Movies/TV Shows

Mrs. Bradley Mysteries – British Television Series

October 27, 2015

Calling all Diana Rigg fans! Get ready to see Rigg dead-panning to the camera as only Diana Rigg can do. She is absolutely delightful as Mrs. Bradley, a middle age flapper with very modern views.

Mrs. Bradley Mysteries is a BBC production that I was fortunate to have watched years ago. It ran in Great Britain during 1998-1999, so I’m not sure when my local PBS channel aired it >>> some time around then. It was particularly fun to watch Diana Rigg as she introduced the shows (she starred) in on PBS – during her Mystery! hosting years. (Those were the days when they actually provided background information about the authors, times, ETC.)

Neil Dudgeon (lately seen as John Barnaby on Midsomer Murders) plays George, Mrs. Bradley’s chauffeur. Mrs. Bradley, with George’s help, solves crimes, and is quite a celebrity. She is known to be an excellent crime solver and a very modern thinker. She is a woman who never stops learning. She keeps up with all the events that are happening during the current times. She is a loyal friend, but values justice over friendship. Her interests include those that were thought to be only men’s interests during this time. She is not a woman who would retire with the ladies while the men smoked cigars and drank cognac in the study!

The ambiance of this series is beautiful. Diana Rigg (Mrs. Bradley) wears the most amazingly beautiful clothes. The entire wardrobe department has done a wonderful job. The 1920s was a time of opulence: sequined gowns, soft fabrics, and tuxedos were common-place for the upper echelon to wear during the evening. This was a time when people (at least in Mrs. Bradley’s aristocratic circle) dressed up for dinner >>> which was “announced.”

The sets are excellent, the props are perfect. The Rolls Royce that George and Mrs. Bradley tootle around in is a phenomenal piece of art. And, the mysteries are good, too!

The unfortunate thing about the Mrs. Bradley Mysteries is that there are so few episodes. A 90 minute pilot aired in 1998 and only four sixty minute episodes were made for their 1999 airing. I ask you: WHY only five episodes!?! These productions are so delightful. What a shame there are so few… (and while I’m asking “Why?” >>> why can’t the USA match Britain’s beautiful period pieces?)

For more movie and television show recommendations, visit this page on my site: TV and Movies.

*** This series is available on Netflix in the disc format. Also, check your libraries.

Upcoming Television Mystery Movies for November 2015

October 24, 2015

I’m having a difficult time believing that it’s almost November >>> but it is! Since that’s the case, I want to hurry up and post the mystery movies that I have found that will air in that month. Oh, before I forget, I want to mention that the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel will be showing a whole lot of Christmas movies during November, so I was only able to find one mystery movie, which happens to also be a Christmas movie. And, I don’t know if you all have noticed, but ever since the Turner Classic Movies channel started airing more recent movies, it has cut down the number of old, black & white mystery movies. What a drag! But, at least they are showing some!

***** ***** ***** *****

November 2015 Turner Classic Movies Channel Mystery Movies (Central time zone):

***** ***** ***** *****

Monday – November 2, 2015

7:30 AM
YOU’RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE (1938)
Andy Hardy and his sister find romance during a family vacation in Catalina.
Dir: George B. Seitz Cast: Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Cecilia Parker.
BW-78 mins, CC
***Not a mystery. I didn’t watch my first Andy Hardy movie until very recently, and I’m glad I did. You may enjoy them, too.***

9:00 AM
ANDY HARDY GETS SPRING FEVER (1939)
A teenage boy falls in love with his drama teacher.
Dir: W. S. Van Dyke II Cast: Mickey Rooney, Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden
BW-85 mins, CC
***Not a mystery, but you may enjoy it.***

2:00 PM
WASHINGTON MELODRAMA (1941)
A philanthropic businessman is framed for murder during a lobbying trip to Washington.
Dir: S. Sylvan Simon Cast: Frank Morgan, Ann Rutherford, Kent Taylor.
BW-81 mins, CC

3:30 PM
WHISTLING IN THE DARK (1941)
A radio detective is kidnapped and forced to plan the perfect murder.
Dir: S. Sylvan Simon Cast: Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford, Conrad Veidt
BW-78 mins, CC

***** ***** ***** *****

Wednesday – November 4, 2015

9:00 AM
HUNT THE MAN DOWN (1950)
Lawyer uncovers secrets behind a decade-old murder case.
Dir: George Archainbaud Cast: Gig Young, Lynne Roberts, Willard Parker.
BW-68 mins

