L'extravagante Madame Pollifax

They started out with a great idea -- making the beloved Mrs. P. into a movie -- but went about it half-heartedly. Angela Lansbury did a decent job, but otherwise the casting left a lot to be desired. They used most of the good characters from all the other books, leaving no room for more shows (which, under the circumstances was probably a good thing).

Good Sunday afternoon entertainment but not a classic movie in any sense of the word LOL!.

Takes itself, and the actors take themselves just enough tongue in cheek, and with just enough comedy.

Some of the accents are truly (deliberately?) chronically bad!

Some clever unique dramatic content.

(e.g. Love the way CIA bosses conversation with his deputy was split and misunderstood as they climbed the stairs and his deputy did not understand).

Relax and watch it.

Ed Bishopand plays very straight and well while Angela Lansberry also carries the movie well... Easy to follow the characters. Not read the book which is apparemtly very different. The rewrite seems very creditable to me!

It's been a few years, but I remember thoroughly enjoying this movie. I've listened to the book on tape. Mrs. Polifax is a very interesting character.

She is well played by Angela Lansbury. She shows how strong and smart an older woman can be. I also like the slight hint that the younger attractive man is somewhat smitten with the older woman, and why shouldn't he be. I'm a big Angela Lansbury fan. I have most of the "Murder She Wrote"'s on tape.

I remember the man in the film being very attractive. I was watching Karate Kid 2 and realized that he is in that movie. I would love to see the movie again but have no idea where to get it. If anyone knows, please email me. Thanks.

According to IMDB, "The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax" was likely a pilot episode for a TV series that never materialized. It's a shame, as it would be a cute idea for a TV show.

Mrs. Pollifax (Angela Lansbury) is a bored elderly widow. After her doctor recommends she develop more hobbies, she decides to try to get a job...as a spy for the CIA! The Bureau has no intention of hiring her but through a mistake she IS sent off on an assignment in Morocco! And soon she's drawn into the world of international terrorism! And, she has some amazing instincts for an amateur and MIGHT just survive this crazy assignment.

The show works well because it's all tongue in cheek...as much a comedy as a drama. And, Ms. Lansbury is wonderful in the title role. Well worth seeing and quite a bit different from the original Mrs. Pollifax movie with Rosalind Russell.

I had never read the Mrs. Pollifax books so watching the movie was a completely new experience. I really enjoyed it, Angela Lansbury played the part PERFECTLY. I also think the other actors did a very good job. It was of course a made-for-TV movie which always means low-budget and not-the-best screenplay but overall was very good FOR a TV movie. It seemed choppy switching from the first half to the second half, like it didn't flow very well switching to a new plot...which makes sense. Not many movies have two completely different plots. If you ask me it seemed like two 1 hour TV shows that happened to play back-to-back. However I would very much enjoy seeing this made into a TV series!