Death in Small Doses (1995): Cast & Plot
Death in Small Doses is a 1995 drama thriller directed by Sondra Locke, starring Glynnis O'Connor as Nancy Lyon, Shawn Elliott and Tess Harper. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Director
- Sondra Locke
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Robert Greenwald Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Death in Small Doses About?
The premise of Death in Small Doses without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After waking in agony, Nancy Lyon dies from arsenic poisoning. Her family quickly blames her husband Richard, who had left her the previous year for an affair. Nancy’s brother fights to remove the children from what he believes is a murderous husband. In court Richard presents evidence of his wife’s depression, suggesting suicide, but the legitimacy of that proof remains uncertain, echoing a real‑life case.
Death in Small Doses Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- true crime
- dark family secret
- incestuous brother sister relationship
- incestuous desire
- murder trial
- mysterious illness
- sick in the bathroom
- emergency room
- icu
- separated couple
- arsenic
- poison pill
+38 more Show fewer
- police detective
- funeral in the rain
- dallas texas
- vitamin pills
- sprayed with a garden hose
- christmas eve
- anonymous letter
- letter from killer
- life insurance
- fire ant
- news report
- brother sister relationship
- custody hearing
- lawyering up
- private investigator
- harvard university
- female architect
- drug rehab
- woman with a ponytail
- grand jury
- testifying
- arrested for murder
- therapist
- incriminating document
- lie detector test
- trial testimony
- problem child
- substance abuse
- cross examination
- beechcraft model 35 bonanza
- defendant testifying
- handwriting analysis
- guilty verdict
- cemetery
- little girl
- putting flowers on a grave
- end credits character update
- year 1991
Death in Small Doses Cast & Characters
Glynnis O'Connor leads the cast as Nancy Lyon, with Shawn Elliott as Detective Ortega and Tess Harper as Jerri Sims. Directed by Sondra Locke; 20 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Sondra Locke
-
Glynnis O'Connor as Nancy Lyon - Shawn Elliott as Detective Ortega
-
Tess Harper as Jerri Sims -
Richard Thomas as Richard Lyon
Also Starring in Death in Small Doses
· 16 more- Gary Frank Bill Dillard Jr.
- Susan Rohrer Mary Helen Dillard
- Matthew Posey Guthrie
- Ralph Wilcox Trial Judge
- Evan Rachel Wood Anna
- Ann Hearn
- Terry Loughlin Mr. Webster
- Sean Bridgers Mr. Carter
- Bonnie Johnson Jury Foreman
- Richard K. Olsen
- Collin Wilcox Paxton
- Andrea Powell Bridget
- Tommy Faircloth Surprise Witness (uncredited)
- Michael Genevie Dr. Frawley
- Mitchell Laurance
- Caroline Dollar Allison
Death in Small Doses Plot Summary
What happens in Death in Small Doses from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On January 9, 1991, in Dallas, Texas, Nancy Lyon, Glynnis O’Connor is rushed to the hospital where she ultimately dies from arsenic poisoning. Detective Ortega, Shawn Elliott, and A.D.A. Sims begin to investigate the case. The pair question Nancy’s wealthy family, the Dillards, who explain that Nancy and her husband, Richard Lyon, Richard Thomas had recently reconciled after his earlier departure to be with his mistress. Nancy had suspected that Richard was slowly poisoning her but kept quiet, too embarrassed to involve the police.
Full summary
The whole story of Death in Small Doses, scene by scene
Death in Small Doses Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Death in Small Doses.
How Well Do You Know Death in Small Doses?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In which city does Nancy Lyon die?
Seen Death in Small Doses?
Movies Like Death in Small Doses
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Death in Small Doses, A Killing in a Small Town and Small Sacrifices.
Death in Small Doses FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Death in Small Doses, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Death in Small Doses?
Death in Small Doses runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was Death in Small Doses released?
Death in Small Doses was released on January 16, 1995.
Who directed Death in Small Doses?
Death in Small Doses was directed by Sondra Locke.
More films by Sondra Locke Who is in the cast of Death in Small Doses?
Death in Small Doses stars Glynnis O'Connor as Nancy Lyon, Shawn Elliott as Detective Ortega and Tess Harper as Jerri Sims, among 20 credited actors.
Does Death in Small Doses have a post-credit scene?
No. Death in Small Doses has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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