The movie Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears will come to select theaters and Acorn TV in the U.S. sometime later in 2019. But if you need a smart, independent 1920s woman doing her own thing, maybe with a mystery or two, in the meantime, and you’ve watched the original seasons of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries so many times you can quote them, perhaps this might tide you over…
The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries (1999-2000)
Diana Rigg plays sharp-witted widow Adela Bradley, who is clearly Phryne Fisher’s spiritual mother in style, sexual liberation, and detective work. Only five delicious episodes were made, but they’re currently on Amazon Prime. Her hat game is legendary!
Cable Girls aka Las Chicas del Cable (2017-)
More of a soap opera than a mystery, but the four main characters are complicated, realistic women testing out newfound independence in 1920s Spain. Their stories range from sexy to heart-breaking to criminal, and there’s more to come.
The Cat’s Meow (2001)
Based on real-life murder that happened on William Randolph Hearst’s yacht in 1924, this film is a tangled web of intrigue and affairs gone wrong. Darker and less female-focused than the others on this list, it’s still gorgeously costumed.
Frankie Drake Mysteries (2018-)
Set in the 1920s, this new-ish series follows Toronto’s only female private detective and her partner Trudy as they take on the cases the police ignore. Sound familiar? The costume quality is sometimes low-budget, but so was Miss Fisher‘s when that started. Coming to the Ovation Network in the U.S. on June 15!
Tommy & Tuppence: Partners in Crime (1983-1984)
The characters of Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley are introduced and end up married in the TV movie The Secret Adversary (1983). They take their mystery-solving partnership on the go in a 10-episode series, currently found on Amazon. Tuppence is the adventure-seeker of the duo, plus she’s always amazingly dressed! (There’s a 2015 version set in the 1950s, but the costumes are not as fabulous.)
Also coming on April 29th to Acorn TV: Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries. Phryne’s niece in the 1960s goes searching for her long-lost aunt and becomes a detective herself. The show is already airing in Australia, so Aussie frock flickers, let us know what you think!
How are you passing the time until the Miss Fisher movie?
Frankie Drake has been airing on PBS around here, so I’m able to watch it on my local PBS station’s website – worth a try for those without Ovation. It’s fun – a bit of a female Murdoch Mysteries, with the constant weaving in of Famous People From History, but fun nonetheless.
The Cat’s Meow is a complete delight! You will spend half the movie going, “Hey it’s [That Person]!” and drooling over the costumes.
Cat’s Meow is ripping. Costumes and characters dead on. And I’d watch Francesca Annis in anything. I’ve seen Partners in Crime several times and somehow my DVD has gone missing, ergo I need to buy a new one.
I’m curious, how many people STILL ask you if you’ll review Ms. Fisher’s Mysteries?
Apparently the search function is hard. :-)
It can be a little hard to find if you don’t know it’s usually at the end of an article. Most pages have it at the top of the page or as an option in the menu.
Current best thing around here is the rerun of “The Pinkertons”, which features the first female agent. Costumes not bad, weapons right, and the women’s makeup is very understated. Loved Tommy & Tuppence, Cat’s Meow.
I adore Mrs. Bradley. Of course, Diana Rigg.
LOVE Mrs Bradley and Tommy and Tuppence – I searched high and low and finally found them on DVD, my weapon of choice. Such fun!
I really tried liking Cable Girls but there are so many screaming historical inaccuracies, both costume (I mean, plastic sequins, really? And how could they afford those lavish dresses on their tiny paycheck??) as well as general inaccuracies…. I can’t stand cringing every time; so I guess it is just not for me…