4:45 PM
FIVE MILES TO MIDNIGHT (1963)
A woman tries to free herself from her husband by helping him fake his own death.
Dir: Anatole Litvak Cast: Anthony Perkins, Sophia Loren, Gig Young.
BW-108 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

***** ***** ***** *****

Thursday – November 5, 2015

11:15 PM
OUT OF THE PAST (1947)
A private eye becomes the dupe of a homicidal moll.
Dir: Jacques Tourneur Cast: Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas.
BW-97 mins, CC

***** ***** ***** *****

Friday – November 6, 2015

7:00 PM
CHARADE (1963)
A beautiful widow tries to find her husband’s lost fortune while eluding the killers who want it themselves.
Dir: Stanley Donen Cast: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau.
C-113 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

9:00 PM
AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (1945)
Guests at a remote island mansion realize a crazed killer is stalking them.
Dir: René Clair Cast: Walter Huston, Barry Fitzgerald, Louis Hayward.
BW-97 mins, CC
***An Agatha Christie adaptation.***

***** ***** ***** *****

Saturday – November 7, 2015

12:30 AM
BERSERK (1967)
A lady ringmaster milks the publicity from a string of murders.
Dir: Jim O’Connolly Cast: Joan Crawford, Diana Dors, Ty Hardin.
C-96 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

2:30 AM
THE NANNY (1965)
A disturbed young man tries to prove his nanny is out to kill him.
Dir: Seth Holt Cast: Bette Davis, William Dix, Jill Bennett.
BW-93 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

7:00 AM
THE PROWLER (1951)
A policeman’s obsession with a married woman leads to murder.
Dir: Joseph Losey Cast: Van Heflin, Evelyn Keyes, John Maxwell.
BW-93 mins, CC

4:45 PM
THE LAST OF SHEILA (1973)
A game of murder among wealthy vacationers turns into the real thing.
Dir: Herbert Ross Cast: Richard Benjamin, James Colburn, Diane Cannon.
C-119 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

9:15 PM
MARIE: A TRUE STORY (1985)
A political appointee risks her job and her life to expose corruption.
Dir: Roger Donaldson Cast: Sissy Spacek, Jeff Daniels, Morgan Freeman.
C-112 mins, Letterbox Format

***** ***** ***** *****

Tuesday – November 10, 2015

11:30 AM
THE THIN MAN (1934)
A husband-and-wife detective team takes on the search for a missing inventor and almost get killed for their efforts.
Dir: W. S. Van Dyke Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O’Sullivan.
BW-91 mins, CC

1:15 PM
AFTER THE THIN MAN (1936)
Married sleuths Nick and Nora Charles try to clear Nora’s cousin of a murder charge.
Dir: W. S. Van Dyke Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, James Stewart.
BW-112 mins, CC

5:00 PM
EVELYN PRENTICE (1934)
A criminal lawyer’s wife faces blackmail when she has an affair.
Dir: William K. Howard Cast: Myrna Loy, William Powell, Una Merkel.
BW-79 mins, CC

***** ***** ***** *****

Wednesday – November 11, 2015

12:45 PM
GAMBLING LADY (1934)
Two gamblers fall in love but one is already married to a possible murderer.
Dir: Archie Mayo Cast: Pat O’Brien, Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea.
BW-66 mins, CC

7:00 PM
THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)
A bogus preacher marries an outlaw’s widow in search of the man’s hidden loot.
Dir: Charles Laughton Cast: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish.
BW-93 mins, CC

***** ***** ***** *****

Thursday – November 12, 2015

7:30 AM
MR. AND MRS. NORTH (1941)
A sappily married couple discover a murder victim in their closet.
Dir: Robert B. Sinclair Cast: Gracie Allen, William Post, Jr., Paul Kelly.
BW-67 mins

11:15 AM
THE SECRET FURY (1950)
A mysterious figure tries to stop a woman’s marriage by driving her mad.
Dir: Mel Ferrer Cast: Claudette Colbert, Robert Ryan, Jane Cowl.
BW-86 mins, CC

3:45 PM
GUNSIGHT RIDGE (1957)
A sheriff tries to find the man who killed his predecessor.
Dir: Francis D. Lyon Cast: Joel McCrea, Mark Stevens, Joan Weldon.
BW-85 mins

