Anthony Shaw Movies
- 2000
In this feature-length follow-up to the long-running TV series Murder, She Wrote, homespun mystery novelist Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) leaves her Cabot Cove residence to attend a big-city writer's conference. As generally happens wherever Jessica shows up, a murder takes place; in this instance, the victim is a former KGB agent (Duncan Regehr) who was about to publish his tell-all memoirs. Teaming up with fellow author Warren Pierce (Richard Crenna), Jessica sets about to solve the murder -- much to the dismay of the local constabulary. Allegedly written as far back as 1998 (by Babylon 5 stalwart J. Michael Straczynski), Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For finally arrived on the CBS prime-time manifest on May 18, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angela Lansbury, Richard Crenna, (more)
- 1999
Based on the first of Dorothy Gilman's popular novels about a senior citizen who joins the CIA, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax stars Angela Lansbury as Emily Polifax, an elderly woman who feels out of sorts and unsure of what to do with herself after the death of her husband. Her doctor tries to cheer her up by telling her this is a perfect time to try new things and fulfill ambitions set aside earlier in life. Emily decides this is fine advice and takes a shot at the career of her dreams -- she writes a letter to her congressman asking how one goes about becoming a CIA agent. The letter is passed along and the CIA agrees to an interview. However, Emily is mistakenly sent on a mission to Morocco before anyone realizes she isn't actually an agent, and operative Jack Farrell (Thomas Ian Griffith) is sent out to keep an eye on her. When Emily and Jack are unexpectedly taken hostage, Jack discovers Mrs. Pollifax is far more clever and resourceful than anyone expected. The first in a proposed series of TV movies aimed to appeal to the large and loyal audience Lansbury attracted with the show Murder, She Wrote, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax was produced for CBS television, who first aired it in May 1999. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angela Lansbury, Thomas Ian Griffith, (more)
- 1997
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
- 1992
Returning to New York after a brief absence, Jessica learns to her chagrin that she has been introduced in cartoon form as "Jessica Fox" ("I'll just follow my nose") in a comic strip specializing in political satire. Unfortunately, "Jessica Fox" has been making a number of libelous statements, prompting several important people to threaten Jessica with legal action. In her determination to take the comic strip's creator to task, Jessica is plunged into a maelstrom of blackmail and murder. Featured in the cast as a ink-stained cartoonist is Mell Lazarus, creator of the popular comic strips "Miss Peach" and "Momma." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
When an English cleaning lady decides that she wants to own a gown from the House of Dior in Paris, she ends up on an adventure trying to reunite a French diplomat and his daughter, who have had a falling out. Classic Lansbury but nothing outstanding. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1992
James Coburn guest stars as Cyrus Ramsey, chief archaeologist of the National Museum of Mexico. Ramsey is among those under suspicion when a hotel owner suspected of dealing in stolen art is murdered. It seems that the dead man was found wearing the Mask of Montezuma, which had recently been pilfered from the museum. Need we add that Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is paying a visit to Mexico City at the time of the murder, and that she will take it upon herself to solve the mystery? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Season Nine of Murder, She Wrote gets under way with an episode set at a Milan Film Festival, where Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is attending the premiere of a movie based on one of her novels. The film's producer Catherine Wayne (Susan Blakely) is as well known for her string of box-office successes as she is for her shabby treatment of underlings; in fact, as the story begins, she is seen refusing to release an up-and-coming young director from his ultra-restrictive contract. Inevitably, Catherine is murdered, and Jessica is obliged to investigate the case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
This unforgettable episode is set at Universal Studios, where Jessica (Angela Lansbury) has arrived to supervise the film version of her novel "Messengers of Midnight." It isn't long before Jessica has had a confrontation with the film's abrasive producer Darryl Hayward (Ron Leibman), who seems to revel in making enemies, among them his leading lady Leonora Holt (Paula Prentiss). While paying a visit to the infamous "Bates Hotel" set from Hitchcock's Psycho, Jessica stumbles across Darryl's dead body--in the shower, of course! Henry Gibson appears as an obsessed fan of Leonora's, who just happened to be in the "Psycho House" when the killing occurred. Naturally, the episode is brimming with "inside" movie and pop-culture references, courtesy of scriptwriter (and future Babylon 5 maven) J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
The set of a popular daytime drama proves to be rife with intrigues that go far beyond the script. At the center is the show's temperamental star Joanna Rollins (a pre-Star Trek: Voyager Kate Mulgrew), whose millionaire husband turns up murdered. In her efforts to solve the case, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) receives assistance from a surprising source: Joanna's former costar and ex-lover, whom she had fired from the show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
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
- 1991
The focus in this episode is on Mort Metzger (Ron Masak), sheriff of Cabot Cove, Maine, and a close personal friend of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). When Metzger jails a young man named Bradley (David Lansbury) on a drunk driving charge, he refuses to drop the matter despite the power and influence wielded by Bradley's ambassador father Chandler Hellman (Jack Colvin). Subsequently, Bradley turns up dead, whereupon the vengeful Hellman pulls just the right strings to bring Metzger up on a murder charge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Just outside of St. Louis sits the main factory for Edna's Pies, a baking concern run by Edna Hayes (Phyllis Newman), an old friend of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). When the IRS swoops down on Edna demanding a fortune in back taxes, Edna concludes that she has been betrayed by her ex-husband Nolan (Macon McCalman)--who, sure enough, is the government's key witness. Inevitably, Nolan is murdered and Edna is accused of the crime...and it is at this point that Jessica takes a hand in matters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
While attending a convention in Las Vegas, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) links up with Susan Hartley (Amy O'Neill), the daughter of her editor Ted Hartley (Bruce Gray). When Susan's boyfriend is accused of murdering a nasty casino manager, Jessica steps in to prove the poor fellow's innocence. In so doing, our heroine places her own life in dire jeopardy. Andrew Brye makes his second appearance in the semi-regular role of Ahmed Shanker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Len Cariou makes his first series episode in nearly two years in the recurring role of suave and slightly untrustworthy British secret agent Michael Hagarty (formerly "Haggerty", at least according to the TV Guide listings). This time Hagarty is in Washington at the same time that his old friend Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is also paying a visit. Returning to her hotel room, Jessica discovers that the place has been ransacked and a KGB agent named Yuri Lermentov (Theodore Bikel) is lying dead on the floor. She has also unwittingly come into possession of a list compiled by Lermentov--a list that will result in her own demise unless Hagarty takes a hand in matters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Wings Hauser appears as Wallace Evans, a policeman turned professor who use to teach the Manhattan College criminology course now helmed by Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). In the spirit of friendly rivalry, Evans challenges Jessica to find the person responsible for a series of recent campus muggings before he himself fingers the culprit. The stakes in this "race" are raised considerably when murder enters the picture. This time out, the suspect list ranges from a suspicious-looking busboy to Professor Evans himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Jessica's return to Cabot Cove coincides with the arrival of Wayne Metzger (Bruce Abbott), the "black sheep" brother of town sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak). Recently released from prison, Wayne wants to mend fences with his brother, but the uncharacteristically bitter Mort refuses to have anything to do with him. When Wayne's fisherman boss is apparently murdered, it falls to Jessica (Angela Lansbury) to help Mort maintain his objectivity--and his compassion--while endeavoring to clear Wayne's name. Louis Herthum makes his first appearance as Mort's deputy, who curiously has a variety of character names. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Nancy Landon (Vera Miles) swoops down on Cabot Cove with the announcement that her son Steve (Richard Gilliland) had been fathered by the late husband of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). With this in mind, Nancy insists that Jessica is obligated to help clear Steve fraud and murder charges related to the Landons' construction business. Though it pains her to do so, Jessica does what she can to prove Steve's innocence. Also in the cast is Martin Milner as Jessica's friend Clint Phelps, who may know more about the case than he's letting on. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Long believed to be dead, bank robber Ned Jinks (Donnelly Rhodes) returns to Cabot Cove after twenty years in hopes of visiting his daughter Bonnie (Claudia Christian). Not only must Ned face the hostility of the local citizenry, but he is also slapped with a murder charge when one of his oldest enemies is knocked off. Exercising her prerogative as Bonnie's friend and neighbor, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) attempts to find out who is really the guilty party. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) serves as narrator for tonight's story, which centers around working-class private eye Frank Albertson (a pre-Politically Incorrect Bill Maher) and his wife Sunny (Faith Ford). After years of sponging off Frank and Sunny, Frank's uncle Charlie (John Finnegan) suddenly inherits a fortune--and just as suddenly disappears. Later on, a mangled corpse is found on a local railroad track, whereupon Frank attempts to claim the body as that of Uncle Charlie.. However, there seems to be several other people interested in claiming the corpse--and the aforementioned inheritance--themselves. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The ladies of Cabot Cove are enchanted by a newcomer to the community, handsome gym instructor Wayne Bennett (Jason Beghe). Especially fascinated by Bennett is Eve Simpson (Julie Adams), who naturally is an old friend of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). When Bennett's onetime partner, con artist Fred Kepper (Hugh O'Brien), turns up dead in Eve's bedroom, Jessica can't bring herself to believe that her friend had anything to do with this awkward turn of events--and as always, Jessica knows best. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Saddled with a broken arm, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) hires a temporary typist named Melissa (Lise Cutter) to help her meet a deadline. "Dead" is right: It turns out that Melissa is a virtual mystery novel all in herself, as proven when she inveigles a moonstruck cub reporter into helping her tamper with some evidence at a murder scene. The victim is Melissa's loutish husband (Cliff Potts), whose body is moved to his own lumberyard as an efforts to keep Melissa from being implicated--but things don't quite work out as planned, obliging Jessica to play detective yet once more. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Single mother Maria Bryce (Season Hubley) moves into Cabot Cove with her son Kevin (Jonathan Brandis), where she lands a steady but low-paying job. While struggling to make financial ends meet, Maria must also contend with her lecherous landlord. When the landlord is murdered, Maria is accused of the crime--but her new friend Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) isn't so sure that the cops have nabbed the guilty party. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Purchasing an antique bureau at a furniture store rummage sale, Jessica finds an old, undelivered letter in one of the drawers. For reasons made clear in the episode, she turns the letter over to a local volunteer fireman (Jonathan Goldsmith)--who later perishes in a blaze that was deliberately set at the very same furniture store. Want to bet that the letter and the murder are somehow linked, and that Jessica will find that link before episode's end? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) accuses the wife of a Palm Springs real estate developer of murdering her philandering husband. Shortly thereafter, the accused woman commits suicide, and her sister bitterly accuses Jessica of driving the woman to her death. Teaming up with police detective Hanna (Elliott Gould), Jessica tries to find out if she indeed condemned an innocent person--and in the process, the two sleuths search high and low for the $3 million allegedly embezzled by the murder victim. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is summoned to the island retreat of her friend Henry Reynard (Gene Barry), a millionaire lumberman. Someone has threatened Henry's life, and he is convinced that the "someone" is a relative anxious to get his or her hands on the old man's millions. Upon her arrival, Jessica is told that Henry has already been killed--but as she soon finds out, appearances (and first impressions) can be very deceiving! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
