A Death in California

A Beverly Hills socialite embarks on a love/hate relationship with the psychopath who had murdered her fiance and then raped and terrorized her, eventually becoming involved in a bizarre trial. Joan Barthel's book, from which this two-part film evolved, was based on a notorious 1970s California case. Veteran actress Alexis Smith made her TV-movie debut here as Cheryl Ladd's wealthy mother, and among those receiving Emmy Award nominations for their work were cinematographer Joseph Biroc, art director Hub Braden and set decorator Don Remackle. (Source: film.com)