History UsefulNotes / LizzieBorden

* 2013's ''Lizzie Borden's Revenge'', another low-budget slasher set in the present day, features Lizzie's ghost tormenting a sorority.

* ''The Legend of Lizzie Borden'', a 1975 MadeForTVMovie in which Lizzie is played by Creator/ElizabethMontgomery. It's most famous for positing that she committed the murders [[FullFrontalAssault in the nude]], explaining why no bloody clothing was found[[note]]There is some indication the actual Borden burned some of her clothing, which might have borne bloodstains.[[/note]] and [[SexSells presumably drawing in more viewers]]. This detail would also feature in many later adaptations of the story. Incidentally, Elizabeth Montgomery and Lizzie Borden are sixth cousins once removed.

* There's a rock musical called ''{{Theatre/Lizzie}}'' which features an all-female cast -- Lizzie, her sister Emma, the housekeeper Bridget (nicknamed "Maggie"), and the neighbor, Alice. Here, Lizzie is portrayed as a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds; she's a closeted lesbian in a world that will never accept that, more than a little mentally unstable, and is being sexually abused by her father, to boot.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Appears among the Jury of the Damned in ''[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E5TreehouseOfHorrorIV Treehouse Of Horror IV]]'' to judge the Devil obtaining Homer's soul for a donut.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'' makes reference to [[ThoseTwoGuys #21 and #24]] having [[SeinfeldianConversation an argument]] over who would win in a fight between Lizzie Borden and Helen Keller.

For what it's worth, neither Lizzie, nor Emma, ever committed another crime on that level. After the trial, she and her sister moved in together and Lizzie became close to the theater scene. Thanks to their substantial inheritance, Lizzie, now going by Lizbeth, would frequently patron various actresses. This, plus the fact the neither sister ever married, led some scholars to believe both were lesbians, though there was never any [[AmbiguouslyGay solid evidence of that.]] Sadly, in 1905 the two had a falling out during a party Lizzie threw for actress Nance O'Neil and Emma moved away, never to see her sister again. In 1927, both sisters died, only nine days apart.

* ''The Legend of Lizzie Borden'', a 1975 MadeForTVMovie in which Lizzie is played by Creator/ElizabethMontgomery. It's most famous for positing that she committed the murders [[FullFrontalAssault in the nude]], explaining why no bloody clothing was found and [[SexSells presumably drawing in more viewers]]. This detail would also feature in many later adaptations of the story. Incidentally, Elizabeth Montgomery and Lizzie Borden are sixth cousins once removed.[[note]]There is some indication the actual Borden burned some of her clothing, which might have born bloodstains.[[/note]]

* Lizzie Borden is among the wax figures in ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "Head-Hunters". [[spoiler: Ironically, she wasn't the one to attempt ax-murder.]]

* Her compact mirror shows up in ''Series/Warehouse13''. It's an ArtifactOfDoom that forces whoever looks into it to murder their loved ones with an axe that [[Hammerspace appears out of nowhere]] while also reciting the rhyme of what Lizzie did.

For what it's worth, neither Lizzie, nor Emma, ever committed another crime on that level. After the trial, she and her sister moved in together and Lizzie became close to the theater scene. Thanks to their substantial inheritance, Lizzie, now going by Lizbeth, would frequently patron various actresses. This, plus the fact the neither sister ever married, led some scholars to believe both were lesbians, though there was never any [[AmbiguouslyGay solid evidence of that.]] Sadly, in 1905 the two had a falling out during a party Lizzie threw for actress Nance O'Neil and Emma moved away, never to see her sister again. In 1927 both sisters died, only nine days apart.

For what it's worth, nether Lizzie, nor Emma, ever committed another crime on that level. After the trial, she and her sister moved in together and Lizzie became close to the theater scene. Thanks to their substantial inheritance, Lizzie, now going by Lizbeth, would frequently patron various actresses. This, plus the fact the neither sister ever married, led some scholars to believe both were lesbians, though there was never any [[AmbiguouslyGay solid evidence of that.]] Sadly, in 1905 the two had a falling out during a party Lizzie threw for actress Nance O'Neil and Emma moved away, never to see her sister again. In 1927 both sisters died, only nine days apart.

