Mrs Pollifax Fan Blog

The first Mrs Pollifax movie was produced in 1971 and starred Rosalind Russell and Darrin McGavin.  The screen play was also written by Rosalind Russell under the name C.A. McKnight.  The movie followed the first book in the Mrs Pollifax very closely and even though it never got the acclaim it deserve it was a cute little film. I have watched at least 4 times.  It is not available in DVD yet.  [***Update***]  The Fancast Website no longer offers the Mrs. Pollifax Spy Movie for viewing.  I emailed the program director and was told that they pulled the video because they need to make room on their server for more videos.  So, we can either start emailing the Fancast program director to put it back on their list or find another place to view it. 

Here is the production information from the Internet Movie Database:
Directed by
Leslie H. Martinson (as Leslie Martinson)

Writing credits(in alphabetical order)
Dorothy Gilman book “The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax”
Rosalind Russell writer (as C.A. McKnight)

Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification

Rosalind Russell … Mrs. Pollifax
Darren McGavin … Farrell
Nehemiah Persoff… Berisha
Harold Gould … Nexdhet
Albert Paulsen … Perdido
John Beck … Lulash
Dana Elcar … Carstairs
James Wellman … Mason
Dennis Cross … Bishop
Nick Katurich … Stefan
Don Diamond … DeGamez
Robert Donner … Larrabee
Tom Hallick … Roger
Patrick Dennis … Tourist (uncredited)
Vassily Sulich … Albanian Private (uncredited)

Produced by
Frederick Brisson …. producer
Charles Forsythe …. associate producer

Original Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc (director of photography) (as Joe Biroc)

Film Editing by
Fred Bohanan
Gene Milford

Art Direction by
Jack Poplin

Set Decoration by
William L. Kuehl(as William Keuhl)

Costume Design by
Noel Taylor

Makeup Department
Fred Williams …. makeup artist

Production Management
Ben Chapman …. production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Baxley …. second unit director
Fred Gammon …. assistant director
Lynn Guthrie …. second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Tom Morrow …. artist: original drawing

Sound Department
Everett A. Hughes …. sound

Stunts
Richard E. Butler …. stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
William Bledsoe …. key grip
Mark H. Davis …. camera operator: second unit
Lee Wilson …. gaffer

Music Department
André Previn …. composer: song “Merdita” (uncredited)
Lalo Schifrin …. musical director (uncredited)
Dan Wallin …. score mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Dorothy Aldrin …. script supervisor
Don Record …. title designer

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax

Based on the first of Dorothy Gilman’s popular novels about a senior citizen who joins the CIA, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax stars Angela Lansbury as Emily Polifax, an elderly woman who feels out of sorts and unsure of what to do with herself after the death of her husband. Her doctor tries to cheer her up by telling her this is a perfect time to try new things and fulfill ambitions set aside earlier in life. Emily decides this is fine advice and takes a shot at the career of her dreams — she writes a letter to her congressman asking how one goes about becoming a CIA agent. The letter is passed along and the CIA agrees to an interview. However, Emily is mistakenly sent on a mission to Morocco before anyone realizes she isn’t actually an agent, and operative Jack Farrell (Thomas Ian Griffith) is sent out to keep an eye on her. When Emily and Jack are unexpectedly taken hostage, Jack discovers Mrs. Pollifax is far more clever and resourceful than anyone expected. The first in a proposed series of TV movies aimed to appeal to the large and loyal audience Lansbury attracted with the show Murder, She Wrote, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax was produced for CBS television, who first aired it in May 1999. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Information from the IMDB website:
Directed by:

Anthony Pullen Shaw (as Anthony Shaw)

Writing credits (WGA):

Dorothy Gilman (novel)

Robert T. Megginson (teleplay)

Cast (in credits order):

Angela Lansbury … Mrs. Emily Pollifax
Thomas Ian Griffith … Jack Farrell
Ed Bishop … Carstairs
Paul Birchard … Bishop
Michelle Read … Alice
Tommy O’Neill … Franz
Paul Kennedy … Hans
Joseph Long … Aleksei Yagoda
Gerry O’Brien … Haggarty
John Light … Robin Hughes-Wright
Todd Boyce … Mason
Patricia Martin … Lady Palisibury
Peter Bland
Patrick Joseph Byrnes … Devlin CI Agent
Gráinne de Buitléar … French Maid
Daisy Donovan … Alexandra / Marina
Jacqueline Pearce
Neil Roberts
Maria Tecce … CIA Receptionist

Produced by:

Richard Brams …. producer
Michele Brustin …. executive producer
Paul Lowin …. line producer
Morgan O’Sullivan …. co-producer
David Shaw …. executive producer

Original Music by:

Peter Manning Robinson

Cinematography by:

Peter Sinclair (director of photography)

Film Editing by :

Stan Cole

Casting by:

Judith Weiner

Production Design by:

Brian Ackland-Snow (as Brian Ackland Snow)

Art Direction by:

Andrew Ackland-Snow (supervising art director)

Steve Simmonds

Set Decoration by:

Josie MacAvin

Costume Design by:

Tiny Nicholls

Makeup Department:

Ann Brodie …. makeup artist: Ms. Lansbury
Bernie Dooley …. hair stylist
Colin Jamison …. hair stylist: Ms. Lansbury
Margot Wilson …. makeup artist

Production Management:

David Byrne …. production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director:

Kevan Barker …. first assistant director
Paul Barnes …. second assistant director
Laurent Herbiet …. first assistant director
Brian ‘Joker’ Mulvey …. third assistant director

Art Department:

Tom Dowling …. construction manager
Paul Hedges …. property master

Sound Department:

Don Digirolamo …. sound re-recording mixer
David E. Fluhr …. sound re-recording mixer
Adam Jenkins …. sound re-recording mixer
Jason W. Jennings …. sound effects editor
Mervyn Moore …. sound recordist
Matt Sawelson …. supervising sound editor (as Matthew Sawelson)
Donnie Saylor …. special sound designer

Camera and Electrical Department:

Hugh-Thomas Cavanagh …. practical electrician
Philip Fitzsimons …. gaffer
Barry Miller …. lighting consultant
Des Whelan …. camera operator

Casting Department:

Patrick Baca …. casting associate
Orly Sitowitz …. casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department:

Dave Croucher …. costumes
Jessica O’Leary …. wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department:

Mary Pritchard …. assistant editor

Music Department:

Dan Raziel …. music editor

Transportation Department:

Gerry Fearon …. transportation coordinator

Other crew:

Liza Buckley …. production coordinator
Elaine Burt …. supervising production coordinator
Allan Chalfin …. production executive
Ann-Marie Fitzgerald …. assistant accountant
Colm Nolan …. location manager
Brendan O’Sullivan …. production trainee
Laerke Sigfred Pedersen …. script supervisor
Lynda Van Damm …. accountant

This version of the movie sort of combined the first 3 books of the series. For true fans it wasn’t done very well but I enjoyed Angela Lansbury as the lead character. I have always thought her or Helen Hayes would be great in this role. Sadly Ms. Hayes died in 1993 at the age of 92. If they do every do another movie based on the Mrs Pollifax character they would have to find someone with their similar qualities.

Currently this movie is not available on dvd nor has ever been shown on television as far as I know. The property rights are still owned by CBS and several fans as well as myself have written or emailed them to try and get it released on DVD for home viewing.