A Death in California

Cheryl Ladd stars in this made-for-TV effort, based on Joan Barthel's true crime novel, as Hope Masters, a California woman who's thrown into turmoil after a deranged criminal (Sam Elliott) kills her fiancé and rapes her repeatedly. Shockingly, instead of seeking help, Masters covers for and enters into a relationship with her attacker, initially even taking the rap for the murder. The question of her true motiva tion for her bizarre actions becomes the crux of the case. 188 min. on two discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.