***** ***** ***** *****

Friday – November 13, 2015

5:00 AM
LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY (1938)
A small-town boy tries to juggle two girlfriends at once.
Dir: George B. Seitz Cast: Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Judy Garland.
BW-91 mins, CC
***Not a mystery. Another Andy Hardy movie.***

***** ***** ***** *****

Saturday – November 14, 2015

12:00 AM
THE WRONG BOX (1966)
Two elderly brothers plot to kill each other for a fortune.
Dir: Bryan Forbes Cast: Ralph Richardson, John Mills, Michael Caine.
C-106 mins, Letterbox Format

***** ***** ***** *****

Sunday – November 15, 2015

12:30 PM
LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945)
A beautiful neurotic will stop at nothing to hold onto her husband’s love.
Dir: John M. Stahl Cast: Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Craine.
C-110 mins, CC

***** ***** ***** *****

Monday – November 16, 2015

9:00 PM
THE KISS OF DEATH (1947)
An ex-con trying to go straight must face a crazed criminal out for revenge.
Dir: Henry Hathaway Cast: Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy, Richard Widmark.
BW-99 mins

***** ***** ***** *****

Wednesday – November 18, 2015

9:00 PM
IN COLD BLOOD (1967)
Two vagrants try to outrun the police after committing a savage crime in this real-life shocker.
Dir: Richard Brooks Cast: Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forthsythe.
BW-135 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

***** ***** ***** *****

Thursday – November 19, 2015

9:15 AM
BUREAU OF MISSING PERSONS (1933)
A police chief helps a young bride find her missing husband or at least his corpse.
Dir: Roy Del Ruth Cast: Pat O’Brien, Bette Davis, Lewis Stone.
BW-73 mins

***** ***** ***** *****

Saturday – November 21, 2015

11:00 AM
MURDER, SHE SAID (1961)
When nobody will believe she witnessed a murder, elderly sleuth Miss Marple takes a job as a maid to ferret out clues.
Dir: George Pollock Cast: Margaret Rutherford, Arthur Kennedy, Joan Hickson.
BW-86 mins, CC, Letterbox Format
***A very different take on an Agatha Christie mystery. Includes a young Joan Hickson, who later went on to play an absolutely perfect Miss Marple.***

7:00 PM
BULLITT (1968)
When mobsters kill the witness he was assigned to protect, a dedicated policeman investigates the case on his own.
Dir: Peter Yates Cast: Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset.
C-114 mins, CC

9:00 PM
POINT BLANK (1967)
A gangster plots an elaborate revenge on the wife and partner who did him dirty.
Dir: John Boorman Cast: Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, Keenan Wynn.
C-92 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

11:00 PM
EXPERIMENT IN TERROR (1962)
A master criminal tries to force a bank teller to help him pull off a big heist.
Dir: Blake Edwards Cast: Glenn Ford, Lee Remick, Ross Martin.
BW-123 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

***** ***** ***** *****

Sunday – November 22, 2015

7:00 AM
LADY IN THE LAKE (1947)
Philip Marlowe searches for a missing woman in this mystery shot entirely from the detective’s viewpoint.
Dir: Robert Montgomery Cast: Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan.
BW-103 mins, CC

***** ***** ***** *****

Monday – November 23, 2015

8:45 AM
THE INVISIBLE MENACE (1938)
An Army base murder investigation dredges up strange secrets.
Dir: John Farrow Cast: Boris Karloff, Regis Toomey, Marie Wilson.
BW-55 mins

2:00 PM
LURED (1947)
A woman helps the police catch the serial killer who murdered her best friend.
Dir: Douglas Sirk Cast: George Sanders, Lucille Ball, Boris Karloff.
BW-103 mins

5:15 PM
THE VENETIAN AFFAIR (1967)
A reporter investigates an American diplomat’s murder in Venice.
Dir: Jerry Thorpe Cast: Boris Karloff, Robert Vaughn, Elke Sommer.
C-89 mins, Letterbox Format

***** ***** ***** *****

Tuesday – November 24, 2015

7:00 AM
SHIELD FOR MURDER (1954)
A crooked detective masterminds a robbery then fights to keep his money.
Dir: Edmond O’Brien, Howard Coch Cast: Edmond O’Brien, John Agar, Carolyn Jones.
BW-82 mins

