Anthony Pullen Shaw Movies
- 2003
This fourth TV movie inspired by the classic, long-running mystery series Murder, She Wrote is also the first based on a novel, namely Lyn Hamilton's The Celtic Riddle. Angela Lansbury recreates her role as mystery writer-cum-amateur sleuth Jessica B. Fletcher, who on this occasion has journeyed to Ireland, there to attend the reading of the will of an old friend. Naturally, the bequeathing is chock-full of bizarre conditions and codicils, but the reading itself takes second place to the series of murders which follow. The police do their usual "thorough" investigation and come up with nothing, leaving it to Jessica to assemble the clues, many of which are maddeningly cryptic, and all of which are somehow linked to a huge hidden treasure. Filmed on location, Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle first aired May 9, 2003, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angela Lansbury, Joe Michael Burke, (more)
- 2001
Angela Lansbury plays a dual role in this feature-length spinoff of her popular TV series Murder, She Wrote. The actress first appears in her traditional guise as matronly mystery writer and erstwhile detective Jessica Fletcher, who attends a lecture delivered by black history specialist Cassandra Hawkins (Phylicia Rashad). Jessica becomes intrigued by Hawkins' tireless efforts to clear the name of her ancestor, antebellum slave Samuel Pickney (Michael Jace), who, in 1861, was lynched after being accused of murdering his white master. Doing some research of her own, Jessica projects herself back 140 years and into the mind of her own ancestor, Virginia aristocrat Sarah McCullough -- who turns out to have been an accomplished amateur detective in her own right. Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man made its CBS network bow on May 2, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
This episode is a showcase for semi-regular Louis Herthum, here essaying his usual role as Cabot Cove's deputy sheriff Andy Bloom. Having just purchased a house, Andy realizes that there are several things wrong with the structure, and he vents his anger upon the former owner. Not long afterward, the ex-owner is killed--and the murder weapon is found in Andy's car. It is up to Jessica (Angela Lansbury to get to the bottom of the case, which becomes even dicier when a second person is murdered. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
This week, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is visiting the set of "Floppieville", a TV puppet show based on one of her children's stories. But it isn't kid stuff when the designer of the puppets finds out that someone is profiting from his ideas without proper credit or remuneration. Inevitably, a murder takes place--with one of the smiley-face Floppieville puppets as the weapon! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
While going through a manuscript from a prestigious author, junior book editor Erin Garman (Tracy Middendorf cannot help but notice similarities between the book's plot and her own life: It seems that, as a child, she was kidnapped, and still cannot recall the particulars of the situation. As Erin pursues the matter, she finds that the police have no intention of re-opening the case. Jessica (Angela Lansbury) comes to the girl's aid when the intrigues surrounding her long-ago abduction lead to suicide and murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Through the invention of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), a Latin instrumental band fronted by a blind musician cuts a demo record at Manhattan University. Before long, the band is being offered a prestigious contract by a record company--but a mobster makes a count-offer that would be unhealthy to refuse. This, coupled with the murder of a petty crook from the band leader's past, prompts Jessica to take more than an academic interest in the situation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is given the opportunity to solve her 286th murder, this one connected with a San Francisco fine-arts radio station. The station's ruthless new manager has elected to boost ratings by changing the outlet's image and format, and by firing a number of employees who are deemed too old for a hard-rock audience. So just guess who gets murdered. . .just guess! "Death by Demographics" is an ironic title for the final hour-long episode of Murder, She Wrote, which had been cancelled by CBS after 12 seasons and 264 episodes because it "skewed old" in the ratings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Atlanta is the setting for a deadly scenario, triggered when a lethal virus is stolen from the local Biological Resarch Institute. The theft involves an illicit arms deal, not to mention a collection of rogue government agents--and the anticipated murder Fortunately, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is on hand to connect the dots and solve the case...but she'd better hurry before the virus is unleashed upon the unsuspecting populace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) and Seth (William Windom) are invited to the South Carolina plantation owned by Seth's cousin, a wealthy botanist. The visit becomes somewhat less than pleasant when the cousin turns up murdered. Evidently there are several people who would have benefited from this death, but the clues aren't quite so plentiful--but as always, Jessica needs only one or two clues to tighten the noose around the guilty party's neck. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
The CEO of a brokerage firm currently under Federal investigation suddenly disappears. Jessica (Angela Lansbury) becomes involved in the situation when the last call made by the missing executive is traced to her phone. A dogged Federal prosecutor demands that Jessica face the grand jury investigating the matter--and then charges her with contempt when she speaks to a witness who later turns up dead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Murder, She Wrote's 241st episode largely takes place in a trendy Fifth Avenue beauty salon. A powerful financier has been found murdered in the establishment, and a hairdresser who has been passing along "trade secrets" is among those suspected. It is possible, however, that a burglar may be the culprit--or that the victim had been involved in a lethal love triangle. Whatever the cast, leave it to Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to unentangle this "bad hair day" and solve the mystery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Once again, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) finds herself immersed in the world of Grand Opera, this time during a visit to Genoa Italy. The plot is set in motion by a series of death threats leveled at an American opera diva poised to make her European debut. There are those who dismiss these threats as a publicity stunt--but they change their tune after the horrific events on Opening Night. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
