Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle (TV 2003)

Jessica Fletcher is off to solve another murder mystery, this time in Ireland.

Director:

Anthony Pullen Shaw

Writers:

Rosemary Anne Sisson (teleplay), Bruce Lansbury (teleplay),

Stars:

Angela Lansbury, Fionnula Flanagan, Sarah-Jane Potts

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Margaret Byrne
Sarah-Jane Potts	...	Breeta Byrne
Peter Donat	...	Eamon Byrne
Cyril O'Reilly	...	Paddy Whelen
Lynn Wanlass	...	Nora Flood
Timothy V. Murphy	...	Inspector O'Dwyer
Joe Michael Burke	...	Michael Davis
Andrew Connolly	...	Tom Molloy
Geraldine Hughes	...	Fiona Byrne
Helena Carroll	...	Kitty Murphy
Sean Lawlor	...	John Herlihy
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Denny (as W. Morgan Sheppard)
Gerry Gibson	...	Harry Ryan
Tegan West	...	Mr. McCafferty

Storyline

Jessica Fletcher travels to Ireland, where she attends the reading of an old acquaintance's will. The will contains the clues to finding a secret treasure, one that will require an already strained family to work together in order to solve the mystery.

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Plot Keywords:

telefilm | tv series reunion | based on novel

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 May 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Arabesque: Le fils perdu

Filming Locations:

Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Corymore Productions, Universal Network Television, Studios USA

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two joggers, who discover Nora's body prone under the thicket of the trail's overgrown bushes, introduce the discovery scene. The male jogger is Angela and Peter Shaw's grandson, Peter John Shaw (b.1982), Anthony and Lee Shaw's first born.

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Goofs

While the film is set in Ireland, the Garda (police) cars have Northern Irish registration plates (PIB XXX).

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Crazy Credits

Dedicated to the memory of Peter Shaw.

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Connections

Follows Murder, She Wrote (1984)

User Reviews

The usual formula, but Lansbury is good as always

I was not a fan of the "Murder, She Wrote" TV series, but that was because I didn't know what I was missing, and I have enjoyed all the TV movies based on the series since it went off the air.

In Ireland, a group of people watches a video will. Jessica Fletcher is one of those witnessing the now-deceased man explaining how he wants his estate divided, because she made a difference in the man's life many years earlier. Certain members of the man's family do not get all that they feel entitled to, while some servants receive more than they probably should have. Jessica gets the Rose Cottage, though she doesn't really want it. That is just as well, because the man's will is challenged by certain members of the family. In addition, there is a mysterious treasure, and each person named in the will is given a sheet of paper with clues to finding the treasure.

While Jessica intends to return home quickly, she cannot leave after she witnesses a murder (or perhaps the aftermath of one). And someone warns her that she and others should watch out, because certain people cannot be trusted. In fact, Jessica is subjected to danger several times during the movie, but do you think the producers will let anything happen to the star? An additional complication: it appears someone has been embezzling from the family business.

Angela Lansbury makes Jessica charming, perceptive, intelligent, and quite likeable, as she has for years. No one else's performance really stands out, except for a storyteller who resembles a leprechaun. I was led to believe we were going to be sent in several different directions, but at no time did I ever feel I knew who the murderer might be (so I never was given false hope) until Jessica revealed his or her identity at the end. The process of seeing the mystery solved was quite enjoyable, though, as usual.