Dolores Claiborne
Movie, 1995, The '90s, Set in Little Tall Island
Dolores Claiborne is #18 of 42 in release order and #10 of 42 in chronological order in the Stephen King Universe.
The story
Dolores Claiborne was accused of killing her abusive husband twenty years ago, but the court's findings were inconclusive and she was allowed to walk free. Now she has been accused of killing her employer, Vera Donovan, and this time there is a witness who can place her at the scene of the crime. Things look bad for Dolores when her daughter Selena, a successful Manhattan magazine writer, returns to cover the story.
Dolores Claiborne recap
Dolores Claiborne (1995) follows a Maine housekeeper accused of killing her rich employer, years after she was suspected of killing her husband. Taylor Hackford directs Kathy Bates as Dolores and Jennifer Jason Leigh as her estranged daughter Selena St. George, a New York journalist. On Little Tall Island, Dolores is found standing over the body of Vera Donovan (Judy Parfitt) at the foot of the stairs, holding a rolling pin. Detective John Mackey (Christopher Plummer), who failed to convict her for the 1975 death of her husband Joe (David Strathairn), sets out to finish the job. Selena comes home doubtful of her mother's innocence. Flashbacks show Joe as a violent drunk who stole Dolores's savings for Selena's education. When Dolores learned he was molesting Selena, Vera told her about her own husband's fatal "accident", and on the day of a solar eclipse Dolores led Joe to an old well.
Dolores Claiborne ending explained
Dolores Claiborne ends with Mackey dropping the case and mother and daughter reconciled. Dolores lets Joe fall into the well during the eclipse, and he dies there. She explains that Vera threw herself down the stairs and begged to be put out of her misery. At the inquest, Selena recovers her repressed memory of Joe's abuse and argues that Mackey has no admissible evidence and a personal vendetta. Mackey gives up, and the two women part warmly at the ferry before Selena returns to New York.
Post-credits scenes
No. Dolores Claiborne has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch Dolores Claiborne
Dolores Claiborne isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 87%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Stand, before The Green Mile.
- Chronological order: after The Shawshank Redemption, before The Green Mile.
What to watch before Dolores Claiborne
In release order, 9 Stephen King Universe essentials come before Dolores Claiborne (1995), from Carrie (1976) to The Shawshank Redemption (1994).
Cast
- Kathy Bates as Dolores Claiborne
- Jennifer Jason Leigh as Selena St. George
- Judy Parfitt as Vera Donovan
- Christopher Plummer as John Mackey
- David Strathairn as Joe St. George
- Eric Bogosian as Peter
- John C. Reilly as Const. Frank Stamshaw
- Ellen Muth as Young Selena
- Bob Gunton as Mr. Pease
- Roy Cooper as Magistrate
- Wayne Robson as Sammy Marchant
- Ruth Marshall as Secretary
Directed by Taylor Hackford.