Posted on 07/02/2009 12:44:22 PM PDT by JoeProBono
One of Farrah Fawcett’s most poignant and outstanding films was "The Burning Bed." This film about spouse abuse brought increased attention to domestic violence and remains part of Fawcett's legacy.
According to one writer who has recently examined the issue of domestic violence in relationship to the film The Burning Bed, Fawcett’s portrayal of the abused spouse made a decided contribution to public awareness and understanding of the problem. Fawcett introduced the notion of the film to director Robert Greenwald.
The film was based on the true story of Francine Hughes in a story written by Faith McNulty called The Burning Bed. The story depicts Hughes’ experiences as an abused spouse, which ended when she set fire to her husband’s bed as he was sleeping. After that she took her children, then went to the police station where she made a full confession. During her trial she was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
To play this role, Fawcett had to surrender her glamorous image in order to portray the woman who was bruised and beaten and whose wounds were physically evident. According to the Examiner, Fawcett’s portrayal of Hughes was so gripping “the case truly became woven in the fabric of American culture.”
The Burning Bed brought recognition to Fawcett’s acting while at the same time it made domestic abuse particularly poignant and believable, according to the critics. One film critic made the following observation about the movie: “
Director Robert Greenwald hits us with a painful and disarming portrait of the results of family violence. But Fawcett is shattering! She manages to project her character not only as someone to be pitied and as someone truly desperate but who, somewhere in all the demoralizing inflicted over 10 years, finds some courage within to end her vicitimization, even at the risk of a death sentence. And Fawcett's acting when her character takes the stand in her own defense is nothing less than riveting!”
Where’s the Brokeback version about the woman who finds herself in a physically abusive same sex relation?
There are women who are surprised to realize that female lovers will beat them up as well.
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PS. The caller in Lawrence v. Texas was a lover of one of the two men. He had a case pending of physical assault by his lover. He was murdered before it came to trial. The murder case is still unsolved and apparently because of the high profile nature of the other two men (politically charged and all that) little regard for investigating possible suspects.
Did you have to spoil it with mentioning Ayn Rand?
Farrah was indeed absolutely brilliant in that movie.
I would add that movies are often made by the “bad guy” in the movie, the one you love to hate who gets it in the end. Paul LeMat, as her husband was excellentas the alcoholic abuser. God I hated that character. Much like Scott Glenn in Urban Cowboy.
NO, you’re not supposed to THINK or know that.
Shame on you.
;)
I’ve always thought that murder is a good solution to my problems.
That movie made a big impression on me, because it reminded me of all the attractive women who would dismiss a man as a “nice guy”, then go choose someone who would beat her regularly.
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