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IMDbPro

Murder by the Book

  • TV Movie
  • 1987
  • Unrated
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
230
YOUR RATING
Murder by the Book (1987)
ComedyCrimeMysteryThriller

A mild-mannered mystery writer has become so immersed in his material that his character constantly appears to him as a hallucination. Intent on getting rid of him, the writer finds himself ... Read allA mild-mannered mystery writer has become so immersed in his material that his character constantly appears to him as a hallucination. Intent on getting rid of him, the writer finds himself embroiled in a mystery all his own.A mild-mannered mystery writer has become so immersed in his material that his character constantly appears to him as a hallucination. Intent on getting rid of him, the writer finds himself embroiled in a mystery all his own.

  • Director
    • Mel Damski
  • Writers
    • Michael Norell
    • Andy Siegel
    • Mel Arrighi
  • Stars
    • Robert Hays
    • Catherine Mary Stewart
    • Christopher Murney
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    230
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mel Damski
    • Writers
      • Michael Norell
      • Andy Siegel
      • Mel Arrighi
    • Stars
      • Robert Hays
      • Catherine Mary Stewart
      • Christopher Murney
    • 8User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos5

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    Top cast25

    Edit
    Robert Hays
    Robert Hays
    • D.H. 'Hank' Mercer…
    Catherine Mary Stewart
    Catherine Mary Stewart
    • Marissa
    Christopher Murney
    Christopher Murney
    • Lieutenant Greenberg
    Fred Gwynne
    Fred Gwynne
    • Victor Greville
    Celeste Holm
    Celeste Holm
    • Claire
    Lewis J. Stadlen
    Lewis J. Stadlen
    • Norman Wagstaff
    Gavin Reed
    Gavin Reed
    • Roger Delacroix
    Jacques Sandulescu
    • Timothy
    Jonathan Moore
    • Nicholas Rubinstein
    Martin Neufeld
    • Pete
    Michael Copeman
    Michael Copeman
    Bunty Webb
    Eric Keenleyside
    Eric Keenleyside
    Robin Ward
    Robin Ward
    Eric Fink
    Thick Wilson
    Al Bernardo
    Louis Di Bianco
    Louis Di Bianco
    • Director
      • Mel Damski
    • Writers
      • Michael Norell
      • Andy Siegel
      • Mel Arrighi
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    5.3230
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    Featured reviews

    1veracruzmama

    I'm dumb

    What a waste of time! Why did I watch it to the end? I guess I'm dumber than the movie. This is no Agatha Christie, for sure.
    Dethcharm

    "She May Not Be As Dumb And Innocent As She Looks!"...

    Hard-boiled crime author, D. H. Mercer (Robert Hays) longs to part company with his best-known character, Biff Deegan. It's not long before Mercer gets involved in a mystery of his own, after witnessing an abduction.

    While sleuthing around, Mercer is joined by none other than Deegan (Hays), who offers his own brand of more aggressive detective work. Complications arise when people start turning up dead!

    MURDER BY THE BOOK is a decent made-for-TV movie. Watching it, you might find yourself questioning Mercer's mental state, since he's constantly talking to his alter-ego, whom no one else can see. In spite of / because of this, it's humorous and entertaining.

    It's always good to see Catherine Mary Stewart in anything, and she's excellent here! Also, Fred Gwynne plays a criminal mastermind!...
    10VallyNicky

    I wish they'd play this movie on a cable station I get.

    Murder by the Book is by far the best movie I've ever seen. Funny, Romantic, Mysterious, and you'll never guess the ending. Robert Hays plays a writer with an alter ego, Biff Deagan, the main character of his novels. The Movie gets funnier and funnier as time goes on. This movie will either have you rolling on the floor laughing one minute or have glued to the edge of your seat the next. Other must see movies of Robert Hays are Trenchcoat, 50-50, and For Better or for Worse (Honeymoon Academy) (1990). If only movies nowadays could be as could as these I'd watch more movies. Robert Hays is at his best in all of these movies. Nothing would please me more than to see him make a comeback.
    10info_tishsimmonds-14780

    Where can you buy it ?

    Where can you buy the dvd you can't find it anywhere I was really looking forward watching it too
    6blanche-2

    TV movie from the '80s

    "Murder by the Book," also known as "Alter Ego," is a 1987 TV movie starring Robert Hays and Catherine Mary Stewart. The film also features Fred Gwynne and Celeste Holm.

    Hays plays a mystery writer, D.H. "Hank" Mercer who writes stories about a hard-boiled detective, Biff Deegan. He's grown tired of Biff, and he tells his agent he has a new idea for a character. While in a restaurant with his agent, he sees a pretty young woman (and you know it's the '80s because her hair goes out about three feet) being forced into a car. The perpetrator is an extremely wealthy man (Gwynne).

    Mercer is determined to find out what is going on. While doing so, his fictional detective starts showing up and giving him advice.

    Cute. Hays is such a likable and attractive actor, one wonders why the success of "Airport" didn't translate into some better vehicles for him.

    This is really light as air, but enjoyable nonetheless.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Filmed in 1985 but not broadcast until 1987.
    • Goofs
      When Timothy is firing at Hank and Merissa in the Museum storeroom, He starts firing an Ingram Mac 10-11. But then when when he places the gun on his arm and gets ready to aim and fire, the automatic rifle becomes an Uzi.

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 17, 1987 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Irre jagen Irre
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Orion Television
      • Peter Nelson Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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