10:30 AM
THE BURNING HILLS (1956)
A young cowboy and a Mexican girl run from a ruthless criminal.
Dir: Stuart Heisler Cast: Tab Hunter, Skip Homeier, Natalie Wood.
C-92 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

1:45 PM
HOT SUMMER NIGHT (1957)
A hot-shot reporter risks his life to land an interview with a notorious crook.
Dir: David Friedkin Cast: Leslie Nielsen, Edward Andrews, Jay C. Flippen.
BW-86 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

***** ***** ***** *****

Wednesday – November 25, 2015

7:00 PM
A TIME TO KILL (1996)
Dir: Joel Schumacher Cast: Matthey McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson.
BW-128 mins

***** ***** ***** *****

Thursday – November 26, 2015

12:00 AM
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007)
A poacher has to elude the Texas Rangers and the mob after stealing drug money.
Dir: Joel & Ethan Coen Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem.
C-122 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

***The next five movies star Katherine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy. They are not mysteries.***

7:00 PM
DESK SET (1957)
A computer expert tries to prove his electronic brain can replace a television network’s research staff.
Dir: Walter Lang Cast: Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Gig Young.
C-103 mins

9:00 PM
WOMAN OF THE YEAR (1942)
Opposites distract when a sophisticated political columnist falls for a sportswriter.
Dir: George Stevens Cast: Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Fay Bainter.
BW-114 mins, CC

11:00 PM
STATE OF THE UNION (1948)
A presidential candidate fights to keep his integrity and his wife during a grueling campaign.
Dir: Frank Capra Cast: Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Angela Lansbury.
BW-123 mins, CC

***** ***** ***** *****

Friday – November 27, 2015

1:15 AM
PAT AND MIKE (1952)
Romance blooms between a female athlete and her manager.
Dir: George Cukor Cast: Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Aldo Ray.
BW-95 mins, CC

3:00 AM
ADAM’S RIB (1949)
Husband-and-wife lawyers argue opposite sides in a sensational women’s rights case.
Dir: George Cukor Cast: Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Judy Holliday.
BW-101 mins, CC

2:30 PM
CHARADE (1963)
A beautiful widow tries to find her husband’s lost fortune while eluding the killers who want it themselves.
Dir: Stanley Donen Cast: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau.
C-113 mins, CC, Letterbox Format

4:30 PM
NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
An advertising man is mistaken for a spy, triggering a deadly cross-country chase.
Dir: Alfred Hitchcock Cast: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason.
C-136 mins, CC

***** ***** ***** *****

Saturday – November 28, 2015

8:15 AM
DICK TRACY (1945)
Dick is faced with a series of murders in which the victims all come from different social and economic backgrounds.
Dir: William Berke Cast: Morgan Conway, Anne Jeffreys, Mike Mazurki.
BW-61 mins, CC

1:15 PM
BADLANDS (1973)
A young tough guy and his teen-aged girlfriend take off on a killing spree.
Dir: Terrence Malick Cast: Martin Sheen, Sissy Spacek, Warren Oates.
C-94 mins, CC

***** ***** ***** *****

Sunday – November 29, 2015

7:00 AM
RANSOM! (1956)
A wealthy couple tries to cope with the press and the police when their son is kidnapped.
Dir: Alex Segal Cast: Glenn Ford, Donna Reed, Leslie Nielsen.
BW-102 mins, CC

1:15 PM
IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU (1954)
A dizzy model in love with fame rents a billboard and puts her name on it.
Dir: George Cukor Cast: Judy Holliday, Jack Lemmon, Peter Lawford.
BW-87 mins, CC
***Not a mystery. Judy Holliday is terrific!***

3:00 PM
CROSSING DELANCEY (1988)
An aging woman hires a matchmaker to find her independent granddaughter a man.
Dir: Joan Micklin Silver Cast: Amy Irving, Peter Riegert, Reizl Bozyk.
C-97 mins, CC
***Not a mystery. I just watched this movie last week, and as I watched it, I wished I would have told you all about it so you could have DVR-ed it. I’m delighted TCM is re-airing it so I can tell you about it now.***

***** ***** ***** *****

Monday – November 30, 2015

6:30 AM
SMART GIRLS DON’T TALK (1948)
A society woman gets involved with a gangster only to find he has hidden plans.
Dir: Richard Bare Cast: Virginia Mayo, Bruce Bennett, Helen Westcott.
BW-81 mins

11:45 AM
FLAXY MARTIN (1949)
Messing with a mobster’s girlfriend gets a lawyer framed for murder.
Dir: Richard Bare Cast: Zachary Scott, Virginia Mayo, Dorothy Malone.
BW-86 mins, CC

***** ***** ***** *****

(All of the above TCM descriptions were copied from the TCM site.)

