MovieChat Forums > A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story (1992) Discussion > What I wish Betty had and had not done

What I wish Betty had and had not done

posted 13 years ago by delia19461
10 replies | jump to latest

I wish Betty had not killed Linda. Linda was a young woman probably dazzled by Dan. Big time lawyer, rich, etc. She didn't realize what a scumbag she was married to. I think in time Dan would have done Linda the same way he did Betty, after she started to age, get a little heavier, etc. At the same time, I wish she had held the gun on Dan for a few minutes, make him understand what was happening to him. He was a horrible person who must have realized that Betty had become unhinged but still continued to torment her. In the scene where he gave her the ring for Christmas, that showed what a selfish pri.. he was. She had showed him the ring she wanted in the store window but he have her the one "that I like better." I will not go so far as to say he deserved to die, but he brought it on himself by his selfish actions, the way he treated her.

[–] zephyr-123 13 years ago

Whoa! She had the right to kill him because the fabulous expensive sapphire and diamond ring he gave her wasn't good enough? It might have been a selfish lunkhead thing to do but Betty is not abused here. She worked to put him through school but she was getting $9,000 a month in alimony (according to the movie). She was being compensated for the work she did in the marriage. Do you know how many women are truly used and abused and go through horrible divorces where just getting a divorce is dangerous for them because they are trying to extricate themselves from some guy who is a serious threat to them and/or their kids? who often end up in temporary shelters destitute while doing it?--And they don't commit murder in the process. And they don't get huge sums of money in alimony. They are often lucky to just get awarded some paltry child support and lucky if the guy actually pays the child support. Betty was treated like crap, I'll agree, but not as bad as many women (and men) in this country while they going through some nightmarish divorce. Why is this country turning into a place where we are starting to make excuses or lame justifications for murder? Murder is murder. She had no right. Did you know that when Betty was arrested, she defecated in her cell and smeared it all over the wall. She's a psycho.

There are various sane ways Betty could have used to deal with Dan and Linda. Ways that most people going through a painful and even abusive divorce utilize every day. She could have sought therapy or found support in a support group for people going through divorce. She didn't. She engaged in abuse going back and forth between her and them not caring how all of this was affecting her kids who should have been her main priority. If the movie is telling the truth, she drove her car into his house repeatedly knowing her children were inside. She's where she should be.

"We're "us". You're "them". We don't help "thems". Sorry. --Paige

[–] blinkysmom 13 years ago

She worked to put him through school but she was getting $9,000 a month in alimony (according to the movie).

Well, see, actually that's the trouble with this movie ~ it shows Dan and Linda as nice people ~ they were snakes!!! Read the REAL story! That'll change your mind. And she was receiving $16,000 a month alimony until the judge awarded her only $33,000!!!!!!!!! (or some pittance like that!!!) The judge was a good friend of Dan's and even went to Dan and Linda's wedding ~ it was slimey all around the way they all did Betty.

No murder is wrong, but I see why she did it.

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[–] TotheWatersandtheWild 13 years ago

What I wish Betty had done:

Found a nice young stud to beguile with her spunk and sharp tongue. He falls madly in love with her. The kids give their blessing, urge them to elope in a steamy climate and enjoy a long honeymoon. Betty forgives Dan. She just feels too damn good not to. Bonus- she has a spiritual awakening and decides to live permanently in the steamy climate counseling and teaching Yoga to jilted women.

What I wish Betty had not done:

Murdered the father of her children. Or his new wife. Allowed herself to drown in her own hate.

I'll speak for you, Father. I speak for all mediocrities in the world. I am their champion.

[–] delia19461 13 years ago

Eye of the Potato....yes, definitely. Yours is great. Thanks for the input!

[–] LaraCroftLegacy 13 years ago

Dan made have been a jerk but he didn't deseve to be murder and for the ring he thought Betty might like and then she turn into 2 year old brat throwing fit because He didn't get her the ring she wanted.

D.H.F.F
Now end of day and Iam the Reaper:Silent hill

[–] delia19461 13 years ago

She had pointed out to him the ring she wanted on a previous occasion, then he got her the one HE liked. Definitly an unfeeling jerk, full of himself, but you are right, she shouldn't have killed him.

[–] LaraCroftLegacy 13 years ago

I know she pointed the ring out for him to give her for christmas but doesn't give her excues throw a fit on christmas morning in front of their kids

What Betty should have was after the divorce was to find a job she like and move on with her life and she did have younger boyfriend.

D.H.F.F
Now end of day and Iam the Reaper:Silent hill

[–] blinkysmom 13 years ago

This movie is such a fairytale version of the truth it sickens me. It villianizes Betty (yes, yes, I know she did murder Dan and Linda). But the real story is far different than this basic tribute to Dan and Linda. They were both evil people. Betty should have let karma do it's job but she was crazy; driven crazy by Dan and Linda (do some research on the truth about this story).

I feel the worst for her kids.

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[–] mcg102789 12 years ago

I had watched the movie (and the sequel to it) a few months ago, and just recently I read a book about the case. It seems the movie was vastly different from what really happened. When I watched the movie I really did think she was villianized and they made Dan and Linda look like angels. Really, before I found out the true story and just watched the movies, I thought Dan and Linda were basically good people and that Betty was just completley unreasonable and crazy. Truth is, Dan and Linda were nothing like what they were portrayed as in the movie. I am not saying that gives her the right to kill them (although I honestly can't blame her) but the movie portaryed them to be so much nicer than they were. In the movie, I found Linda likable, but that is not how she was in real life. Dan seemed reasonable and fair in the movie and a good father, when in reality he was vastly different.

[–] blinkysmom 12 years ago

http://abettybroderickobsession.blogspot.com/p/until-twelfth-of-never- by-bella-stumbo.html

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