For what it's worth nether Lizzie, nor Emma, ever committed another crime on that level. After the trial, she and her sister moved in together and Lizzie became close to the theater scene. Thanks to their substantial inheritance, Lizzie, now going by Lizbeth, would frequently patron various actresses. This, plus the fact the neither sister ever married, led some scholars to believe both were lesbians, though there was never any [[AmbiguouslyGay solid evidence of that.]] Sadly, in 1905 the two had a falling out during a party Lizzie threw for actress Nance O'Neil and Emma moved away, never to see her sister again. In 1927 both sisters died, only nine days apart.

For what it's worth nether Lizzie, nor Emma, ever committed another crime on that level. After the trial she and her sister moved in together and Lizzie became close to the theater scene. Thanks to their substantial inheritance Lizzie, now going by Lizbeth, would frequently patron various actresses. This, plus the fact the neither sister ever married, led some scholars to believe both were lesbians, though there was never any [[AmbiguouslyGay solid evidence of that.]] Sadly in 1905 the two had a falling out during a party Lizzie threw for actress Nance O'Neil and Emma moved away, never to see her sister again. In 1927 both sisters died, only nine days apart.

To those who believe Lizzie was guilty, the trial was a farce and totally stacked in favor of the defense. It's alleged that she played the part of the good Victorian lady to the hilt, properly swooning at the sight of her parents' skulls and [[TheDulcineaEffect eliciting sympathy from the all-male jury]]. In any case, she was found innocent, but was never able to shake the reputation of being a murderer. It didn't help that the murder was never solved and no one else was ever tried for it.

* ''The Legend of Lizzie Borden'', a 1975 MadeForTVMovie in which Lizzie is played by Creator/ElizabethMontgomery. It's most famous for positing that she committed the murders [[FullFrontalAssault in the nude]], explaining why no bloody clothing was found and [[SexSells presumably drawing in more viewers]]. This detail would also feature in many later adaptations of the story. Incidentally, Elizabeth Montgomery and Lizzie Borden are sixth cousins once removed.

Over the years, Lizzie Borden has become ShroudedInMyth and has been featured in various works of media. In fiction, she's usually portrayed as being guilty. In more pulpy or comedic works, she's typically a CardCarryingVillain, an over-the-top Halloween character with her trusty hatchet ever-ready for a new murder spree. In more serious depictions, she tends to be played as a SympatheticMurderer, which necessarily involves portraying Andrew and Abby as AbusiveParents who [[PayEvilUntoEvil deserved it]]. There are also various fantasy works that put a BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy spin on her story, often providing a supernatural justification for her actions, effectively side-stepping the real-life issues of the case. Whatever the truth is, there is certainly no shortage of theories.

* ''Literature/TheBordenDispatches'' gives a BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy spin on the case.

Over the years, Lizzie Borden has become ShroudedInMyth and has been featured in various works of media. In fiction, she's usually portrayed as being guilty. In more pulpy or comedic works, she's typically a CardCarryingVillain, an over-the-top Halloween character with her trusty hatchet ever-ready for a new murder spree. In more serious depictions, she tends to be played as a SympatheticMurderer, which necessarily involves portraying Andrew and Abby as AbusiveParents who [[PayEvilUntoEvil deserved it]]. There are also various fantasy works that add outright supernatural elements to her story, often providing a BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy justification for her actions, effectively side-stepping the real-life issues of the case. Whatever the truth is, there is certainly no shortage of theories.

Over the years, Lizzie Borden has become ShroudedInMyth and has been featured in various works of media. In fiction, she's usually portrayed as being guilty. It's also not uncommon for outright supernatural elements to be added to her story. In more pulpy or comedic works, she's typically a CardCarryingVillain, an over-the-top Halloween character with her trusty hatchet ever-ready for a new murder spree. In more serious depictions, she tends to be played as a SympatheticMurderer, which necessarily involves portraying Andrew and Abby as AbusiveParents who [[PayEvilUntoEvil deserved it]]. Whatever the truth is, there is certainly no shortage of theories.

