Blanche The Black Widow
As the title will suggest "Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story" is based on a true story that of Blanche Taylor Moore who was sentenced to the death penalty in 1991 for the murder of Raymond Reid. But Moore's story is not just about one murder as she tried to kill another and is suspected of having killed other men including her own father using arsenic to poison them.
Now "Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story" starts with Elizabeth Montgomery as Blanche talking directly to the camera against a black background in an interview style, it is an element used further on in the made for TV movie where other characters deliver their own interview style segment. But what follows after that is a fire at Blanche's home where she says a pervert started it, a scene which seems strange unless you realise that this is part of the true story. And that is part of this TV Movie's problem as it plays out in such a way that it is made for those who already know her story and are interested in seeing it dramatized.
What goes on after that takes us through various elements of her story from being sexually harassed by her boss to the carrying on with two men at the same time. Of course as this plays out we eventually see scenes of Blanche poisoning the men in her life such as Raymond Reid who when he is admitted to hospital she brings in poisoned food for him to eat. Whilst the rest of Moore's story is readily available I will leave it there other than to state the obvious, whch is the fact she is eventually caught.
Now all of this is okay as whilst it is not a great TV movie there is something interesting to discovering the motives of why she killed the men in her life. But of course "Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story" has one big issue and the title highlights this as there are not only other movies which feature Black Widow in the title but the theme of a killer wife is a common one. As such whilst this is based on a true story it actually plays out in quite a typical manner but with out the thrills which come from those movies which are a work of fiction.
As for the acting well to be honest "Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story" is all about Elizabeth Montgomery as Blanche Taylor Moore and she is the best thing about the movie. Whilst her characterisation is a full on one with a strong accent she doesn't camp it up too much which thankfully helps to keep the movie grounded rather than becoming a soap opera.
What this all boils down to is that "Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story" is what I call an interesting TV movie purely because it is based on a true story. But it is nothing special and is ultimately forgettable.
