Product Details

• Actors: Gene Wilder, Mike Starr, Terry O'Quinn, Cherry Jones, Frances Conroy
• Directors: Joyce Chopra
• Writers: Gene Wilder, Gilbert Pearlman
• Producers: Antony Root, Craig McNeil, Fred Berner, Steven Paul
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: November 11, 1998
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0767015436
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,210 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Video > Television > A&E Home Video > A&E Original Movies
  #50 in	Video > Mystery & Suspense > Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem > Murder
  #71 in	Video > Mystery & Suspense > Mystery

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Gene Wilder cowrote and stars as Cash Carter, a former Broadway theatrical director since retired from the Great White Way and now running a community theater in picturesque Stamford, Connecticut, in this engaging period mystery. The year is 1938, and the sleepy little burg is woken by the murder of the abrasive, racist, almost universally disliked millionaire Sidney Lassiter (Millennium's Terry O'Quinn). Lt. Tony Rossini (amiable Mike Starr, best known for his portrayals of thick mob goons) turns to Cash for his insight into human nature and psychology, but this brief consultation soon turns into full-fledged detective work as the killings continue and the suspects keep stacking up. Wilder and director Joyce Chopra don't take the TV mystery into any new territory, but the meandering drama combines nostalgic charm with playful bits of theatrical fun revolving around Cash's play in progress and his penchant for play acting. It's Wilder's best role in ages, a small-town Sherlock Holmes with the confidence of a urban sophisticate, the warmth of a loving father, and the maturity of a man who has gone through his own emotional hell and come out alive. If the film ends up short on suspense, it more than makes up for it in rich, winning characters and Chopra's light, unassuming direction more reminiscent of British mysteries than American shows. --Sean Axmaker

Product Description

From the creators of A&E’s critically acclaimed JANE EYRE and award-winning CRACKER MYSTERIES comes this original two-hour production, created by and starring Gene Wilder. The year is 1938. "Cash" (Wilder) is a star Broadway director who earned his nickname by directing a string of box-office hits. When Cash’s wife is brutally murdered, he retreats back to the safer environs of Stamford, Connecticut, and starts his own community theater. But just as he begins to heal from the tragedy of his wife’s death, another murder shakes his world when a fellow businessman is found dead. Stamford police lieutenant Tony Rossini (Mike Starr) calls on his old friend Cash for help. Cash, putting his insights into character motivation and human psychology to the ultimate test, becomes drawn further and further into a world of mystery and mayhem. As he is forced to come to terms with the tragic events of his own past, he journeys on a trail of violence that will place his own life in jeopardy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Mystery That Everyone Would Enjoy!!!, June 23, 1999

By A Customer

When I first saw this film on A&E, I fell in love with it. Gene Wilder and the rest of the cast gave a splendid performance.This movie was not all about the mystery case. It had some few side stories as well. A little bit of romance, a little bit of this and that. That is why I gave this movie five stars because the movie was not all about a Murder-Case. Although, the main story was good enough and I give this movie credit for that. This movie was not at all suspenseful or scary, but very unexpected and enjoyable. Two thumbs up! - Jennie Sablan

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Mystery, November 11, 2002

By	Lucia Katerina "de la Luna" (Montrose, CO United States) - See all my reviews

The perfect movie for a rainy afternoon-- A beautifully photographed period mystery: great use of light, perfect costumes, props, sets, locations and perfectly cast. Gene Wilder is deft and intelligent as Carter, a highly successful Broadway director, who has left New York with his daughter after he and his wife were attacked, and his wife murdered. "Cash" now directs a small theatre company in Stamford, Connecticut (charming, as it used to be!). Luckily for us, he's pals with the local police lieutenant (well-played by Mike Starr), who taps Wilder to be his sounding board as he unravels murder(s)[see "Lady in Question"]. Very nice characterizations, nice bit of romance, nice period situations--- Just a great way to spend a couple of hours.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Murder Mystery, October 17, 2000

By A Customer

Murder in a Small Town, starring Gene Wilder, is about a murder of someone Gene Wilder knows. The suspects are also people he knows and he is forced to accuse one of them. His friend who is a cop helps him unravel amost all the secrets except one small detail. Who did it? Will he find out who did it, or will someones life be at stake? Watch this exciting, thrilling, and suspenseful movie and find out.