For what it's worth nether Lizzie, nor Emma, ever committed another crime on that level. After the trial she and her sister moved in together and Lizzie became close to the theater scene. Thanks to their substantial inheritance Lizzie, now going by Lizbeth, would frequently patron various actresses. This, plus the fact the neither sister ever married, led some scholars to believe both were lesbians, though there was never any [[AmbiguouslyGay solid evidence of that.]] Sadly in 1905 the two had a falling out during a party Lizzie threw for actress Nance O'Neil and Emma moved away, never to see her sister again. In 1927 both sisters died, only 9 days apart.

Over the years, Lizzie Borden has become ShroudedInMyth and has been featured in various works of media. In fiction, she's usually portrayed as being guilty. It's also not uncommon for outright supernatural elements to be added to her story. In more light-hearted works, she's typically a CardCarryingVillain, and may be played for HistoricalHilarity. In more serious depictions, she tends to be played as a SympatheticMurderer.

On the morning of August 4, 1892, Abby Borden was hacked to death in an upstairs room of the Borden house. Later, Andrew returned home from his morning walk and fell asleep on the sofa, where the murderer hacked him to death too. The horrific incident quickly became a national scandal. When the murder happened, Emma had been visiting friends in Fairhaven and the only people known to have been in the vicinity of the house at the time were Lizzie and the housekeeper. The housekeeper had no apparent motive, so Lizzie emerged as the primary suspect. The public was enthralled. To Victorian sensibilities, the idea of a woman committing such a violent, physical crime was shocking. After all, everyone knows the ProperLady only murders with poison.

* 2013's ''Lizzie Borden's Revenge'', another low-budget slasher, features Lizzie's ghost tormenting a sorority.

* ''The Curse of Lizzie Borden, a 2006 low-budget SlasherMovie in which a modern-day woman is [[DemonicPossession possessed by the spirit of Lizzie Borden]]. Two years later, it was followed by ''The Curse of Lizzie Borden 2: Prom Night''.

* ''Lizzie Borden's Revenge'', a 2013 SlasherMovie in which Lizzie's ghost torments a sorority.

* ''The Legend of Lizzie Borden'', a 1975 MadeForTVMovie in which Lizzie is played by Creator/ElizabethMontgomery. It's most famous for positing that she committed the murders [[FullFrontalAssault in the nude]], explaining why no bloody clothing was found and [[SexSells presumably drawing in more viewers]]. Incidentally, Elizabeth Montgomery and Lizzie Borden are sixth cousins once removed.

Over the years, Lizzie Borden has become ShroudedInMyth and has been featured in various works of media. In fiction, she's usually portrayed as being guilty, but often with [[SympatheticMurderer some kind of sympathetic motive]]. It's also not uncommon for outright supernatural elements to be added to her story.

To those who believe Lizzie was guilty, the trial was a farce and totally stacked in favor of the defense. It's alleged that she played the part of the good Victorian lady to the hilt, properly swooning at the sight of her parents' skulls and [[TheDulcineaEffect eliciting sympathy from the all-male jury]]. In any case, she was found innocent, but was never able to shake the reputation of being a murderer. It didn't help that the murder was never solved and no one else was ever tried for it. Since that time, Lizzie Borden has become ShroudedInMyth and has been featured in various works of media.

