MARY HIGGINS CLARK'S MOONLIGHT BECOMES YOU

US, 1997, 90 minutes, Colour.
Donna Mills, Robert Joy.
Directed by Bill Corcoran

Mary Higgins Clark's Moonlight Becomes You is an entertaining, if slight, murder mystery. It is based on a novel by the prolific American writer, Mary Higgins Clark. It is a star vehicle for Donna Mills who, after many years, still looks very glamorous. However, her leading man is a rather stodgy, unromantic lead, unusual for this kind of film. It is glossy - but entertaining, with some twists.

1.Entertaining murder mystery? Telemovie?

2.Locations, affluent Rhode Island mansions, the town and the roads? The musical score?

3.The title, the use of the song? Significance?

4.The murder mystery, introduction to all the characters, the potential motives, the complications, intrigues, clues, twists?

5.The focus on Maggie: as a fashion photographer, her skills, her friends, the party, relationship to Liam? Meeting Earl? Meeting Nuala and the story of her father, the separation from Nuala, Nuala and the camera and encouraging her as a photographer? The decision to go for the weekend, the car and the breakdown, the encounter with the sheriff? Finding Nuala's body? Her reaction, her vowing to find out the truth? Her encounter with the various suspects, her being terrorised in the home? The suspicions of the sheriff, her attraction towards him, falling in love? The funeral? The discussions with the old ladies from the home? The visit to the nursing home, the doctor and suspicions? The funeral bells and the visit to Earl's business? His refusal to let her see the bells? Suspicions, photographs, her almost being killed in the dark room? The return at midnight, her being attacked, put in the coffin? The rescue and the revelation of the truth? The trapping of the doctor's wife in hospital? The happy ending with the sheriff?

6.The sheriff, the motorbike, giving her a lift, suspicions, investigation, visit to Earl's establishment, the apprehension of Liam? A future? A rather deadpan actor in this role?

7.Liam, romance, relationship to Nuala? His presence, support of Maggie? His unmasking and the motivation of property, wheeler-dealing?

8.Malcolm, the deal with Nuala and buying a house? His discussions with the other ladies? His relationship with Debbie, her getting information about the residents and giving it to him? The clash with Debbie? Suspicions by the sheriff, driving over the cliff?

9.Dr Lane, suspicious behaviour, his reputation, his wife and her friendship, the contrast with the suspicious nurse going round the rooms? The irony of the entrapment? The nurse as vindicated and being suspicious?

10.Nuala, her life, her home, gracious and friendly? Her change of will? Greta and Letitia, the discussions about deaths in the home, Greta's death, Letitia and the funeral? Then being victimised by Liam?

11.The popular ingredients of a murder mystery?