Treat Williams in "The Staircase Murders"
courtesy of Lifetime Television
"The Staircase Murders" (Lifetime)

On April 15, the Lifetime Channel presents the original movie "The Staircase Murders." This film is based on a true story and is worth watching primarily because of the outstanding performance by Treat Williams. He plays a man accused in the death of his wife. He claims her death was due to an accident when she fell down the stairs at their home, but more and more elements of evidence arise that say it could have been murder. There are a lot of twists and turns that transpire before the final verdict is rendered.

Michael Peterson (Williams) was a best selling novelist at the time of his second wife Kathleen's death. He and she had been parents to her daughter as well as to his two sons and two adopted daughters. It was a large family but all of the children were devoted to each other as well as to their parents.

One night Michael calls 911 to report that his wife has suffered a fall and isn't breathing. When the ambulance gets to their home Kathleen is dead and Michael is almost hysterical. The children rally around him and try to help him get through this time of horrible grief. The police are not quite as supportive. They immediately see some evidence that things may not have happened as Michael claimed.

Michael dismisses these claims as a vendetta against him. In the past he ran for public office and vilified the police in his campaign as inept and stupid. Now he claims they are trying to retaliate by making him look guilty in his wife's death.

The first of his children to break ranks is his stepdaughter Caitlin (Samaire Armstrong). She doesn't see the police investigation as a vendetta. She thinks they have some strong evidence against Michael. Her suspicions are further confirmed when information about Michael's sexual proclivities surface. 

Layer after layer of information is uncovered in this strong drama, each piece more damning than the previous. Still Michael maintains his innocence and his attorney (Kevin Pollock) presents a strong defense for all his actions.

The movie features Williams at his best and also has strong performances by Pollack and Armstrong. The film is based on the book THE PERFECT HUSBAND by Aphrodite Jones.

For an engrossing movie experience tune in to "The Staircase Murders" when it premiers on the Lifetime Channel on April 15 at 8PM. There will be an encore performance on April 16 at 9PM.
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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