* The rhyming quatrain at the top of this page probably deserves its own listing here. It's so iconic that it'll be referenced in pretty much any fictional work about the Lizzie Borden case. If the fictional work in question is a movie, expect it to be delivered by CreepyChildrenSinging. The origins of this rhyme are as mysterious as the murders themselves. It was first recorded in print in 1907, but it is probably older. Most sources believe it came about sometime in the early 1890s, when the Lizzie Borden case was sufficiently topical, but the question of who actually wrote it is a mystery for the ages. Incidentally, UsefulNotes/TheodoreRoosevelt is said to have gotten a real kick out of this rhyme.
* ''The Legend of Lizzie Borden'', a 1975 MadeForTVMovie in which Lizzie is played by Creator/ElizabethMontgomery. It's most famous for positing that she committed the murders [[FullFrontalAssault in the nude]], explaning why no bloody clothing was found and [[SexSells presumably drawing in more viewers]]. Incidentally, Elizabeth Montgomery and Lizzie Borden are sixth cousins once removed.

* "Lizzie Borden Took an Ax" is also the title of a Creator/RobertBloch story about the case.
* The ''Series/AlfredHitchcockPresents'' episode "The Older Sister" is set a year after the case. It's revealed that it was Emma who committed the murders and Lizzie was covering for her.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Appears among the Jury of the Damned in ''[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS5E5TreehouseOfHorrorIV Treehouse Of Horror IV]]'' to judge the Devil obtaining Homer's soul for a donut.
* In ''{{WesternAnimation/Histeria}}'', she is portrayed as AxCrazy and refers to herself as the "O.J. of 1892".
-->''[[VerbalTic Whack'em!]]''
* The Lizzie Borden house is investigated on ''Series/GhostAdventures''. It's implied that Lizzie's father was sexually abusing her.
* In ''Theatre/TheManWhoCameToDinner'', Mr. Stanley's sister [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed isn't]] Lizzie Borden.
* A storyline in ''[[Comicbook/TheAvengers Avengers West Coast]]'' #98-100 (September-November, 1993), features an ArchivedArmy scenario. Lizzie serves as an agent of the [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Hell Lord]] Satannish. Codenamed "Axe of Violence", she has [[AmazingTechnicolorPopulation light red skin]], her [[ArtificialLimbs right hand is replaced by a double-headed axe]], and she carries [[AnAxeToGrind two other double-headed axes used as throwing weapons]].
* Agnes de Mille's ballet ''Theatre/FallRiverLegend'', which rewrites history by having Lizzie found guilty.

* The ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "Thin Lizzie" starts with an ax murder at a Lizzie Borden museum/inn in Fall River that initially looks like it could be committed by her ghost. As it turns out this is a hoax, and the ancient being known as Amara is responsible.
* The manga ''Manga/DollsFall'' paints Lizzie Borden as guilty and adds a supernatural reason to her act. This then serves as the backstory to the events in the present of the manga.
* Lizzie Borden is among the wax figures in ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' episode "Head-Hunters". [[spoiler: Ironically, she wasn't the one to attempt ax-murder.]]

* Lizzie is one of the ''Toys/LivingDeadDolls'' characters, making her first appearance in Series 2.

* She has been profiled in a segment of the Creator/InvestigationDiscovery series ''Deadly Women'', which has the decency to acknowledge her acquittal and the doubts about her guilt.
* There's a rock musical called ''{{Theatre/Lizzie}}'' which features an all-female cast -- Lizzie, her sister Emma, the housekeeper Bridget (nicknamed "Maggie"), and the neighbor, Alice. Here, Lizzie is portrayed as a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds; she's a closeted lesbian in a world that will never accept that, more than a little mentally unstable, and is being sexually abused by her father, to boot.
* One of the stories in the seventh ''Fanfic/HalloweenUnspectacular'' features her ghost, who is summoned by [[WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents Cosmo]] after Timmy [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor wishes to meet the ghost of a historical person and forgets to specify who.]] She then summons more ghosts, throws Timmy out of his house, and turns it into an M.C. Escher-esque EldritchLocation that occasionally screams at passerby.

* ''Lizzie'', a 2018 psychological thriller starring Creator/ChloeSevigny as Lizzie Borden and Creator/KristenStewart as the family's maid Bridget Sullivan, noteworthy for portraying them as a lesbian couple.

** The haunted house ''Ride/UniversalsHouseOfHorror'' had Lizzie as one of many wax statues who were brought to life by a lightning strike.