MURDER 101
US, 2006, 90 minutes, Colour.
Dick Van Dyke, Barry Van Dyke, Tracey Needham, Roxanne Hart.
Directed by Christian Nyby II.
Murder 101 is a vehicle for Dick Van Dyke and his son Barry. They had worked on Diagnosis: Murder and this series of telemovies, Murder 101, is a variation on the Diagnosis: Murder theme.
Dick Van Dyke is an absentminded professor of criminology who is enlisted by Mike Parker, Barry Van Dyke, who is a private eye who used to work for the police but was shunned by them after he fingered corrupt policemen. A wealthy man is blown up in an explosion, an investigative journalist is suspected of the crime, she enlists the help of the professor and Mike Parker and together they investigate. There is a twist at the end – but the film is a pleasant but typical investigation of a crime with the usual suspects, generally from politics and big business.
Dick Van Dyke was eighty when the film was made – and shows himself still personable and at times rather more agile than might be expected of an eighty-year-old.
1.An entertaining murder mystery? The pattern of Diagnosis: Murder, the presence of Dick Van Dyke and his son?
2.Popular television material? The pilot for a series?
3.The introduction to Professor Maxwell, his lecture, being in the wrong room? His information in lectures? His reputation? His friendship with Mike Parker? Mike enlisting his help? His meeting Cheryl, testing her out, going to the scene of the crime, interaction with the police? His skills in investigation, looking at the evidence, making phone calls, interviewing the various suspects? The misadventures as he tried to interview people – especially meeting the standover men at Burke’s house? The meeting with the widow? The politicians? The head of the company? His listening in to the meeting, on the balcony, getting out of the building? The discussions with Mike, with Cheryl, the build-up to the climax? The discovery that the victim was still alive? The confrontation at the wharf – and the resolution?
4.Mike Parker, his background, attraction towards Cheryl, his work in the investigation, friendship with the professor?
5.Cheryl, the initial confrontation with Raymond, her being the suspect? Her bail? The nature of her investigation? Working with Mike and the professor?
6.The victim, his aggression? His death? The widow? The ex-wife? The members of the board? The meetings – and the discovery about the truth, the collapsing of the company? The realisation that the victim was still alive?
7.The gallery of characters suitable for this kind of murder investigation, the executives, the politicians, their lifestyle, their business interests? Intrigue?
