Angela Lansbury Movies

Angela Lansbury guest stars as Eleanor Duvall, the wealthy and politically powerful mother of suspected serial rapist Gabriel Duvall (Alfred Molina). The SVU team has built up a persuasive case against Gabriel, accusing him of preying upon illegal aliens who are in no position to testify against him. Using her hotshot lawyer Jason Whittaker (Bradley Cooper) as her mouthpiece, Eleanor threatens dire consequences against the detectives if they continue to "harrass" her son--and she has the clout to back up these threats. The situation becomes painfully personal when, shortly after Gabriel is released for lack of evidence, Assistant DA Novak (Diane Neal) is savagely attacked. Rita Moreno costars as a feisty immigrant-rights activist. Originally telecast May 3, 2005, "Night" is the first episode of a two-part story which concluded the same evening on the Law&Order: Special Victims Unit's "sister" series Law & Order: Trial by Jury, with that show's regulars Bebe Neuwirth, Kirk Acevedo and Fred Dalton Thompson appearing in both episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Angela Lansbury guest stars as crime novelist and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher in this crossover episode with Lansbury's own series Murder, She Wrote. When one of Robin Master's guests (Dorothy Loudon) is marked for murder, Magnum finds himself working with--and against--the redoubtable Ms. Fletcher to root out the killer. A man who likes to deal in facts and logical deductions, Magnum is continually flustered by Jessica's intuitive approach to crime-solving, much to the (presumed!) delight of the viewer. Ending on a cliffhanger, this episode was originally Part One of a two-part story which concluded with the Murder She Wrote episode "Magnum on Ice"; however, a new ending which neatly wraps up the storyline was filmed for the Magnum, P.I. syndication package. (Curiously, the story remains open-ended in the DVD version of "Novel Connection".) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Anthony Shaw directs his mother, Angela Lansbury of Murder She Wrote, in this lighthearted made-for-television adventure. Set in the 1950's, Lansbury stars as Mrs. Harris, a common British woman so intent on owning a Dior gown, that she slaves and scrimps for years. However, upon travelling to Paris to make the purchase, Mrs. Harris encounters a series of unexpected characters and events that stand between her and the coveted gown. Originally broadcast in 1992, the film also features supporting performances by Diana Rigg, Lothaire Bluteau, and Omar Sharif. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Debuting September 30, 1984, Murder, She Wrote, TV's longest-running mystery series, might never have come about had producers Richard Levinson and William Link enjoyed a success with their 1975 TV weekly Ellery Queen. That particular series folded after a single episode, but Levinson and Link were still committed to the concept of a best-selling murder-mystery novelist who solved real murders when not at the typewriter. By changing the gender of their protagonist from male to female, and transforming the character from a good-looking, absentminded young pedant to a middle-aged, down-to-earth widow, the producers were able to parlay their "mystery writer/amateur detective" premise into a 13-year hit for CBS. Angela Lansbury starred as Jessica Fletcher, who after being widowed in her early fifties achieved success as a mystery writer. Despite fame and fortune, Jessica remained a resident of Cabot Cove, a cozy coastal town in Maine, and maintained her links with all of her old friends, never letting the popularity of her novels go to her head. Jessica's one eccentricity was an insatiable curiosity, especially whenever murder reared its ugly head. Funny thing, but no matter where Jessica went (and she traveled all over the world, often as a lecturer on criminology and creative writing), a murder seemed to occur. The "official" police were almost always willing to slap the cuffs on the most likely suspect, but Jessica invariably felt that the so-called guilty party wasn't. Carefully and methodically piecing the clues together, gently but firmly asking questions that no else had asked, and refusing to give up her investigation despite warnings to do so, Jessica always managed to trap the guilty party -- who, given the series' "special guest star" policy, was often played by a famous film or TV personality.

While Angela Lansbury was the series' only true regular, several other characters made recurring appearances, notably her Cabot Cove friends Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley, later replaced by Ron Masak as Sheriff Mort Metzger) and crusty general practitioner Dr. Seth Hazlitt (William Windom). During the series' eighth season, Jessica accepted a full-time teaching job in New York, returning to Cabot Cove on weekends, where she often compared notes with Deputy Andy Broom (Louis Herthum). Also showing up from time to time was Jessica's nephew Grady Fletcher (Michael Horton), who through no fault of his own always seemed to be in trouble with the law, obliging Aunt Jessica to help him out -- and to solve another murder or two along the way. Though Angela Lansbury seemed to enjoy carrying the load of the series by herself (she was also one of the executive producers), beginning in season six the actress cut back her appearances, allowing such other sleuths as reformed jewel thief Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell), retired spy Michael Hagarty, (Len Cariou) and down-at-the-heel private eye Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach) to take center stage. Viewers, however, didn't like Jessica's frequent absences during this period, so the "replacement detective" policy was eventually dropped.

