Post by lune7000 on Sept 13, 2021 22:14:04 GMT
There is a reason that I referenced Mrs. Marple, Holmes and Chan in my original post- they were examples of the intellectually focused mystery films of the past. As I stated in the OP, these were "intellectual" problems solved by "non-violent" sleuths. The viewer relaxed into an experience that was principally detached- as in solving a crossword.
The reason that I made this distinction is that the element of mystery is in every movie so it's not hard to argue any movie as being a mystery. Salzmank is right to include Monk but many of the other references involve high levels of emotionalism, violence, sex, or fear.
And when one thinks about it, Murder She Wrote, Monk, Masterpiece Theatre series, Murder She Baked (a Hallmark series) etc. is a pretty meager offering given the number of channels on TV the last 40 years. Mystery used to be a mainstay of a studio's lineup for any year- these were often cheaply made movies but they were regularly made- today it is sporadic output (to be charitable) and most of the current mysteries have no relation at all to the peaceful sleuthing of past years (the Robert Downey version of Sherlock Holmes shows how much the original formula has been altered beyond recognition).
The reason that I made this distinction is that the element of mystery is in every movie so it's not hard to argue any movie as being a mystery. Salzmank is right to include Monk but many of the other references involve high levels of emotionalism, violence, sex, or fear.
And when one thinks about it, Murder She Wrote, Monk, Masterpiece Theatre series, Murder She Baked (a Hallmark series) etc. is a pretty meager offering given the number of channels on TV the last 40 years. Mystery used to be a mainstay of a studio's lineup for any year- these were often cheaply made movies but they were regularly made- today it is sporadic output (to be charitable) and most of the current mysteries have no relation at all to the peaceful sleuthing of past years (the Robert Downey version of Sherlock Holmes shows how much the original formula has been altered beyond recognition).