Murder in Texas

In the spring of 1972 I, at age 24, had just moved to Houston, Texas, and soon the city was absorbed by the mystery of Dr. John Hill's death. Two of my friends were patients of the physician in partnership with Doctor Hill, so they felt they knew Dr. Hill personally and that he never could harm anyone. I too worked in the medical field, and on my Wednesday afternoons off I would drive north on Kirby Drive and through the scenic River Oaks Neighborhood, all the while thinking the neighborhood must be like heaven on earth. I do recall the two-story white mansion with the black horse head hitching post out front, and I soon learned it had been the home of Dr. John and Joan Robinson Hill, the supposed victims in two separate murders. The hitching post remained as Joan's personal touch on the property since she had loved horses all her life.

From the beginning the story of Joan Robinson had been shrouded in mystery. Her adopted mother, Mrs. Robinson, told the story of how the Robinsons had adopted Joan from the Edna Gladney Home, an orphanage shown in the Greer Garson film, "Blossoms in the Dust." Other people circulated the rumor that Joan was the result of an affair Ash Robinson had had with his secretary and that Mrs. Robinson was agreeable to covering her husband's indiscretions and bringing up Joan as their "adopted" child. The Robinsons worshiped Joan, an accomplished equestrienne who appeared with her horse, Beloved Belinda, in the annual Pin Oak Stables Horse Show in Houston.

Dr. Hill supposedly was from a strict Baptist family of modest means in McAllen in South Texas, and he was impressed with the opportunity to study and practice medicine in Houston. The Robinsons, glad to have a promising young medical student marry Joan, agreed to put Hill through medical school. Eventually Dr. Hill founded the Sharpstown Hospital in a Houston suburb, and it was to this hospital that Joan Robinson Hill finally was taken. Such was the quaint, fairy-tale world of 1950s-1970s Houston, and the stage was set for the drama and mystery about to unfold.

I read Thompson's Book, "Blood and Money," and I believe the film was true to the book. Thompson's account left everyone speculating about what really had happened and what everyone's motives were. I personally believe the portrayals by Sam Elliott, Farrah Fawcett, Andy Griffith, and Katherine Ross were excellent. I would recommend the Kurth and Thompson books on the subject, and I would love to find a DVD version of "Murder in Texas" so that I could share this great film with my friends.

This movie was well-acted, notably Farrah Fawcett finally getting a positive review. She has been a highly underrated actress. I live five minutes from River Oaks, so I know the houses (Ash Robinson's renovated house is my favorite in River Oaks).

The downside. I've read both Ann Kurth's and Thomas Thompson's books. Ann Kurth's deserves a huge eyeroll. In her mind she was this clueless, naive, divorcée who suffered because she loved too much. Uh, in Houston, we call women like her homewreckers and a few other choice words. The ending as said above is just preposterous, and I can't believe she put that in her book. It loses all credibility. First of all, the autopsy on John Hill is indisputable that it is him. Secondly, let's defy logic and reality and suppose that John Hill did make it to Mexico, WHY would he call his ex-wife and play his piano concertos? He's trying to start over again unnoticed and incognito. So after Ann's ending, you just have to wonder how much other BS she's written in her novella.

Thompson's book is engrossing, in depth, and the movie should have been based on this.

I believe that John Hill was involved in his wife's death. Anyone in Houston would wonder why would he take his wife to Sharpstown Hospital when they live in River Oaks, where the med center is only ten minutes away? That to me was extremely suspicious. And really, why would he wait so long to finally get her to the hospital?

This is an intriguing note in Houston's history.

This is one of my favorite movies. Sam Elliott played such a wonderful part in it. He looks so sinister, secretive and pensive all the time. He was perfect for the part. I moved here from Houston. I used to drive past the house that this all took place in (San Felipe and Westheimer). Every time I drove by it, I would think of the movie. Anyone know where I could buy it?

I haven't seen this film in its entirety and don't intend to comment on it as entertainment -- but as "docudrama," it comes from a highly biased source. The book "Prescription: Murder" was written by Ann Kurth, a major "character" in the story. Her account is, not surprisingly, rather subjective. It's unlikely that the "whole truth" about the murders depicted in this movie will ever be known, but I would strongly recommend Thomas Thompson's "Blood and Money" as a more objective account of these events (and as a very good "read" on its own merits). BTW, Kurth sued Thompson for defamation regarding his portrayal of her in "Blood and Money"; she lost.

It has taken me years to get a good copy of this film. Bring made for TV doesn't help.

Try to find it if you can. It's an extremely well acted film with some stellar cast members who do a great job.

San Elliott, Kathleen Ross, Farah Fawcett, and Andy Griffith, to name a few. This is a role for Andy Griffith that really shows his flexibility as an actor. It's so far from the comic personality most people remember him for.

Watch it. Enjoy it. And be impressed.

(If you can find it)