Verführung zum Mord

I was a sophomore in the Jefferson High School where this happened and even played on the tennis team for the school with Doug. I was also on the school's swim team with Chuck and had the opportunity to meet his dad many times and swim meets and at a swimming party one weekend. I was also in study hall which Mrs. B was an aide, and I remember she moved Josh to the front row that year to sit right next to her desk. She was always so nice to him. It is very sad to see what happened and everything is pretty much true, just like the user above commented on. I remember sitting in class on lock down when they came in to arrest her.

I'm not usually one to watch many Lifetime movies. My wife frequents the channel, though and sometimes only through boredom in it's purest form, will I watch a Lifetime movie with her.

But I must say that I thouroughly enjoyed this movie. I'm not the sentimental type by any means, but even I could not hold back tears as Ruben is shot as he's coming up the basement steps, thinking the person coming down is his son (it's actually the killers), saying, "I thought I was gonna have to drag you out of bed at this time of night."

Diane got away with the crime for about six months, then one of the boys cracks and shoots his mouth off to the wrong person, who then out of guilt, feels compelled to go to the cops, who felt that Diane was involved from the get-go.

The funeral scene is the most disturbing scene to sit through. Where Diane put's on a grief show, crying over Ruben's corpse. Then she runs out of the chapel, and into the bathroom wipes the crocodile tears, and puts on lipstick and smiles, What a b!tch!

I remember reading this story in the newspaper back in 1994 when it happened.

I like the picture so much I had to record it.

I have lived less than 10 miles from Jefferson all my life,much of my family lives there. This story hit very close to home. I remember listening to the hearings on the radio. Also before all this happened I used to hang out with Shannon at the dance club Jefferson used to have. When I saw the movie I had to laugh at the ways they portrayed some of the settings because I knew what they were supposed to be and they looked nothing like the real thing. To think something like this could happen like this in such a small town is just unbelievable! I would like to see it again(I haven't seen it in years)just because the actors did such a good job portraying down to earth small town people.

After losing his wife in a tragic car accident, a father by the name of "Ruben Borchardt" (Peter Coyote) marries a woman named "Diane Kay Borchardt" (Ann-Margaret) with the hope that she can help him raise his two children "Brook Borchardt" (Hedy Burress) and "Chuck Borchardt" (Tobey Maguire). During this time, Diane becomes pregnant and gives birth to another child they name "Regan Borchardt" (Veronica Lauren). Unfortunately, not long after giving birth to Regan, Diane becomes quite hostile to Ruben's children by his first wife and begins to despise him in the process as well. So much so that, Ruben eventually finds the love and affection he needs in the arms of another woman named "Claire Brown" (Leslie Hope). Unable to hide his love for her any longer, Ruben subsequently asks Diane for a divorce--and that's when things really begin to spiral out-of-control. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that, not only was this movie based on a true story, but it also bore a remarkable similarity to another event that happened just a few years earlier involving a married woman named Pamela Smart who likewise manipulated high school students to murder her husband as well. Interestingly enough, a good film was also produced about that incident under the title of "Murder in New Hampshire-the Pamela Smart Story" starring Helen Hunt and Hank Stratton. On a side note, I should also mention that another film titled "To Die For" starring Nicole Kidman was also somewhat related to the Pamela Smart story but was presented more as a dark comedy with little regard for historical accuracy. But I digress. In any case, what really impressed me about this particular film was the outstanding performances of Peter Coyote, Ann-Margret and, to a lesser degree Tobey Maguire, as all three totally owned their roles. Admittedly, being a two-part miniseries, the film runs a bit long (200 minutes) but, even so, I still found it worth the time spent, and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.

Extremely well-directed and acted true-life chronicle of Diane Borchardt, a Wisconsin high school teacher who charmed some of her students into carrying out the murder of her husband. Originally shown in two parts on television, the film has the production values of a theatrical feature, and Ann-Margret is nothing short of riveting in the lead. Abandoning her kittenish persona (and all traces of a sympathetic good nature), Ann-Margret is nothing short of chilling in her portrayal of Mrs. B., a cunning and calculating monster. The younger players are also very good and the film is gripping if extremely unpleasant. Difficult as an entertainment, it is still a strong achievement, which is a testament to the talents of director John Patterson and writer Carmen Culver.