Hart to Hart: Secrets of the Hart

In between an intriguing beginning and the hilarious ending is a fairly run of the mill tale. A Hart industries ship has found a bunch of old Spanish coins. And Jonathan locates his long-lost sister. But is everything as it seems? The most interesting aspect of these H2H movies is who is on the roster of guest stars. Most of them in roles altogether too small. Most surprising is Natasha Gregson (Wagner), who here has a surprising resemblance to her mother, Natalie Wood. The story is a tale of robbery against the Harts. The major villain is James Warwick, but he's only passing through. Of his minions, Wende Malick's character is pretty good, but the guy is just disgusting. Though some good things come from each, the H2H movies have diminishing returns.

Arguably the strongest, or at least most intriguing, premises of the first five films. Unfortunately, the execution of said plot isn't good. 'Hart to Hart: Secrets of the Hart' also features one of the more noteworthy cast lists, as least to me. You obviously have Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers doing their thing well in the lead roles, but there are also appearances from Jason Bateman and Wendie Malick. I like the idea behind the plot, but the way it is brought to life onscreen is very underwhelming - borderline boring, in fact. What is given is alright, neither positive or negative, but it could've/should've been a much more enjoyable story to see unfold. This fifth made-for-television 'Hart to Hart' film marks the exit of regular Lionel Stander, who passed away a few months before this was released. I'm sure his peak came in the television series, but he made for a pleasant side character in the films. There's also quite the unexpected cameo towards the end - I didn't see it coming!

It was an interesting tv movie. I think that they were stretching a little making Jonathan's sister appear in a locket out of nowhere. Stefanie Powers looks beautiful. Lionel Stander looked bad. I didn't realize this was his last episode before he died. The side character of the long lost sister was played by Marion Ross. Overall I like the earlier tv movie specials as well as the original series. Would like to see someone rerun the episodes.

Jonathan and Jennifer Hart head to San Francisco for a charity auction, where she discovers an old heart locket with a picture of Jonathan as a child. He never knew his family, so he quickly learns that he may have a sister and nephew. But this being Hart to Hart, someone has to die before its all over. Maybe a few people have to die, actually. This is the first of the reunion movies to be directed by someone other than Peter Hunt. Here it's Kevin Connor, who was behind From Beyond the Grave and Motel Hell. He also directed six episodes of the original series. Marion Ross (Happy Days) and Jason Bateman (Arrested Development) play the aunt and nephew, while Wagner's daughter Natasha plays Tibby, the wife of Bateman's character. You also get small parts from Rodger Bumpass (Squidward from Sponge Bob Squarepants), comedian John Pinette, Pat Morita as a Japanese Jewish jeweler named Ling Goldberg, exploitation fave Ross Hagen, Taylor Negron, John Beck (Moonpie from Rollerball), Edward Mulhare from Knight Rider and Michael Parks (Earl McGraw himself!) and Wendie Malick (Just Shoot Me, Dream On) as a murderous couple who clash with the Harts. Sadly, this would be the final appearance of Lionel Stander died soon after making this. His appearance is really rough and his dialogue is often looped, so you can see it coming. It actually made me really emotional. Not to get political, but as you can see from the clip above, Donald Trump makes an appearance. I really need to get on my Donald Trump as a character in fictional movies Letterboxd list. There's Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, Ghosts Can't Do It, Two Weeks Notice, 54, Zoolander, The Little Rascals, Across the Sea of Time...man. An entire week of films ready for people to get upset about!

Hart To Hart is a (very) formulaic US murder-mystery series. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. After all, Perry Mason & Columbo follow the same pattern and they're both excellent; but this is junk. In each episode the fabulously wealthy Johnathen & Jennifer travel to some glamourous location, discover one of their oldest friends has been murdered and then solve the mystery with the help of their 200 year old servant, Max. The main reason I hate this show is that I never feel any 'warmth' towards the Harts. They come across as smug, self-righteous and (as we Brits say), up their own bottoms. Self-obsessed would be more polite, and just as accurate. Secondly, the ridiculous notion, constantly expressed, that Jennifer Hart is a lady we'd all want to fall in love with. Rubbish! When Stephanie Powers was young she was extremely beautiful, but that was a long LONG time ago and all the embalming fluid in the world can't hide the fact that she is, frankly, OLD. The original series (back in the 1970s) was ok, but the "new" hart to Hart is definately one to avoid. I'd even go so far as to say it's worse than Murder She Wrote. Only Father Dowling has a greater "yuch" factor.