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

November 2015 Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel Mystery Movies (Central time zone):

***** ***** ***** *****

Sunday – November 8, 2015

10:00 PM
Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas
Oliver, Shane, Norman and Rita work together in the dead letter office to solve the mystery behind an undeliverable Christmas card from years past. Stars Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Crystal Lowe, Geoff Gustafson.
***Not a mystery, but I know there are some Signed, Sealed, Delivered fans out there.***

***** ***** ***** *****

Sunday – November 22, 2015 9/8c

Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery
This holiday season, Hannah Swensen is making plum pudding and trying to solve the murder of a man in his own office. It turns out the list of suspects who would have wanted to see the guy dead is a long one, from a bitter ex-wife to exasperated investors. But Hannah is on the case, not to mention ready for a little Christmas season romance. (Based on Joanne Fluke‘s very popular (very Cozy!) Hannah Swensen Mystery Series/)
Starring Alison Sweeney and Cameron Mathison

***** ***** ***** *****

(Both of the above Hallmark Movies & Mysteries descriptions were copied from the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries site.)

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

The rest of us would absolutely love hearing about any more mystery movies they will be airing during November 2015. So, if you know of any I haven’t listed, please post a comment.

Here is the October 2015 television mystery movies schedule:

Upcoming Television Mystery Movies for October 2015

Hallmark & Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Countdown to Christmas 2015

Here is the page on my site with lots and lots of entries of movies and television shows you may enjoy:

Cozy Mystery List TV and Movie Section

Hallmark & Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Countdown to Christmas 2015

October 9, 2015

If you love holiday movies as much as I do, then this entry is for you! I know I’m early with this, but if you’re anything like me, that isn’t a problem! I’m putting the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries schedule at the top, since the second of Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen mysteries will be featured in a holiday mystery movie.

Here is the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel Countdown to Christmas 2015. (Make sure to mark your calendars!)

Sunday – November 22, 2015 9/8c

***** ***** *****

Sunday – November 29, 2015 9/8c

The Christmas Note
Having just moved back to her hometown without her husband but with her young son, Gretchen Daniels finds her life in disarray as Christmas approaches. But she seems to find new purpose when she helps to deliver a message to her new neighbor that makes her an ally in the quest to find the neighbor’s long-missing sibling. The women become bonded not only by the search but by the understanding that being there for each other means they’re no longer alone in the world. And that becomes the greatest Christmas gift of their lives. Based on a bestselling novel by Donna VanLiere.
Starring Jamie-Lynn Sigler

***** ***** *****

Sunday – December 6, 2015 9/8c

Magic Stocking
This holiday tale surrounds Lindsey Monroe – a widow still mourning her husband’s death – and daughter Hannah. When Hannah buys a stocking at their town’s Christmas craft fair, Lindsey suddenly starts to magically find things inside it that begin holding importance in her everyday life. The stocking holds a power and energy that quickly becomes clear, restoring Lindsey’s faith in life and love – and leading her to open up her heart after meeting a handsome artist.

***** ***** *****

Sunday – December 13, 2015 9/8c

Debbie Macomber’s Dashing Through the Snow
Based on a novel by Debbie Macomber, this yuletide movie tells the story of Ashley Harrison (Meghan Ory) and Dash Sutherland (Andrew Walker). She is a crafter based in San Francisco who is desperate to spend the holidays with her family in Seattle and Dash is also in a rush to get there. When Ashley inexplicably encounters a problem with her reservation at the airport ticket counter, she turns to Plan B and attempts to rent a car. But there’s just one vehicle left and Dash beats her to it. Reluctantly, Ashley takes him up on his offer to join him on the road trip. As the pair heads north, their adventures include car trouble, adopting a puppy and being secretly tailed by federal agents, who believe Ashley is up to no good. With a hint of romance gradually filling the air will these two fall in love or will their journey bring about an unexpected road bump to romance?
Starring Meghan Ory and Andrew Walker

***** ***** *****

(All of the above Hallmark Movies & Mysteries descriptions were copied from the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries site.)