A Sunday-evening tradition for over a decade, Murder, She Wrote was moved to Thursdays during its twelfth and final season, much to the dismay of its star, especially as she was forced to go head-to-head with NBC's extremely popular Friends. Not surprisingly, ratings plummeted on Murder throughout the season, and the show was canceled in August of 1996. However, Angela Lansbury fans could take heart in the fact that she would sporadically revive the character of Jessica Fletcher in a handful of feature-length Murder, She Wrote specials during the early years of the 21st century. ~ All Movie Guide

Angela Lansbury once again essays the dual role of Maine-based mystery writer Jessica Fletcher and her colorful cousin, British music-hall headliner Emma MacGill. This time around, Emma is suspected of murder when her fiancé, Viscount Geoffrey Constable (Richard Johnson) expires after consuming some poisoned herring. With the same cunning and finesse as cousin Jessica, Emma turns sleuth to clear her name and expose the guilty party. The episode is highlighted by Angela Lansbury's rendition of Jerome Kern's rousing ditty "Spoon With Me", which the actress had previously performed (with a dubbed voice!) in the 1946 theatrical film Till the Clouds Roll By". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season two of Murder, She Wrote gets off to a rousing start as widowed mystery novelist Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) confronts a genuine murder while vacationing in the Caribbean; she also makes her first acquaintance with secret agent Michael Hagarty, played by Len Cariou (with whom Lansbury previously co-starred in the Broadway musical Sweeney Todd). In the season's second episode, William Windom makes his first appearance as Dr. Seth Hazlett, cantankerous general practitioner of Jessica's home town, Cabot Cove. Among the season's guest stars is Lloyd Nolan, making his last-ever TV appearance as a suspect in "Murder in the Afternoon." Also showing up as various victims, suspects, and killers are the likes of Polly Bergen, Patrick Macnee, Ann Blyth, John Astin, Jayne Meadows, Orson Bean, Van Johnson, and Stuart Whitman. In addition, Jerry Orbach makes his earliest appearance in the role of woebegone private eye Harry McGraw, a role he'd later parlay into his own starring series. Arguably the season's most delightful episode is the London-based "Sing a Song of Murder," in which Angela Lansbury essays the dual role of Jessica Fletcher and Jessica's British musical-comedy star cousin Emma. Movie buffs will get a kick out of Lansbury's spirited rendition of "Little Yellow Bird," the song she so memorably performed in the 1945 theatrical feature The Picture of Dorian Gray. ~ All Movie Guide

Season four of Murder, She Wrote finds Angela Lansbury back on duty as Jessica Fletcher, a middle-aged author of murder mysteries who can't help getting mixed up in (and invariably solving) real-life homicide. The season opens as Jessica goes on another vacation jaunt, this one to Paris, where she is confronted with the murder of a nasty loan shark. In later excursions, Jessica would ply her trade in Quebec, London, Washington, D.C., and the Deep South, encountering such guest stars as Claire Trevor, Theodore Bikel, Macdonald Carey, Janet Leigh, Henry Gibson, Jane Powell, Shirley Jones, and Eddie Albert. This season marks a "return appearance" by Jessica's British cousin Emma MacGill (also played by Angela Lansbury, whose real name is McGill). This time around, Emma performs the old music-hall ditty "Spoon With Me" which Lansbury previously sang in the 1946 feature film Till the Clouds Roll By. Season four also represents the final appearance of Jessica's close friend Sheriff Amos Tupper, a character written out of the series when actor Tom Bosley defected for his own weekly detective show, Father Dowling Mysteries. ~ All Movie Guide

Middle-aged mystery novelist and part-time sleuth Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) finds murder in such exotic locales as Jamaica, Athens, and Sicily during season six of Murder, She Wrote. However, longtime fans of the series could not help but notice -- and regret -- that Jessica was conspicuous by her absence in several episodes, due to star Angela Lansbury's desire to lighten her considerable workload during this season. Thus, in several instances, Jessica only shows up long enough to "narrate" the adventures of other eminent sleuths, such as secret agent Michael Hagarty (Len Cariou), Agatha Christie-like novelist Lady Abigail Austin (June Havoc), homicide detective Jake Ballinger (Barry Newman), and reformed jewel thief-turned-insurance investigator Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell). This experiment in "rotating detectives" did not gain public favor, thus Angela Lansbury stepped up her Murder, She Wrote appearances during the subsequent seventh season. ~ All Movie Guide

