The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries: Speedy Death

Dame (in more ways than one) Diana Rigg brings her reliable talents to this initial episode in a pretty middling, if still passably entertaining, PBS Mystery! series outing that originally aired in 1998. Based on a novel by Gladys Mitchell, Speedy Death plays a lot like an Agatha Christie piece: just think of a female Hercule Poirot in a flapper era setting. This liberated lady sports an archly cynical attitude, however--one delivered directly to the lens in occasional asides such as “Marriage is better to get over and done with early--like the chicken pox.” The twisty tale of a bathtub drowning that turns out not to be an accident sets in motion a tad familiar Ten Little Indians formula that relies on Rigg's charming style to make it interesting. Thanks to her, this modest whodunit comes off as reasonably entertaining. A strong optional purchase. (T. Rich)