical response Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times praised Ladd and Elliot's lead performances, concluding: "At four hours—A Death in California... is slightly padded. But the story, which gets off to a violent beginning, possesses an eerie fascination throughout and maintains suspense to its chilling finish." Judy Flander of the United Feature Syndicate was also impressed by the lead performances, writing that Ladd "combines fragility with a misguided inner strength for her role. Sam Elliott is surely one of the most mesmerizing screen villains in recent years."
Joe Meyers of the Connecticut Post praised Ladd's performance and described the first part of the miniseries as "harrowing." However, he felt Elliott was miscast in his role, and also criticized the second part of the miniseries, which he felt narratively "falls apart." The Baltimore Suns Bill Carter gave the film a mixed assessment, writing that Ladd "underplays throughout, almost to the point of bloodlessness. Elliott has it easier because he is mostly required to provide soulful mystery and unrelenting sex appeal. As a production, Death in California is not as taut as it should be, but overall as a psychological suspense story it works."
The Courier Journals Tom Dorsey wrote that "Ladd finally breaks out of the gilded Charlie's Angels cage with the same kind of acting job that freed Farrah Fawcett from that image in The Burning Bed," but felt that, despite the series' strong performances, it's "a Ripley's-Believe-It-or-Not scenario from the start."
Accolades Award/association Year Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Primetime Emmy Awards 1985 Outstanding Art Direction For A Limited Series Or A Special Outstanding Cinematography For A Limited Series Or A Special Joseph Biroc
References
External links