Season eight of Murder, She Wrote finds mystery novelist and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher accepting a position as criminology instructor at Manhattan University, obliging her to rent an apartment in New York City. She has not, however, forsaken her roots; every weekend, Jessica returns to her hometown of Cabot Cove, there to commiserate with friends and loved ones. But no matter if she's in the Big Apple or the small one, Jessica just can't seem to steer clear of baffling murder cases. As in previous seasons, the individual episodes are studded with prominent guest stars, having the time of their lives playing various victims, suspects, and culprits. Among the big names seen during Murder, She Wrote's eighth season are Julie Adams, Barbara Bain, Jessica Walter, Chad Everett, Theodore Bikel, Robert Vaughn, Kate Mulgrew, James Coburn, and Darren McGavin. ~ All Movie Guide

The fact that Murder, She Wrote has entered its tenth season is a daunting one, considering that at least 198 characters have been murdered since the show signed on in 1984. Clearly undaunted by this grisly statistic is mystery novelist and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), still as clever and feisty as ever -- and still no person to tangle with when a homicide has occurred. Dividing her time between New York (where she holds down a teaching job) and her home turf of Cabot Cove, ME, Jessica also manages to squeeze in side trips to Hong Kong, Canada, and other far-flung locales. Season ten finds our heroine at a race track, backstage at a Broadway show based on one of her novels, and a mob-controlled restaurant, tackling mysteries ranging from the "suicide" of her editor to the disturbing disappearance of her beloved nephew Grady (Michael Horton). And as always, Murder, She Wrote is haven for prominent guest stars, many of them colleagues of Angela Lansbury from her MGM days -- including the ubiquitous Mickey Rooney. ~ All Movie Guide

Over the protests of star Angela Lansbury, not to mention the series' millions of loyal fans, Murder, She Wrote was moved from its familiar Sunday-night time slot to a new Thursday berth for the series' 12th season. Lansbury's fears that the venerable detective drama would wither and die opposite NBC's league-leading Friends unfortunately proved to be right on the money, and season 12 turned out to be season last. Even so, Murder, She Wrote sustains the high quality that had distinguished its previous 11 seasons, serving up a variety of baffling murder mysteries for crime novelist Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to solve, and a vast array of prominent guest stars to commit those murders or end up as victims. The terminal season's best episodes include "Murder Among Friends," a wicked stab at the series' competition in which a killing occurs on the set of a very familiar-looking sitcom titled "Buds"; and the last episode, "Death by Demographics," wherein CBS' pronouncement that Murder, She Wrote was "skewing too old" for its favored younger viewers is raked over the coals in a story involving the murder of a radio station manager who fires all of his over-40 staff members! ~ All Movie Guide

Three years after the cancellation of her popular series Murder She Wrote, Angela Lansbury returns for the first of several TV-movie followups to that selfsame series. Once again, Lansbury is cast as Jessica Fletcher, best-selling mystery writer and amateur sleuth. As indicated by the film's title, Hitchcock references abound in the plotline, beginning when a lady vanishes on the train that Jessica is taking to El Paso to deliver a lecture. Helpful Jessica accepts a message for the mystery woman, whereupon she is attacked by an assailant in search of "it." Our heroine is rescued by a journalist who may not be a journalist, then when attempting to ascertain the missing woman's whereabouts Jessica is warned to mind her own business by a guy identifying himself as an FBI agent. Inasmuch as such warnings have never stopped Jessica in the past, she follows the trail of clues to the desert town of Agua Verde, Arizona, adopting a few aliases alng the way. The climax is an echo of Hitch's The 39 Steps, wherein Jessica not only solves the mystery but also unmasks the Least Likely Suspect (or in this case, Least Likely Suspects). Produced and directed by Angela Lansbury's sons, Murder She Wrote: South by Southwest first aired November 2, 1997 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Director Edward Dmytryk returned from a few unhappy years on the Blacklist in the early 1950s, to direct a handful of programmers before being restored to "A" pictures. Dmytrk's Mutiny is set during the War of 1812. Mark Stevens, captain of the American ship Concord, finds himself at the mercy of mutineer Patric Knowles, who is supposedly loyal to Britain. Actually all Knowles is concerned with is the gold bullion carried by the Concord, which he plans to squander in the company of treacherous femme fatale Angela Lansbury. Stevens recaptures the ship and torpedoes the British fleet, with the aid of a pioneering submarine-like vessel. Mutiny was produced by the estimable King Brothers who allegedly trafficked in illegal gambling devices before hitting upon the more lucrative arena of independent motion pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide