Film Flam (19 Feb. 1995)

In a Hollywood backstage, would be-actor Darryl Harding overhears Hank Duncan and another dodgy character threatening Monolith studio executive Carson Robbins if he stops helping them to ... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Pullen Shaw

Writers:

Peter S. Fischer (creator), Richard Levinson (creator),

Stars:

Angela Lansbury, John Astin, Jim Caviezel

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher
John Astin	...	Fritz Randall
Jim Caviezel	...	Darryl Harding
Mike Connors	...	Boyce Brown
Kim Darby	...	Joan Kemp
Stacy Edwards	...	Elaine Brown
Kerrie Keane	...	Audrey Young
Richard Libertini	...	Carson Robbins
William O'Leary	...	Hank Duncan
Gregory Sierra	...	Lieutenant Gabriel Caceras
Cali Timmins	...	Barbie Lippin / Sgt. Barbara Warshaw
Howard French	...	Manheim
Justin Lord	...	Lloyd Nader
Rick Dano	...	Scotty, Security Guard (as Richard Dano)
Paulo Andrés	...	Delivery Boy

Storyline

In a Hollywood backstage, would be-actor Darryl Harding overhears Hank Duncan and another dodgy character threatening Monolith studio executive Carson Robbins if he stops helping them to original negatives to produce pirate videos. Jessica isn't much surprised her script hasn't been read yet by director Boyce Brown, who is busy trying to finish Cry of Destiny, the last film of late giant Austin Young, which gets worse when his unknown adoptive daughter Audrey Young turns up, claiming to own all rights. Jessica finds the corps of author Fritz Randall, former pupil of and leading expert on Young, apparently suicided by pills as his master once, but suggests to Lt. Gabriel Caceras they might both have been murdered, which soon proves true for Fritz; Boyce's daughter and assistance Elaine is arrested. With these and other intrigues on top of the scripts', there is plenty of snooping and sleuthing to be done before she can unmask the killer...

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 1995 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 29, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Corymore Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Now You Don't See It; Now You Somehow Just Might

John Astin makes his first "MSW" appearance as Hollywood studio staffer Ross Hayley in Season One, before appearing as Real Estate Agent Harry Pierce in three Cabot Cove episodes during Season Two. Some ten years later, he returns as Hollywood Director Fritz Randall in this episode.

Kim Darby makes her first series appearance also in Season One, and now returns as Joan Kemp, a former child star at Monolith Studio, who arrives on the lot for festivities surrounding a film premiere.

Mike Connors guest stars in the second of his three "MSW" roles, this time as Monolith Studio Producer Boyce Brown, who shows the ropes to his daughter, Elaine Brown (Stacy Edwards), aspiring to follow in her famous father's footsteps.

Kerrie Keane returns in her second "MSW" role, this as Audrey Young, Assistant Producer, who welcomes Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to Monolith Studio, in Hollywood, at which production of an adaptation of her latest Mystery is scheduled to begin filming, but delayed by production of a different perceived blockbuster, which encounters one difficulty after another.

James Caviezel, in an early career role, marks his one "MSW" appearance here, as striving actor Darryl Harding, who stows away onto a vacant set to reside beneath tables and live off of ketchup soup and whatever refreshments he is able to discover, in his hopes of carving a niche in acting.

Darryl eventually befriends Elaine Brown, who stands beside him even though he has a knack for disappearing suddenly, after witnessing evidence of film piracy on the set.

Carson Robbins (Richard Libertini), Hank Duncan (William O'Leary) and his steady, Barbie Lippin (Cali Timmins), Manheim (Howard French) and Lloyd Nader (Justin Lord) seem to form the center of the film piracy conspiracy, putting Darryl into danger from more than one source.

Scotty the Security Guard (Rick Dano) launches on the trail after Darryl, while Elaine and Jessica are convinced of his innocence.

But the plot thickens and takes various turns after a victim is poisoned, leading Lieutenant Gabriel Caceras (Gregory Sierra, in his third appearance in the role, and his sixth of six overall "MSW" episodes) and Jessica on the trail of homicide suspects and "Film Flam" artists.

This episode marks the television debut performance for Paulo Andrés, as Delivery Boy, and the last appearance to date for Howard French.