Christmas Holly ***** ***** ***** *****

Here is the Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas 2015 schedule. (As I mentioned before, be sure to mark you calendars!)

Sunday – November 1, 2015 8/7c

‘Tis the Season for Love
Beth Baker is an out-of-work actress stuck in New York City without her friends at Christmas time. She decides to return home to the quaint small town she escaped 10 years before and finds a place far different than the hamlet she left. She suddenly finds performing possibilities and even romance that kind of blow her away. Will the holidays prove to be as magical for Beth as they appear, or is it doomed to disappear as quickly as it arrived for a lady who is ready to take chances she could never have imagined a decade before. Then again, this is the kind of thing that seems to happen during the Christmas season all the time.
Starring Sarah Lancaster and Brendan Penny

***** ***** *****

Saturday – November 7, 2015 8/7c

Ice Sculpture Christmas
After starting her first job at a country club restaurant, Callie – an aspiring chef – reconnects with her childhood friend David, whose wealthy family is a member of the club. When David enters Callie into the club’s annual Christmas ice sculpting competition without her knowledge, she’s forced to go head-to-head with her boss, Chef Gloria. Even though ice sculpting is cold work, sparks are ignited between Callie and David as they prepare for the competition as a team. Callie’s passions for cooking and ice sculpting are met with romance and Christmas spirit as she works to create the perfect sculpture.
Starring Rachel Boston and Brenda Strong

***** ***** *****

Sunday – November 8, 2015 8/7c

Charming Christmas
Rossman’s department store prepares for the Christmas season but its employees are not quite in the holiday spirit. As the no-nonsense manager, Meredith, is busy with the store’s possible expansion for her parents, Nick comes to work as Santa Claus and spreads holiday joy throughout Rossman’s. Between making Christmas wishes come true and cracking Meredith’s tough exterior with some holiday romance, the mysterious Nick seems nothing short of saintly. Could this “Saint Nick” be the real Santa Claus?
Starring Julie Benz and David Sutcliffe

***** ***** *****

Saturday – November 14,2015 8/7c

I’m Not Ready for Christmas
Holly finds her world turned upside-down when she suddenly finds herself incapable of lying. (Don’t you hate when that happens?) It’s because of a wish her niece made to Santa Claus. And now, with Christmas coming up fast, she has to come to terms with her natural penchant to want to fib while trying to do the right thing. And that’s no lie.
Starring Alicia Witt, George Stults, Brigid Brannagh, Dan Lauria and Maxwell Caulfield

Christmas Stockings ***** ***** *****

Sunday – November 15, 2015 8/7c

Christmas Incorporated
Sometimes, life just seems to hand you exactly what you need – particularly at Christmastime. In this new yuletide original, Riley is scraping bottom when she miraculously lands a job with a wealthy New York City entrepreneur. He’s a bad-boy socialite type who is poised to play Scrooge by closing one of his factories just before Christmas, which would devastate and entire town. It’s left to Riley to talk him out of it and turn him into a man of virtue rather than shame. But will a case of mistaken identity ruin the whole plan? Watch and find out.
Starring Shenae Grimes-Beech and Steve Lund

***** ***** *****

Saturday – November 21, 2015 8/7c

Northpole: Open for Christmas
When Mackenzie Reed inherits her beloved aunt’s once-majestic hotel, she decides the sensible thing to do is sell it before Christmas. But fixing up the rundown place while managing the hotel staff (including the handyman and his kids) and dealing with demanding guests is more challenging than she had anticipated. That’s when the magic of Christmas intervenes. Mackenzie gets some unexpected help as Clementine and a group of Elves arrive on a special mission from Santa to repair the hotel and at the same time help her to rediscover some hidden talents along with the true meaning of Christmas.
Starring Lori Loughlin, Dermot Mulroney and Bailee Madison

***** ***** *****

Sunday – November 22, 2015 8/7c

Merry Matrimony
In this new holiday treat, Brie is an ad executive who lands her dream assignment organizing the perfect Christmas wedding for a fashion magazine. If all goes well, it’s promised that she’ll be promoted to partner at her agency. But whoops, it seems there’s a little catch: The fashion photographer she’s being partnered with happens to be her ex- fiance’. Uh oh. Now Brie’s got to bring her “A” game to the project while working through all sorts of unresolved feelings and issues. Good luck, Brie. You’re probably going to need it.
Starring Jessica Lowndes and Christopher Russell

