About
"In early television, there were a handful of tremendously successful televisions producers. They wanted real actors who could learn the roles and give a performance with a modicum of rehearsal. We would go to New York and rehearse for two weeks or less and put on a live television show. It required tremendous training to be able to do that. There weren't very many movie actors who could do that."
In her three-and-a-half-hour interview, Angela Lansbury (1925-2022) recalls growing up in England before immigrating to New York during the London Blitz, and beginning her early motion picture career at MGM with films including Gaslight and The Picture of Dorian Gray. She discusses her many appearances on live television shows, including Robert Montgomery Presents, The George Gobel Show, Ford Television Theatre, Your Show of Shows, and Playhouse 90, which highlighted both her comedic and dramatic talents. She discusses her many television movies over the years, her award-winning Broadway successes in Mame, Gypsy, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and details her involvement as star and executive producer of the popular 12-season mystery series, Murder She Wrote. Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on September 15, 1998 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Angela Lansbury on her British accent as an asset
Angela Lansbury on her Murder, She Wrote character, "Jessica 'J. B.' Fletcher"
Angela Lansbury on her thoughts on television work in the early days of the medium
Angela Lansbury on how she wanted to add more sophistication to Murder, She Wrote when she became the show's producer
Angela Lansbury on how she'd like to be remembered
Angela Lansbury on watching rehearsals of the MGM musicals and wanting to be in those productions
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early influences - radio, pantomimes, the theater and singing
On the outbreak of World War II in England
On her training at the Weber Douglas School of Dramatic Arts in London and moving to America
Chapter 2
On moving to New York from England
On her drama school training in the International Building at Rockefeller Center and the war effort overseas
On her early impressions of television and of Broadway
On her first paid acting job
On moving to Los Angeles
Chapter 3
On her first years in Los Angeles - working in Bullocks Wilshire department store
On breaking into the movie business in Los Angeles and on life as an MGM contract player
On her Academy Award nominations for "Gaslight" and "The Picture of Dorian Gray"
On leaving MGM and her early work in live television
Chapter 4
On her early television work on Pantomime Quiz, Lux Video Theatre
On becoming an American citizen and starting a family
On appearing on Broadway
On her films - "The Long Hot Summer," "Dark at the Top of the Stairs," "Blue Hawaii," "All Fall Down," "The Manchurian Candidate"
Chapter 5
On her television and Broadway appearances
On the film "Bedknobs and Broomsticks"; on the Broadway play "Mame"
On the film "Death on the Nile"; on moving to Ireland and doing "Gypsy"
On several movies she did in the 1970s, including "The Mirror Cracked"
On the play and television versions of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and doing television miniseries, including The First Olympics: Athens 1896
Chapter 6
On the miniseries Lace
On Murder, She Wrote
Chapter 7
On Murder, She Wrote; on television movies and miniseries
On the future of television; on her legacy; on co-workers and people she knew
Shows
Danny Kaye Show, The
Angela Lansbury on her appearances on The Danny Kaye Show
David Copperfield
Angela Lansbury on TV miniseries David Copperfield
Eleventh Hour, The
Angela Lansbury on appearing on The Eleventh Hour with Tuesday Weld and Martin Balsam, which she considers one of her best roles in filmed TV
First Olympics, The: Athens 1896
Angela Lansbury on her role in the TV miniseries The First Olympics: Athens 1896
Ford Star Revue
Angela Lansbury on her appearances on Ford Star Revue
Lace
Angela Lansbury on the TV miniseries Lace
Little Gloria ... Happy At Last
Angela Lansbury on her role in the TV miniseries Little Gloria ... Happy At Last
Love She Sought, The
Angela Lansbury on TV movies The Shell Seekers and The Love She Sought
Lux Video Theatre
Angela Lansbury on her first television appearance on Lux Video Theatre
Angela Lansbury on getting a case of the giggles in rehearsal on a show with Richard Kiley, likely Lux Video Theatre's "Operation Weekend"
Lux Video Theatre: "Operation Weekend"
Angela Lansbury on getting a case of the giggles in rehearsal on a show with Richard Kiley, likely Lux Video Theatre's "Operation Weekend"
Man From U.N.C.L.E., The
Angela Lansbury on her role on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz aka Stump the Stars
