Crimes of the Heart (released in theaters on Dec. 12, 1986), set in the small town of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, is a film adaptation of Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The story centers on the three eccentric, deeply troubled, but ultimately devoted Magrath sisters, who reunite at the family home after the youngest, Babe Botrelle (Sissy Spacek), shoots her wealthy, abusive husband, Zackery.
The narrative unfolds primarily in the family kitchen, creating an intense, claustrophobic environment that mirrors the sisters’ shared emotional history.
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Lenny Magrath (Diane Keaton), the eldest, is the perpetually anxious, caretaker sister, whose 30th birthday is overshadowed by her spinster status and a shrunken ovary.
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Meg Magrath (Jessica Lange), the middle sister, is a glamorous but volatile singer who has returned from a failed career in Hollywood, haunted by past mistakes, including her teenage sweetheart’s death during a hurricane.
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Babe Botrelle (Spacek), the youngest, has a childlike innocence masking deep emotional distress. She shot her husband because she “didn’t like his stinking looks,” an act that brings the family crisis to a head.
As they wait for news of Zackery’s survival and Babe’s potential jail time, the sisters navigate old resentments, childhood traumas, and their shared history, including their mother’s tragic, inexplicable suicide years earlier.
Supporting the drama is Sam Shepard as Doc Porter, Meg’s former flame, and Tess Harper as their nosy, judgmental cousin, Chick Boyle, who tries to maintain appearances in the face of the Magraths’ dramatic chaos.
Hurd Hatfield appears as the girls’ ailing grandfather.
Directed by Bruce Beresford, the film struggled somewhat to translate the play’s unique blend of dark comedy and melancholy Southern gothic charm to the screen.
Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek and Diane Keaton in Crimes of the Heart (Photo/De Laurentiis Entertainment Group)
Reception for Crimes of the Heart
Crimes of the Heart grossed $1.4 million on its opening weekend, finishing seventh at the box office in limited release on 246 screens.
The film would gross $22.9 million in its theatrical run.
Rita Kempley, in her The Washington Post review, called the film “Hannah and Her Sisters with a southern accent.”
Crimes of the Heart received Oscar nominations for Best Actress (Spacek), Best Adapted Screenplay (Henley) and Best Supporting Actress (Harper). Spacek also won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy.
Legacy
Crimes of the Heart remains a powerful showcase for its incredible leading trio. The combined star power of Academy Award winners Keaton, Lange, and Spacek—all known for their distinctive, intense acting styles—is the movie’s main draw and enduring strength.
The film’s legacy lies in its exploration of sisterly bonds, female hysteria, and the resilience required to survive in a restrictive environment.
It is remembered for its emotional peaks, particularly a famous cake-lighting scene, where the sisters, overwhelmed by laughter and tears, find catharsis.
Crimes of the Heart is highly valued today as a quintessential 1980s character study, defined by three phenomenal performances that illuminate the enduring, complicated, and often hilarious ties of family.
