Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story

I believe this movie could have been better in some ways. It should have included more background and greater detail of Blanche Taylor Moore's childhood. It would have helped us to understand more about her motives. After watching the movie on tv, I was intrigued enough to read the book. It helped fill in some of the missing pieces. I watch the movie every time I can catch it on tv, and the reason for that is Elizabeth Montgomery. I think this movie is worth watching just for her performance. She just drips sweetness and southern charm, flirts like it is second nature, and has attitude. I think she probably comes pretty close to capturing the essence of the real Blanche Taylor. You should hear some of the lines she uses on the men...You can really see her as the black widow catching her prey! I've got to say it is priceless when she says "I cannot wait for my head to hit your pillow so I can feel the comfort of your arms." What more can you ask for from a television movie?

I haven't seen the movie but was a medical resident who helped take care of one of the real killer's victims back in the 1980's. I don't know exactly how old Blanche Taylor Moore was at the time but she looked to be at least solidly in her 50's. So Elizabeth Montgomery was not at all too old for the part. Ms. Moore was well-known to all of the physicians and nurses. She often showed up to spend time with her husband in his hospital room, feeding him, etc. Of course, only later did everyone realize she was feeding him arsenic. Some time after his death she remarried. Her new husband then presented in the emergency room with severe leg pain and weakness and was found to be suffering from arsenic poisoning. That began the unraveling of everything else, as Ms. Moore's previous husbands and father were excavated for heavy metal testing.

I just happen to have read the book this was based on, and there's a lot missing. It could have been a mini-series, and suffers at just barely over 90 minutes. Elizabeth Montgomery is okay as Blanche -- the woman was not really any deeper than EM portrays her. If anything, she didn't have that even that much depth. She was, apparently, a rather mindless and conscience-less murderer with obvious motives. She was not as an intellectual character (as you find in novels about killers). The main fault with EM playing her is that he is just a little bit too old for the part (being 60 at the time). In any case, because of the length of the film and the lackluster performances by the others in the film, what could have been a good character study becomes rather pedestrian -- just another TV movie. The fact that it is, indeed, based on a true story doesn't make it any more special. It is just well enough done to hold your interest -- an okay time-killer -- worth only one viewing.

I saw this TV movie years ago, but the story didn't really stick with me.

Recently i have watched this movie again

In terms of acting, Montgomery steals the show here with the way she manages to portray this mentally disturbed character.

She does this very well

She knows how to fool almost everyone into her true character and is a master at manipulating the people around her.

The only unbelievable thing in the story is the blind adoration that her lovers seem to have for her because in terms of sex appeal she looks very average (especially considering her age) but occasionally it is pretended that she is Miss Universe.

Haven't seen the movie but my father worked with Raymond Reid and told me about the story. He's seen the movie and says that the actor playing Reid looks very much like him. He met Blanch a few times and knew the store manager she got fired. Apparently he sent her downstairs from his office to retrieve some paperwork and when she returned, he was nude. She grabbed his pants and ran out of the office! Apparently she had quite a way with men, as this type of woman usually does.

I'm looking for the movie to watch it but not having any luck.

If anyone knows where it can be found, I'd appreciate knowing.