Angela Lansbury on appearing on Pantomime Quiz because she needed the work
Angela Lansbury on being a regular on Pantomime Quiz for a short time
Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury on her decision to do a TV series and then her disappointment in the initial projects she was offered
Angela Lansbury on choosing to star in Murder She, Wrote (over a Norman Lear comedy series)
Angela Lansbury on Jean Stapleton turning down the role of "Jessica Fletcher" allowing Lansbury to get the role on Murder She, Wrote
Angela Lansbury on the workload of doing a weekly "anthology" series
Angela Lansbury on the audience who watched Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury on the appeal of Murder, She Wrote to its audience on how she wanted to add more sophistication when she became the show's producer
Angela Lansbury on the contribution of Murder, She Wrote creators Richard Levinson and William Link
Angela Lansbury of Murder, She Wrote producer Peter S. Fischer
Angela Lansbury on the regulars who appeared on Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote's regular directors, including her son Anthony Shaw
Angela Lansbury on her brother Bruce Lansbury's work as Murder, She Wrote's showrunner
Angela Lansbury on demanding a longer and less strenuous work schedule (from seven to eight days)
Angela Lansbury on sticking with Murder, She Wrote for the long run
Angela Lansbury on the camraderie on the set of Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury on getting a hip replacement during the run of Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote producer David Moessinger, who served as the executive producer between 1991-92
Angela Lansbury on transitioning to being Murder, She Wrote's executive producer and the changes she sought
Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote as a "family affair"
Angela Lansbury on her approach as a producer of Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury on her Murder, She Wrote character, "Jessica 'J. B.' Fletcher"
Angela Lansbury of CBS' decision to move Murder, She Wrote from its long standing Sunday night timeslot to Thursday night
Angela Lansbury on hearing that Murder, She Wrote was CBS Chairman William S. Paley's favorite show
Angela Lansbury on the support she received from CBS executive Howard Stringer
Angela Lansbury on CBS executive Laurence A. Tisch dropping by the set to meet her during Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury on how without supporters William S. Paley and Howard Stringer at CBS, Murder, She Wrote was allowed to be moved out of its timeslot
Angela Lansbury on the overseas popularity of Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury on the fan mail she's received due to Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury on the subsequent TV movies following the end of Murder, She Wrote as a series
Angela Lansbury on her many nominations, but no wins, of the Emmy Award
Playhouse 90
Angela Lansbury on the experience of doing "live TV"
Robert Montgomery Presents
Angela Lansbury on working with "pleasant but cold" Robert Montgomery
Angela Lansbury on her exciting experience doing "Cakes and Ale" on Robert Montgomery Presents
Robert Montgomery Presents: "Cakes and Ale"
Angela Lansbury on her exciting experience doing "Cakes and Ale" on Robert Montgomery Presents
Shell Seekers, The
Angela Lansbury on TV movies The Shell Seekers and The Love She Sought
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Angela Lansbury on her casting and performance as "Nellie Lovett" in "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway, which was also seen in a filmed TV version
Your Show of Shows
Angela Lansbury on appearing on Your Show of Shows as a guest
Topics
Bloopers
Angela Lansbury on getting a case of the giggles in rehearsal on a show with Richard Kiley, likely Lux VideoTheatre's "Operation Weekend"
Characters & Catchphrases
Angela Lansbury on her Murder, She Wrote character, "Jessica 'J. B.' Fletcher"
Criticism of TV
Angela Lansbury on being asked to curtail violence on TV
Emmy Awards
Angela Lansbury on her many Emmy nominations, but no wins
Historic Events and Social Change
Angela Lansbury on her recollections of the outbreak of World War II
Pop Culture
Angela Lansbury on her many nominations, but no wins, of the Emmy Award
Sex & Violence
Angela Lansbury on being asked to curtail violence on TV
Technological Innovation
Angela Lansbury on the odd makeup one had to wear in early television (because of the lights and camera quality)
Television Industry
Angela Lansbury on being asked to curtail violence on TV
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Angela Lansbury on the experience of doing "live TV" during the "Golden Age of Television," after having been a theater performer.