During her annual visit to Ireland, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) enjoys the hospitality of a fishing lodge near Kilcleer. Coinciding with Jessica's stay is the arrival of a consortium which wants to buy the lodge in order to begin strip-mining the property. Before long, the lodge's owner, Tom Dempsey (Rod Taylor) is under suspicion for the death of a tourist found floating in a local wishing well. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Jessica's enterprising nephew Grady (Michael Horton) has become the partner of a pair of high-pressure land developers (John D'Aquino, Mary Gordon Murray) who have swept into Cabot Cove with grandiose plans of building an elaborate resort/marina complex. As local investors eagerly line up to get in on the project, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) cannot help but suspect that the whole enterprise seems to good to be true. It looks like her instincts are right on target when the wife (Katherine Cannnon) of one of the biggest investors dies in a suspicious car accident. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Hollywood is abuzz with the news that a film completed back in 1960, but shelved after its director died mysteriously, has been rediscovered and restored. This takes place at a studio that has become a target for a wide variety of movie pirates--and not a few dedicated film buffs. When one of those buffs is killed, Jessica suspects that a murder has been committed, and that this killing is tied in with the death that occurred way back in the sixties. Featured in the cast is a young James Caviezel, who a decade later would star in Mel Gibson's controversial The Passion of the Christ. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Once again, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) joins forces with Chicago P.I. Charlie Garrett (Wayne Rogers), this time at a New York cultural museum. At first, Jessica and Charlie are on opposite sides as they bid against each other during an auction for a rare manuscript allegedly written by "Sherlock Holmes" creator Arthur Conan-Doyle. Before long, however, the two sleuths are following the clues surrounding the murder of a notorious art forger suspected of copying a stolen Degas painting. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In the first episode of a two-part story, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is in Ireland, staying at a bed-and-breakfast at Ballynook Castle. Rumor has it that the castle is haunted by the ghost of a murdered woman, and the locals are convinced that the spirt is responsible for the death of a kitchen worker. Suspecting that the victim was murdered by "live" culprits who are searching for a hidden treasure, Jessica follows a trail of clues that may well lead her into a death trap! Rod Taylor and Fionnula Flanagan, both of whom had appeared in previous episodes filmed in Ireland, show up here in different roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is still in Ireland, investigating the mysterious (and deadly) goings-on at ancient Ballynook Castle. In her efforts to prove that a legendary ghost was not responsible for the death of a kitchen worker, Jessica had become trapped in the castle's dank and gloomy dungeon. Meanwhile, the genuine culprits, who may or may not be involved in an intricate antique-smuggling scheme, remain at large. Rod Taylor and Fionnula Flanagan, both of whom had appeared in previous episodes filmed in Ireland, show up here in different roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Megan Follows leaves her Anne of Green Gables TV persona behind to portray Lila Nolan, a young Boston-based nurse who is suspected of mercy killing. Two of Lila's elderly patients have died under mysterious circumstances, and now she has arrived in Cabot Cove to provide home care for ailing Maggie Saunders (Audra Lindley)--who happens to be the best friend of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). Be assured that murder will soon rear its ugly head, and that Jessica will find herself in the position of defending Lila against a false charge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
A tranquil Arizona community is being terrorized by a series of robberies staged by an elusive truck-stop bandit. In addition, a number of disreputable-looking strangers have descended upon the community in search of buried treasure. Fortuously visiting a friend who lives near the town in question, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) ends up helping the new, inexperienced sheriff handle the onslaught of trouble--which of course is capped by a murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Jessica (Angela Lansbury) installs herself in the offices of a San Francisco paper, there to concentrate on serializing one of her novels. At the same time, the paper's advice columnist has become the target of a campaign of harassment. Jessica warns the columnist to take the situation seriously, but it's too late--a mysterious gunman already has the ink-stained wretch in his sights. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Lainie Kazan guest stars as Anna Grimaldi, the matriarch of a family of vintners who own a financially strapped Sonoma Valley winery. Anna's burdens are intensified by the occurrence of two murderers: one victim is her own son, the other is a rival vintner who was attempting a hostile takeover of the Grimaldi operation. Yes, folks, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is a friend of the family--and yes, folks, she does her darnedest to find out the killer's identity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
A murder has been committed in Cabot Cove, and the body is found in the garage of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). Actually, two murders take place, and the cause of it all is the illicit affair between a married woman and the town bully. All the members of the couple's bowling league are suspected, but Jessica deduces that it took only one person to score the two strikes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
The people of Cabot Cove are thrown for a loop when Seth Hazlitt (William Windom) suddenly disappears. Making matters all the more disturbing are the blood stains in his office, and the evidence that Seth's body was dragged somewhere by parties unknown. All the same, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) can't quite dismiss her intuition that Seth is still alive (and no fair peeking at the cast lists of future episodes to figure out what happens next!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This story revolves around piano prodigy Leslie Walden (Jenny Lewis) and her demanding mentor Byron (Ronald Guttman). Believing that Leslie would be nothing without him, Byron bristles at the likelihood that he is losing control of the girl's career. Soon afterward, Byron is found murdered--and it is up to Jessica (Angela Lansbury) to perform a few arpeggios and glissandos (metaphorically speaking, of course) to determine the killer's identity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
