Christian Nyby II Movies

Dick Van Dyke draws heavily from both his classic 1960s sitcom and his later detective-series vehicle Diagnosis Murder as star of the made-for-cable whodunit Murder 101. Van Dyke is cast as Dr. Jonathan Maxwell, a retired detective who teaches a course on criminology in a small-town college. Though he tends to trip over his own feet and bump into doors with alarming regularity, Maxwell's deductive skills are as sharp as ever, as proven when he is called upon to prove the innocence of Cheryl Collins (Tracey Needham), an investigative reporter charged with the murder of corrupt CEO Nelson Raymond (Tony Denison). It is clear that Cheryl has been framed, but who did the framing? Was it Raymond's vindictive ex-wife Louise (Lisa Thornhill), or his shady business associates Max Arnholdt (Bradford English) and Karl Larch (Camren Argeniano)--or could it be the proverbial Least Likely Suspect? Dick Van Dyke's son Barry Van Dyke, who previously costarred with his dad in Diagnosis Murder, is seen as private eye Mike Bryant, while Barry's son (and Dick's grandson) Wes Van Dyke shows up briefly as one of Dr. Maxwell's students. Clearly intended as the pilot for an ongoing series of Hallmark Channel TV movies, Murder 101 first aired on January 7, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this feature-length episode, the world's most wealthy and beautiful pair of amateur detectives go Down Under to buy a wildlife preserve and end up solving a murder mystery. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A physician--an amateur sleuth--decides to investigate the suicide of a former student of his and begins to suspect that it was murder. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide

When the invincible Perry Mason takes on the case of a photographer who is accused of murdering a famous artist, he discovers the case is complicated by forgery. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide

In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason takes the case for a TV reporter falsely accused of killing the station's ego-maniacal anchorman. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason proves that a famous illusionist is innocent of deliberately killing his assistant during a spectacular stage stunt. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason listens to the pleas of a 13-year-old girl and helps her father who was falsely accused of murdering a gambler. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason must help a wounded hockey star who has been accused of killing an important sports figure. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason and his assistant help a stage manager who is the prime suspect in the murder of the director who recently fired him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this made-for-TV thriller, Liz Barlett (Loni Anderson) is a rookie journalist covering a series of murders that seem to have touched nearly everyone she knows. When one of Liz's best friends, a fellow journalist named Jerry Caper, becomes the next victim, she meets Dan Walker (Joe Penny), a freelance investigative journalist who knew Caper and wants to track down his killer. Liz and Dan join in hopes of finding the murderer before he can strike again. Before long, they become emotionally involved, though Dan discovers that Liz has a past that she isn't entirely proud of. Whisper Kill also stars Jeremy Slate, June Lockhart, and James Sutorius. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The last of the four Perry Mason movies telecast in 1987, The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel rounds up veterans Raymond Burr (as Mason) and Barbara Hale (as Della Street), with comparative newcomers William Katt (as Paul Drake Jr.) and David Ogden Stiers (as the "Hamilton Burger"-style prosecutor). The accused murderer in this outing is Susan Wilder, a reporter for a sleazy tabloid. The victim is the rag's hateful publisher, Robert Guillaume. Other suspects include Guillaume's ex-lover, and a banker who was ruined by the tabloid's half truths. Unlike most of the Perry Mason TV movies of the 1980s, The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel doesn't play fair with the audience; vital clues and character motivations are withheld from the viewer, robbing us of the pleasure of trying to second-guess the methodical Mr. Mason. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Richard Beymer guest stars as Father McDonovan, a priest who thinks he's fallen in love. The object of his affections is a woman whom he has never seen, but whose voice he has heard in Confession on a weekly basis. Private eyes David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) are brought into the situation when the woman announces her intention to commit suicide--then disappears! Jessica Harper appears as the "mystery" woman, who turns out to have more than a few surprises up her sleeve. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A nervous gentleman named James Bower (Stephen Godwin) hires David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) to solve a mystery involving his late wife. It seems that Bower has of late been receiving telephone calls and gifts from his missus, who is supposed to be dead. And if anyone should know that Mrs. Bower is no longer among the living, it is her husband--after all, he killed her himself and buried the body. Jack Blessing makes his first series appearance as Blue Moon employee MacGillicudy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide