The Burning Bed
Encyclopedia
The Burning Bed is a non-fiction
book by Faith McNulty
about battered Dansville, Michigan
, housewife
Francine Hughes
. It was adapted to a film with screenplay by Rose Leiman Goldemberg. After thirteen years of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, James Berlin ("Mickey") Hughes, she set fire to the bed he was sleeping in on March 9, 1977. Mickey Hughes was killed and the house destroyed in the resulting inferno.
poured around the bed Mickey Hughes was sleeping in. After the house had caught fire, Hughes drove with her three children to the local police station in order to confess.
Hughes was tried in Lansing, Michigan
, and found by a jury of her peers to be not guilty by reason of temporary insanity.
Having turned the book into a made-for-television movie, Goldemberg's screenplay, "The Burning Bed", premiered on NBC on October 8, 1984. The movie, directed by Robert Greenwald
, starred Farrah Fawcett
as Francine Hughes
and Paul LeMat as Mickey Hughes.
The movie was filmed in Rosharon, Texas
. The house that served as the house of Farrah Fawcett's character still stands today.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book by Faith McNulty
Faith McNulty
Faith McNulty was an American non-fiction author, probably best-known for her 1980 book The Burning Bed. She was born "Faith Corrigan" in New York City, the daughter of a judge. Young Faith attended Barnard College for one year, then attended Rhode Island State College...
about battered Dansville, Michigan
Dansville, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 429 people, 142 households, and 111 families residing in the village. The population density was 429.0 per square mile . There were 148 housing units at an average density of 148.0 per square mile...
, housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...
Francine Hughes
Francine Hughes
Francine Hughes was a battered wife who, after thirteen years of domestic abuse, set her husband aflame while he slept on March 9, 1977. James Hughes was killed and the house destroyed in the resulting inferno....
. It was adapted to a film with screenplay by Rose Leiman Goldemberg. After thirteen years of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband, James Berlin ("Mickey") Hughes, she set fire to the bed he was sleeping in on March 9, 1977. Mickey Hughes was killed and the house destroyed in the resulting inferno.
Plot
On the night of the fire, Hughes told her children to put their coats on and wait for her in the car. She then started the fire with gasolineGasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
poured around the bed Mickey Hughes was sleeping in. After the house had caught fire, Hughes drove with her three children to the local police station in order to confess.
Hughes was tried in Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, and found by a jury of her peers to be not guilty by reason of temporary insanity.
Having turned the book into a made-for-television movie, Goldemberg's screenplay, "The Burning Bed", premiered on NBC on October 8, 1984. The movie, directed by Robert Greenwald
Robert Greenwald
Robert Greenwald is an American film director, film producer, and political activist.-Early life:Greenwald was born and raised in New York City, the son of Ruth and Harold Greenwald. He attended the city's High School of Performing Arts...
, starred Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976...
as Francine Hughes
Francine Hughes
Francine Hughes was a battered wife who, after thirteen years of domestic abuse, set her husband aflame while he slept on March 9, 1977. James Hughes was killed and the house destroyed in the resulting inferno....
and Paul LeMat as Mickey Hughes.
The movie was filmed in Rosharon, Texas
Rosharon, Texas
Rosharon, also known as "Buttermilk Station," is an unincorporated area in Brazoria County, Texas at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 521 and Farm to Market Road 1462.- History :...
. The house that served as the house of Farrah Fawcett's character still stands today.
Cast
- Farrah FawcettFarrah FawcettFarrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976...
as Francine Hughes - Paul Le MatPaul Le MatPaul Le Mat is an American actor who first came to prominence in the 1973 film American Graffiti, which won him the Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actor.-Life:...
as James Berlin "Mickey" Hughes - Richard MasurRichard MasurRichard Masur is an American actor who has appeared in more than 80 movies during his career. From 1995-1999, he served two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild . Masur sits on the Corporate Board of the Motion Picture & Television Fund.-Biography:Masur was born in New York City to a...
as Aryon Greydanus - Grace ZabriskieGrace ZabriskieGrace Zabriskie is an American actress. She has appeared in many popular American films but, she is best known for her work in television. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the television series Twin Peaks, Seinfeld, and Big Love.-Early life:Zabriskie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana...
as Flossie Hughes - Penelope Milford as Gaby
- Christa Denton as Christy Hughes, age 12
- James T.Callahan as Berlin Hughes
- Gary GrubbsGary GrubbsGary Grubbs is an American actor.Grubbs has several film and television credits to his name, including his portrayal of attorney Al Oser in Oliver Stone's JFK....
as District Attorney - David Friedman as Jimmy Hughes, age 10
- David Andrews as Wimpy Hughes
- Dixie K. Wade as Hazel Moran
- Heather Rich as Christy age 6
- Justin Gocke as Jimmy age 4
- Elizabeth Lyn Fraser as Nicole Hughes
- Jeremy Ross as Judge Hotchkiss
External links
- Lansing State Journal - Unmasking the Violence http://www.LSJ.com/burningbed