War
Angela Lansbury on her recollections of the outbreak of World War II
World War II
Angela Lansbury on her recollections of the outbreak of World War II
Professions
Actress
Angela Lansbury on wanting to be an actress
Performers
Angela Lansbury on wanting to be an actress
Producers
Angela Lansbury on the similarities between housekeeping and producing
Genres
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote
Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote
People
Martin Balsam
Angela Lansbury on appearing on The Eleventh Hour with Tuesday Weld and Martin Balsam, which she considers one of her best roles in filmed TV
Angela Lansbury on her admiration for actor Martin Balsam
Tom Bosley
Angela Lansbury on the regulars who appeared on Murder, She Wrote
Charles Boyer
Angela Lansbury on actor Charles Boyer
Fred Coe
Angela Lansbury on television producer Fred Coe
Ronald Colman
Angela Lansbury on her appearances on Ford Star Revue working with Ronald Colman
George Cukor
Angela Lansbury on meeting with director George Cukor for "Gaslight"
Bette Davis
Angela Lansbury on her admiration for actress Bette Davis
Angela Lansbury on working with actress Bette Davis
Cecil B. DeMille
Angela Lansbury on Cecil B. DeMille's foot fetish
Howard Duff
Angela Lansbury on Howard Duff
Peter Falk
Angela Lansbury on actor Peter Falk
Peter Fischer
Angela Lansbury of Murder, She Wrote producer Peter S. Fischer
Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote producer Peter Fischer
John Frankenheimer
Angela Lansbury on John Frankenheimer
Angela Lansbury on film director John Frankenheimer
George Gobel
Angela Lansbury on comedian George Gobel
John Houseman
Angela Lansbury on John Houseman
Hal Kanter
Angela Lansbury on comedy writer Hal Kanter
Boris Karloff
Angela Lansbury on doing live television with Boris Karloff
Richard Kiley
Angela Lansbury on getting a case of the giggles in rehearsal on a show with Richard Kiley, likely Lux Video Theatre's "Operation Weekend"
Angela Lansbury on actor/singer Richard Kiley
Bert Lahr
Angela Lansbury on what she learned from starring with Bert Lahr on Broadway
Bruce Lansbury
Angela Lansbury on her brother Bruce Lansbury's work as Murder, She Wrote's showrunner
Norman Lear
Angela Lansbury on turning down a Norman Lear show to do Murder, She Wrote
Richard Levinson
Angela Lansbury on the contribution of Murder, She Wrote creators Richard Levinson and William Link
Albert Lewin
Angela Lansbury on meeting with director Albert Lewin for "The Picture of Dorian Gray"
William Link
Angela Lansbury on the contribution of Murder, She Wrote creators Richard Levinson and William Link
Angela Lansbury on transitioning to being Murder, She Wrote's executive producer, the changes she sought, and the assistance she received from William Link
Delbert Mann
Angela Lansbury on working with film director Delbert Mann on "Dark at the Top of the Stairs"
Mary Martin
Angela Lansbury on Mary Martin being considered for the musical version of "Mame"
Louis B. Mayer
Angela Lansbury on getting hired at MGM by Louis B. Mayer
Angela Lansbury on former boss Louis B. Mayer
David Moessinger
Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote producer David Moessinger, who served as the executive producer between 1991-92
Robert Montgomery
Angela Lansbury on working with "pleasant but cold" Robert Montgomery on his show Robert Montgomery Presents
Laurence Olivier
Angela Lansbury on working with actor Sir Laurence Olivier
William S. Paley
Angela Lansbury on hearing that Murder, She Wrote was CBS Chairman William S. Paley's favorite show
Elvis Presley
Angela Lansbury on appearing with Elvis Presley in the feature film "Blue Hawaii"
Rosalind Russell
Angela Lansbury on Rosalind Russell turning down the musical version of "Mame"
Peter Shaw
Angela Lansbury on husband Peter Shaw
Angela Lansbury on her husband Peter Shaw's career
Angela Lansbury on the support of her husband, Peter Shaw, throughout her career
Anthony Shaw
Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote's regular directors, including her son Anthony Shaw
Jean Stapleton
Angela Lansbury on Jean Stapleton turning down the role of "Jessica Fletcher" allowing Lansbury to get the role on Murder She, Wrote
Mike Stokey
Angela Lansbury on appearing on Pantomime Quiz with Mike Stokey
J. Michael Straczynski
Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote writer J. Michael Straczynski
Howard Stringer
Angela Lansbury on the support she received from CBS executive Howard Stringer
Elizabeth Taylor
Angela Lansbury on doing "National Velvet" with Elizabeth Taylor
Laurence A. Tisch
Angela Lansbury on CBS executive Laurence A. Tisch dropping by the set to meet her during Murder, She Wrote
Audrey Wood
Angela Lansbury on being seen by agent Audrey Wood
Bud Yorkin
Angela Lansbury on producer Bud Yorkin