Death in Small Doses

Actress-turned-helmer (and former Eastwood protégé Sondra Locke’s third directorial outing – the made-for-television prime time drama Death in Small Doses – originally premiered on ABC in January 1994. The picture stars telemovie mainstays Richard Thomas (The Waltons), Tess Harper (Tender Mercies, Crimes of the Heart), Glynnis O’Connor (Johnny Dangerously), and Gary Frank (Family), in its dramatization of the events that led up to the January 1992 poisoning death of wealthy Texas architect Nancy Lyon (O’Connor). The film uncoils as a mystery, wrapped around the question of who imbibed Lyon with hefty doses of arsenic, and why. Suspects include her estranged Harvard beau (Thomas) and a brother with whom she had incestuous relations (Frank). Harper portrays the district attorney assigned to the case. Scott Swanton penned the teleplay; vet cinematographer William A. Fraker lensed the film., Re-creating a complex murder case: the 1991 poisoning by arsenic of a celebrated Dallas architect whose husband (Richard Thomas) is a prime suspect. Asst. DA Sims: Tess Harper. Bill Jr.: Gary Fank. Det. Ortega: Shawn Elliott. Guthrie: Matthew Posey. Elen: Ann Hearn. Bridget: Andrea Powell. Dillard Sr.: CK Bibby. Mrs. Dillard: Collin Wilcox Paxton. Sondra Locke directed., Nancy Lyon’s death from arsenic poisoning shocks Dallas high society, and to Assistant D.A. Jerri Sims it seems like someone’s about to get away with murder.