***** ***** *****

Wednesday – November 25,2015 8/7c

Once Upon a Holiday
When an actual, honest-to-goodness royal princess runs off from her official obligations and duties for a couple of days to see how the other half lives, she winds up falling for a good Samaritan who is unaware of her real identity. And it happens right around Christmas. Will the guy still feel the same way once he learns the truth? And if this works out, won’t that make him a prince? We’re guessing yes.
Starring Briana Evigan, Paul Campbell and Greg Evigan

***** ***** *****

Thursday – November 26, 2015 8/7c

The 12 Gifts of Christmas
When Anna Russo, an unemployed fine arts painter, is unable to make ends meet, she is hired to become a personal Christmas shopper for Marc, an uptight corporate exec. As they begin working together, Marc learns that Christmas giving has less to do with the amount of money spent and more to do with the importance of the gift, while Anna discovers she might find success as an artist in a way she never expected. The best gift of all of course is the love they discover with one another.
Starring Katrina Law, Aaron O’Connell and Donna Mills

Christmas Ornament ***** ***** *****

Friday – November 27, 2015 8/7c

Crown for Christmas
After getting fired from her job as a maid at a ritzy New York City hotel, Allie reluctantly accepts a temp gig as the governess to a young girl who is part of a powerful family in Europe that lives in an actual castle. After arriving, Allie learns the girl is named Princess Theodora and her father is Maximillion, the King of Winshire. The King informs Allie that the Princess has a tendency to terrorize authority figures, a predilection that has grown worse since her mother’s death. Yet governess and Princess wind up hitting it off while at the same time a spark forms between Allie and Max. However, Countess Celia is expecting to wed the King. Will Max take a stand for his feelings for Allie and make it truly a merry Christmas for all (or at least, most)?
Starring Danica McKellar

***** ***** *****

Saturday – November 28, 2015 8/7c

A Christmas Detour
Two New York City-bound travelers find themselves inextricably linked when a snowstorm reroutes them to an airport hotel in Buffalo. Ever the eternal optimist and hopeless romantic, Paige desperately needs to find a way back home to meet her fiancee’s parents before her forthcoming wedding. And it’s somehow up to fellow passenger Dylan MacKenzie, who is permanently soured on romance following a recent heartbreak. Yet Dylan somehow rises to the occasion to become Paige’s chivalrous helpmate. The pair are joined on this misadventure by an older couple named Frank and Maxine trying to get to Connecticut. As their madcap journey ensues, our foursome will find plenty of surprises in store.
Starring Candace Cameron Bure, Paul Greene, Sarah Strange and David Lewis

***** ***** *****

Sunday – November 29, 2015 8/7c

Angel of Christmas
Susan is a newspaper staffer who decides to generate some Christmas spirit by writing an article about her family’s storied 100-year-old, hand-carved, heirloom Christmas angel. This leads her to accidentally meet Brady, a cute, upbeat artist who insists that he and Susan become fast friends (at least). It turns out that this angel also has the spiritual power to bring people together – as it seems to be doing with Susan and Brady. What’s behind this enchanted ornament? As time moves on, more about this captivating artifact is revealed.
Starring Jennifer Finnigan, Jonathan Scarfe and Holly Robinson Peete

***** ***** *****

Saturday – December 5, 2015 8/7c

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Just in Time for Christmas
Lindsay is faced with a life-altering decision as Christmas approaches: Stay in her tiny hometown and marry boyfriend Jason or accept a coveted post teaching at an Ivy League college on the other side of the country. What to do? Fortunately for Lindsay, she has some big-time help in the form of a magical messenger who is able to transport her three years into the future to see how it would all turn out. Christopher Lloyd co-stars as Lindsay’s beloved Grandpa Bob.
Starring Eloise Mumford, Michael Stahl-David, William Shatner and Christopher Lloyd

Christmas Ornaments ***** ***** *****

Sunday – December 6, 2015 8/7c

Karen Kingsbury’s The Bridge
Don’t miss the sweeping tale of Molly Callens and Ryan Kelly, two young students who share a profound friendship their first semester in college, a time that becomes the defining moment of their lives. At their favorite bookstore and coffee shop, The Bridge, they spend countless hours studying and inspiring the other to dream their 10-year goal. They bond with the owners of The Bridge, Charlie and Donna Barton, a couple who designed the bookstore as a place where people can connect and be part of an extended family. Can Molly and Ryan’s unspoken love and future dreams survive the expectations of others as to what their lives should ultimately be?
Starring Katie Findlay, Wyatt Nash, Ted McGinley and Faith Ford

