sundayatdusk-97859

I've read only one book by Alexander McCall Smith. It bored me so badly I never tried to read another book by him. This series is based on 10 books written by him about a lady private detective in Botswana Africa. The series is fortunately not the least bit boring.

In fact, it is both downright charming and an excellent reflection on how everything in life should not be seen as black and white. Jill Scott plays a woman detective named Mma Ramotswe who only calls in the police when dangerous activities must be stopped. She is wise and wonderful, knows the pain of losing a baby, and doesn't allow others to put her down, much less keep her down.

One interesting aspect of the series is how women in Botswana treat each other. Some, like the main character, want to see all women as united sisters; while others see their fellow females as competitive creatures to be sniped at and clawed. Mma Ramotswe's weight is often the target of such attacks, and it's good to see how she brushes off such criticism.

Her assistant Grace, played by Anika Noni Rose, is most appealing and humorous. She really lights up the whole series and provides so many laughs. Hairdresser BK, played by Desmond Dube, is another big source of humor in each episode. JLB, played by Lucian Msamati, is in love with Mma Ramotswe and provides touching tenderness from start to finish.

The show was actually filmed in Botswana, and is as educational as it is entertaining. Sadly, only seven episodes were made before it was cancelled. Another teeth grinding cancellation that makes you want to scream. Didn't HBO realize what a unique series they had? How sad they did not.

This is another one of those late movies I watched years ago as a teenager on a weekend in the summer. I watched it again this weekend at Amazon . . . .

Bette Davis plays a sister who kills her wealthy twin when she discovers a life-changing lie her sister told 20 years earlier. She then assumes her identity, which was not easy, since her sister had a household staff who watched her every move, and knew her every habit.

It was the first movie I had ever seen Karl Malden in and really liked him. In fact, I started watching "The Streets of San Francisco" a couple of years later because he was in it. Philip Carey was also in it and was undersued, as he sadly so often was in movies and TV shows.

I've never been a Bette Davis fan, but this is a highly watchable movie, thanks to Mr. Malden and a good script. It was interesting seeing how Miss Davis tried so hard not to be suspected of being a fraud. The end was excellent irony, too.