Who doesn't love Dame Angela Lansbury? Her devotion to her craft is awe inspiring, as is her talent, longevity and just general niceness. As Mom's Day approaches it's time for a little fun with a few of her best roles.
Everyone loves Jessica Fletcher, right? But, let's peer beneath the sunshine of Mrs. Fletcher and examine the dark yin to her bright yang and start with a question: What do we really know of Mrs. Fletcher's life before Cabot Cove?
I offer these facts up for consideration:
Check out this cold mama in THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT.
 |
| she saves her best stuff for an affair with her daughter's fantasy crush |
Self-absorbed and shallow, she neglects her child and ends up having an affair with her teen-age daughter's crush. Bad mama! After divorcing her first husband, it appears she moved on to Washington, D.C.
 |
| Bad Mama love |
 |
| just plain wrong |
Look familiar? As Mrs. Iselin, the Communist operator in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, this woman colluded with the enemy, tried to have her brainwashed son assassinate the President and, instead, was allegedly murdered by her son. I am not so sure she was murdered, as she was a crafty wench.
 |
| she played possum until it was time to escape |
My theory
Mrs. Iselin, that murderous fiend, managed to survive and decided that she needed to "lay low." What better place to lay low than the sleepy little seaside town of Cabot Cove, Maine? There, she recreated her life as an upstanding citizen.
But did she? Let's examine the facts: her husband, Frank, died (big surprise). She had a way with a story (like the liar she is and was) and - most damning of all - everywhere this woman went murder followed. Thankfully, Mrs. Fletcher had no children (as far as we know!), as her prowess as a serial killer makes Dexter look like a dabbler.
But, cheers to Jessica Fletcher for getting away with it all and cheers to all the great mamas out there on their special day.
16 comments:
I never really tuned into, "Murder, She Wrote," but I am a fan of everything else (from "Gaslight" to her voice-overs in Disney flicks). Speaking of "mamas," I thought she did a great job as Jean Harlow's mom in "Harlow."
What a fun post. She definitely was the mother from hell in "The Manchurian Candidate," wasn't she?
I never watched "Murder, She Wrote" when it was on, but I've enjoyed it in re-runs the last few years.
Ha ha – I loved this! That sly Angela Lansbury is a slippery character indeed.
Marsha, I'm glad you didn't forget Angela Lansbury's Oscar-nominated role in GASLIGHT during your delightfully cheeky salute to Angela Lansbury! But her most sneaky role was Mrs. Potts in Disney's BEAUTY & The Beast, somehow disguising herself as a magical teapot! :-D All kidding aside, the versatile Ms. Lansbury is always awesome; our family first loved her on Broadway as MAME. BRAVA to you on your wonderful post, and Happy Mother's Day to you and the moms in your life! :-D
The mother she played in MANCHURIAN may be the nastiest in cinema history! (Two of my favorite AL performances are from THE COURT JESTER and PICNIC.)
I knew Jessica Fletcher was too good to be true. I've always been a little suspicious about there being so many murders (one a week...for years) in a tiny town like Cabot Cove - but until I read this exposé I believed her story.
Great, fun post.
Cleverly written with style and wit. Excellent post, as always. Angela Lansbury really COULD do it all--from Gaslight onward. She changed TV with her run in Cabot Cove. Kudos!
This one has the usual Chick charm! Oh that nasty mama!
Hey, Val! Agreed - the woman classes up any joint she enters.
Thank you, Patti. Oh she sure was a mean mama in Manchurian Candidate.
SS - I knew she was just too darn good to be true.
Hi Dorian - just, she was a cheeky little tart in Gaslight who grew up to be a mean mama in Manchurian Candidate.
Hi Rick - she was indeed yummy in The Court Jester (as was everyone - a perfect film).
Lady Eve - amazing how she had that town fooled, isn't it?
Thanks, Inge - she could and can do it all - and still going strong. She is an inspiration.
Hey, Becky! Thanks for your kind words.
Post a Comment