***** ***** *****

Saturday – December 12, 2015 8/7c

On The Twelfth Day of Christmas
Maggie Dunlop is thrilled when her long time crush, Mitch, moves to her little town of Harrison. Once Maggie discovers Mitch and his love for Christmas has drastically changed, she vows to bring the holiday spirit back in his life. Determined to show him the magic of Christmas, she decides to create 12 Christmas gifts that ask him to do fun Christmas tasks in order to renew his love for the season and explore his feelings towards Maggie.
Starring Brooke Nevin and Robin Dunne

***** ***** *****

Sunday – December 13, 2015 9/8c

***At the time I was writing this entry, the Hallmark channel didn’t have this movie on the schedule. However, since it shows all the premiering Christmas movies on Saturday and Sunday nights, I am guessing that this will premiere the same night it will premiere on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel.***

***** ***** *****

Saturday – December 19, 2015 8/7c

A Christmas Melody
Mariah Carey portrays a music teacher who helps a stressed-out young girl named Emily write a song she will sing at a town’s Christmas variety show. The girl has just moved with her mom to begin a new life just before the holidays. And the teacher does wonders to help with the adjustment process – also intervening to help her mother find love and happiness as well. Expect that Carey herself might also sing a song or two.
Starring Mariah Carey

***** ***** *****

Sunday – December 20, 2015 8/7c

Christmas Land
Jules has just inherited a quaint Christmas tree farm bequeathed her by her grandmother. This is good news, since she plans to sell it and use the profits to buy her dream home in the city. The farm needs a bit of sprucing up, but Jules is a natural fixer so she’ll have it cleaned up in no time to impress buyers and be out by Christmas. But the longer Jules stays on the farm and the more she learns how important Christmas Land has been to so many families, the more Jules starts to question her motives to sell. And when the perfect buyer turns out to have ulterior motives for the farm, Jules must do whatever it takes to save Christmas Land.

Christmas Lights ***** ***** *****

(All of the above Hallmark descriptions were copied from the Hallmark site.)

***** ***** ***** *****

For more ideas on Christmas movies, be sure to take a look at these two entries of mine:

Christmas: Favorite Classic Holiday Movies : Old, Black & White

Christmas: Favorite Holiday Movies – More Recent, In Color

Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes, British Television Movie

September 26, 2015

As you may have guessed by the title of this entry, Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle: The Dark Beginning of Sherlock Holmes is a fictionalized rendition of how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle came up with one of fiction’s most iconic characters >>> Sherlock Holmes. This movie stars the wonderful Ian Richardson (of the original House of Cards) as Dr. Bell, Doyle’s mentor.

Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle: The Dark Beginning of Sherlock Holmes gives us a small glimpse into Doyle’s life in medical school. ( I was quite surprised by his family’s circumstances.) We are treated to what medical school in the late 1800s might have been like. Women are fighting to be seen as good enough to have the privilege of attending these universities; while it’s almost a given for rich, young men to have a seat in these lecture halls.

Dr. Bell is a medical doctor and professor who is quite different than the other teachers at the university. He doesn’t seem to question having women in his classes nor does he believe in simply teaching the medical students basic information. He has them use their deductive reasoning skills to become the best doctors possible.

Dr. Bell employs Doyle as his research assistant, which becomes an all-consuming, highly rewarding experience. It is this “internship” that Doyle uses as his basis for Sherlock Holmes’ deductive powers. According to the movie, Dr. Bell works at solving murders which the local police are unable to solve. He does so through reading all of the clues, not just the obvious.

Robin Laing gives a very good performance as young Arthur Conan Doyle in this BBC production. The costumes and sets are particularly good. The movie shows us how Sherlock Holmes could definitely have been modeled on Dr. Bell. If you enjoy terrific British made-for-TV movies, Ian Richardson, and Sherlock Holmes, I think you’ll enjoy Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes.

PS. This movie is not available on Netflix or Acorn at this time. (When I wrote this entry, it was available on Netflix in disc format. Apparently they are waiting to re-release it, and have it on their “Save to DVD Queue” mode.)

For more ideas on movies and television shows, be sure to check my TV and Movie page on my site.

« Previous Page