The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

In Plain Sight is Back!

March 16, 2012

The USA channel show In Plain Sight is going to be returning tonight! Yes, tonight – March 16, 2012. Mary (Mary McCormack) will be back after maternity leave, and Brandi (Nichole Hiltz), … well, I’m assuming she will still be single after last season’s cliff hanger. I sure hope we get to see more of Jinx (Lesley Ann Warren) this season, and I also hope this show is not in its last season! (It’s going to be bad enough losing The Closer after this summer’s run!)

In Plain Sight is one of my favorite shows. It ranks (for me) right up there with TNT’s The Closer. Both of these shows are on “non-major” networks, which may have something to do with how women are portrayed on the major networks, and perhaps because they aren’t major network shows, the writers try harder. (I don’t know of any really good shows that feature strong, female leads on the major networks. – I’m sure though, that I will hear from people who know of such shows, they just aren’t shows that have “hooked me” into watching them.)

And, the writers have managed to make the male characters on the show interesting, also. I love Marshall Marshall Mann (Frederick Weller),  Mary’s long-suffering boss Stan (Paul Ben-Victor), and think Brandi made a terrible mistake with Peter (Joshua Malina). As for Raphael (Cristián de la Fuente), well… what’s to say? I guess Mary just didn’t want to be burdened with absolute perfection!

If you haven’t already watched In Plain Sight, I strongly recommend that you do. (I would definitely watch it chronologically, though.) If you are a fan (as I am!): Get over to your DVR right now, or make sure you are watching tonight as Albuquerque’s Witness Protection marshalls do their thing!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

30 Comments - Click Here to Read the Comments or to Add Another

Father Brown Television Series…

December 30, 2011

Father Brown - Set 1 I will start out by admitting that I have not read any of G. K. Chesterton‘s Father Brown mystery books. So I cannot compare between the two media, nor can I tell you how similar the shows are to the mystery books.

The Father Brown television episodes star Kenneth More as the curate sleuth. He reminds me a lot of Joan Hickson’s Miss Marple. He is extremely observant, seems to fade into the background, and also is very inquisitive. Because of this  Catholic priest’s ability to be over-looked, he is able to garner a lot of information which would normally not be shared by people – especially the culprits!

The Father Brown series takes place during the 1920s, and I found the production sets to be very believable. (Of course, I don’t know the era personally!) But, I must warn you, if you’re looking for the razzle-dazzle of today’s television productions, you will not be impressed. These shows seem to have been filmed using video tape rather than film. (I could be wrong about this, though.)  I, on the other hand, am more interested in the acting and the actual mysteries… and this show does not fall short on either of these things.

Kenneth More makes these Father Brown mysteries a delight to watch. He portrays the curate as a slightly out-of-touch-with-reality individual, which of course makes people underestimate him. Father Brown’s sidekick is Hercule Flambeau (Dennis Burgess).  Hercule isn’t involved in every case, but their paths seem to overlap quite a bit. Hercule is the more serious of the two and lacks the mischievousness playfulness and wink-at-the-audience attitude of Father Brown.

My husband and I have enjoyed the Father Brown television episodes… but, again, if you’re looking for today’s film productions, pass on these really good, Cozy Mystery shows.

If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

35 Comments - Click Here to Read the Comments or to Add Another

Christmas: Favorite Holiday Movies – More Recent, In Color

December 5, 2011

As I started working on this list, I realized that all three of my very favorite recent holiday movies were Jim Henson movies, although The Muppet Christmas Carol was under the helm of Brian Henson, his son. I realize that family memories are wrapped up with family favorites, but I am trying to be objective here – and obviously I am failing miserably! These are movies that I enjoy revisiting during the holidays simply because they bring such joy.

Now that we have worked on the Favorite Holiday  Classic Movies: Old, Black & White, and A Few In Color list, let’s move on with the more recent Holiday Movies.

Here are some of my favorite, more recent holiday movies:

The Muppet Christmas Carol—–1992

A Muppet Family Christmas—–1987

Jim Henson’s The Christmas Toy—–1986

I am not sure if this one should be in the Christmas or Halloween movies:

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas—–1993

Here are the favorite more recent holiday movies from your suggestions:

An American Christmas Carol—–1979–Henry Winkler

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever—–1983–Loretta Swit

The Christmas Box—–1997–Maureen O’Hara & Richard Thomas

The Christmas Card—–1996–Ed Asner

A Christmas Carol—–1984 –George C. Scott

A Christmas Carol—–1999–Patrick Stewart

The Christmas Choir—–2008–Rhea Perlman

Christmas Hope—–2009–Madeleine Stowe & James Remar

The Christmas List—–1997–Mimi Rogers

A Christmas Memory—–1997–Patty Duke

A Christmas Story—–1983–Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin

A Christmas Visitor—–2002–Meredith Baxter & William Devane

Christmas with the Kranks—–2004–Tim Allen & Jamie Lee Curtis

Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle—–2009–Doris Roberts

Debbie Macomber’s Call Me Mrs. Miracle—–2010–Doris Roberts

A Diva’s Christmas Carol—–2000–Vanessa Williams

Elf—–2003–Will Farrell

Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas——-2014

The Family Stone—–2005–Sarah Jessica Parker & Dermot Mulroney

The Gathering—–1977–Ed Asner & Maureen Stapleton

The Holiday—–2006–Kate Winslet & Cameron Diaz

Love Actually—–2003–Hugh Grant & Emma Thompson

Mickey’s Christmas Carol—–1983–Scrooge McDuck & Mickey Mouse

Mrs. Santa Claus—–1996–Angela Lansbury

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation—–1989–Chevy Chase & Beverly D’Angelo

Noel—–2004–Penélope Cruz

November Christmas—–2010–Sam Elliott & John Corbett

One Christmas—–1994–Katherine Hepburn, Swoosie Kurtz, & Henry Winkler

One Magic Christmas—–1985–Mary Steenburgen & Harry Dean Stanton

The Polar Express—–2004

Santa Claus: The Movie—–1985

The Santa Clause trilogy—–1994, 2002, 2006–Tim Allen

The Santa Suit—–2010–Kevin Sorbo

Scrooge—–1970–Albert Finney

Scrooged—–1998–Bill Murray

Trading Places—–1983–Dan Aykroyd & Eddie Murphy

The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve—2004–Steven Webber & Molly Shannon

Undercover Christmas—–2003–Tyne Daley & Jaime Gertz

Here is the list of the Christmas: Favorite Classic Holiday Movies : Old, Black & White.

If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

55 Comments - Click Here to Read the Comments or to Add Another

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

December 3, 2011

A few days ago, Marja submitted the following comment asking for different holiday movies suggestions. Here is her comment:

“I think a great idea for the coming month would be a post on wonderful Christmas/Holiday movies and TV shows …

Like you, I really enjoy the old black and white movies, and even the ones that only have a Christmas Reunion within part of the plot [not the whole plot] are wonderful at this time of year. I’ll bet a lot of us could make recommendations that others would enjoy!”

Let’s focus on the old, black and white holiday movies for this entry. We can do another entry with more recent, color holiday movies another time. I’ll add your suggested black and white holiday movies to the list.

Here are some of my favorite black and white holiday movies:

Christmas in Connecticut—–1945–Barbara Stanwyck & Dennis Morgan

The Man Who Came To Dinner—–1942–Betty Davis, Ann Sheridan, & Monty Wooley

Remember the Night—–1940–Barbara Stanwyck & Fred MacMurray

The Shop Around the Corner—–1940–Jimmy Stewart & Margaret Sullavan

Here are the favorite black and white holiday movies (and a few classics that are in color) from your suggestions:

A Christmas Wish—–1950 –Jimmy Durante, Terry Moore, & Tom Drake (has been colorized)

Bachelor Mother—–1939–Ginger Rogers & David Niven

The Bells of Saint Mary’s—–1945–Bing Crosby & Ingrid Bergman

Beyond Tomorrow (aka Beyond Christmas)—–1940–Harry Carey, C. Aubrey Smith, & Charles Winninger

