Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man (2001) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Anthony Pullen Shaw

Writer (WGA):

Matthew Sommer (written by)

Release Date:

2 May 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Action | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

Did Jessica's distant aunt hold the key to a murder. Historic letters could solve a 140 year old crime.

Plot:

The third TV-Movie in the highly successful "Murder, She Wrote" involved Jessica Fletcher Jessica discovers...

Plot Keywords:

TV Series Reunion

Cast

Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher / Sarah McCullough
Phylicia Rashad	...	Cassandra Hawkins
Michael Jace	...	Samuel Pinkney
David Ogden Stiers	...	Stanford Thornton
Madison Mason	...	Charles Hobbs
Tim Abell	...	Jeb McNell
Elizabeth Lackey	...	Mary Hobbs-Mercer
Mac Davis	...	Sheriff Underwood
Beth Grant	...	Louisa Ashland
Tim DeKay	...	Robert Mercer (as Tim Dekay)
Walton Goggins	...	Billy weber
Elizabeth Dennehy	...	Archivist
John Hostetter	...	Cornelius Ashland
Taraji P. Henson	...	Bess Pinckney
Keith Jefferson	...	Jeremiah Jessup
Lee Garlington	...	Laura Lee Kestes
Gloria Stuart	...	Eliza Hoops
Jeremiah Birkett	...	Jim (as Jeremiah W. Birkett)
Peter Sherayko	...	Morgan Spencer
Norman Marshak	...	Angry Mob Guy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Trae Ireland	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Anthony Pullen Shaw		(as Anthony Shaw)

Writing credits (WGA)
Matthew Sommer		(written by)

Produced by
Alex Beaton	....	producer
Charles F. Engel	....	executive producer
Christopher N. Seiter	....	co-producer (as Christopher Seiter)
Anthony Pullen Shaw	....	supervising producer (as Anthony Shaw)

Original Music by
Stanley Clarke

Cinematography by
Fred Murphy		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Stan Cole

Production Design by
Hub Braden

Art Direction by
Mary Dodson		(as Mary Weaver Dodson)

Set Decoration by
Jackie Carr

Costume Design by
Victoria J. Auth		(as Victoria Auth)

Makeup Department
Judy Crown	....	hair stylist: Ms. Lansbury
Christine Lee	....	hair stylist (as Chris Lee)
Joyce Westmore	....	makeup artist: Ms. Lansbury
Marvin G. Westmore	....	makeup artist (as Marvin Westmore)

Production Management
Dionne Barens	....	post-production supervisor
Christopher N. Seiter	....	unit production manager (as Christopher Seiter)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kelly Cantley	....	first assistant director
Vincent J. McEveety	....	second second assistant director
Judith Moore	....	second assistant director
Jeani Harris	....	dga trainee (uncredited)

Art Department
Bryan Rodgers	....	property master
Ricky B. Stecyk	....	leadman (uncredited)
Doug Vlaming	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Vincent Garcia	....	sound mixer
Robb Navrides	....	supervising sound editor
Harry Woolway	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Lou Simon	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Riki Lin Sabusawa	....	costume supervisor (as Riki Sabusawa)
Susan Saldutti	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Music Department
Jennifer Nash	....	music editor

Other crew
Sandra Cole	....	script supervisor
Bill McLellan	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Corymore Productions
• Studios USA (in association with)
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2001) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring (as American Humane Association)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• Reuben Cannon & Associates  casting by (as Reuben Cannon And Associates)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:Not Rated | Argentina:Atp

Company:

Corymore Productions

Movie Connections:

Follows The Murder of Sherlock Holmes (1984) (TV)

A well-executed TV movie

While doing a bit of studying for a course during the day, this TV movie popped on the tele. I was about to begin the channel hopping process to find something more suitable for background watching when the title flashed up 'Murder, She Wrote'. Now I'm no massive fan of the show, but I'll admit that I do enjoy repeats when I see them; no exceptions here.

The opening attracts the viewer right away. It's the classic 'whodunit' model as we see an African-American fellow running from an angry mob of Southerners. This is great scene-setting, as almost everyone can gather from these establishing shots and the props that we're way back during the times of black slavery. The final shot before we flash-forward to the modern day is literally a shot (from a gun). We don't see who shoots the man looking to escape, but we want to know who.

To find out who fired the gun and reach the dramatic climax, we need some present-day detective work from none other than Jessica Fletcher and her great Southern Aunt, Sarah McCullough (an initially laughable technique to put Jessica Fletcher in the past, but ultimately very effective).

The man that we saw running and, presumably, shot is Sam; a black slave owned by Sarah. Sam is accused of murdering a white man and from there on in it's classic Murder, She Wrote.

The acting is really something special. The stand-out for me is Michael Jace as Sam. What a wonderful performance, delivered with such skill and integrity - considering the subject matter. Angela Lansbury (who was around about 75 when this was filmed) is as strong as ever in arguably her most famous role.

My only problem was with some of the props and the haircuts/facial hair. For some reason, they took me out of the immersion that the telemovie had so far provided; a few of the extras looked as if they were modern day people dressed in costume, bah! Nonetheless, this is a good telemovie and yet another great outing from Jessica Fletcher. 8/10 Oh, and happy birthday Angela Lansbury. Just turned 84 and I hear she's on Broadway again, brilliant!