The Bishop’s Wife—–1947–Cary Grant, Loretta Young, & David Niven

Bright Eyes—–1934—–Shirley Temple

A Charlie Brown Christmas—–1965 Charles Schulz animated classic

The Cheaters—–194–Joseph Schildkraut, Billie Burke, & Eugene Pallette

A Christmas Carol—–1951–Alastair Sim

A Christmas Carol—–1954–Fredric March & Basil Rathbone

Christmas Eve—–1947–George Raft, George Brent, & Randolph Scott

Christmas in Connecticut—–1945–Barbara Stanwyck & Dennis Morgan

The Desk Set—–1957–Katherine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy

Going My Way—–1944–Bing Crosby & Barry Fitzgerald

Holiday Affair—–1949–Robert Mitchum & Janet Leigh

Holiday Inn—–1942–Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire

The Holly and the Ivy—–1954–Ralph Richardson & Celia Johnson

How the Grinch Stole Christmas—–1966 Dr. Seuss animated classic with Boris Karloff

I’ll Be Seeing You—–1944–Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotton, & Shirley Temple

It Happened on 5th Avenue—–1947–Don DeFore & Ann Harding

It’s a Wonderful Life—–1946–Jimmy Stewart & Donna Reed

The Lemon Drop Kid—–1951–Bob Hope & Marilyn Maxwell

Love Finds Andy Hardy—–1938–Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, & Lewis Stone

The Man Who Came To Dinner—–1942–Betty Davis, Ann Sheridan, & Monty Wooley

Meet Me in St. Louis—–1944–Judy Garland & Marbareg O’Brien

Meet John Doe—–1941–Barbara Stanwyck & Gary Cooper

Miracle of the Bells—–1948–Fred MacMurray & Frank Sinatra

Miracle on 34th Street—–1947–Maureen O’Hara & Natalie Wood

Remember the Night—–1940–Barbara Stanwyck & Fred MacMurray

The Shop Around the Corner—–1940–Jimmy Stewart & Margaret Sullavan

Susan Slept Here—–1954–Debbie Reynolds & Dick Powell,

White Christmas—–1954–Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, & Vera Ellen

Here is the list of Christmas: Christmas: Favorite Holiday Movies – More Recent, In Color.

If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

135 Comments - Click Here to Read the Comments or to Add Another

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Subscribe to Blog Post Email Alerts

  • Cozy Mystery Blog Home
  • Cozy Mystery Site
  • Soon to be Released Mysteries
  • Cozies by Themes
  • New Mystery Releases
  • New Mystery Series
  • Cozy Mystery Recommendations
  • Most Popular and Recommended Cozy Mystery Series
  • Holiday Mystery Book Lists
  • What Is a Cozy?
  • TV and Movies
  • Author Interviews
  • Cozy-Mystery.com on Facebook

Recent Posts

  • TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES CHANNEL MYSTERY MOVIES – November 2025
  • Cozy Mystery Book Recommendations – September 2025
  • Jennifer J Chow (JJ Chow): LA Night Market Mystery Series
  • TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES CHANNEL MYSTERY MOVIES – October 2025
  • Cozy Reader Questions

Recent Comments

  • Patti S. on Cozy Mystery Book Recommendations – September 2025
  • Claudia on Cozy Mystery Book Recommendations – September 2025
  • Rob Jarrad on Cozy Mystery Book Recommendations – September 2025
  • MendoGirl on Cozy Mystery Book Recommendations – September 2025
  • Ainee Beland on Cozy Mystery Book Recommendations – September 2025

Cozy Mystery List Home | Affiliate Disclosure | Cozy Mystery Blog Home  | Cozy Mystery Blog Sitemap | Privacy Policy  | Contact Me   | About |

Copyright © 2006-2025, Cozy-Mystery.Com, All rights reserved.
A Guide to Cozy Mystery Books, Movies, and TV


MENU
  • Cozy Mystery Blog Home
  • Cozy Mystery Site
  • Soon to be Released Mysteries
  • Cozies by Themes
  • New Mystery Releases
  • New Mystery Series
  • Cozy Mystery Recommendations
  • Most Popular and Recommended Cozy Mystery Series
  • Holiday Mystery Book Lists
  • What Is a Cozy?
  • TV and Movies
  • Author Interviews
  • Cozy-Mystery.com on Facebook