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IMDbPro

Murder on Pleasant Drive

  • TV Movie
  • 2006
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
567
YOUR RATING
Adam Arkin in Murder on Pleasant Drive (2006)
DramaMysteryThriller

The "true story" of John Smith and his disappearing wives, and how the perseverance of his second wife Fran's daughter and sister finally brought the story together and broke at least part o... Read allThe "true story" of John Smith and his disappearing wives, and how the perseverance of his second wife Fran's daughter and sister finally brought the story together and broke at least part of the case.The "true story" of John Smith and his disappearing wives, and how the perseverance of his second wife Fran's daughter and sister finally brought the story together and broke at least part of the case.

  • Director
    • Michael M. Scott
  • Writers
    • Walter Klenhard
    • Sherrie Gladden-Davis
    • Brad Crawford
  • Stars
    • Kelli Williams
    • Amy Madigan
    • Susan Hogan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    567
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael M. Scott
    • Writers
      • Walter Klenhard
      • Sherrie Gladden-Davis
      • Brad Crawford
    • Stars
      • Kelli Williams
      • Amy Madigan
      • Susan Hogan
    • 8User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

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    Top cast35

    Edit
    Kelli Williams
    Kelli Williams
    • Deanna Whelen
    Amy Madigan
    Amy Madigan
    • Aunt Sherrie Davis
    Susan Hogan
    Susan Hogan
    • Fran Smith
    Vincent Gale
    Vincent Gale
    • Detective Mike Dansbury
    Brian Markinson
    Brian Markinson
    • Bob Hilland
    Eric Keenleyside
    Eric Keenleyside
    • Detective Brian Potts
    Bill Marchant
    Bill Marchant
    • Michael Smith
    Adam Arkin
    Adam Arkin
    • John David Smith
    Philip Lyall
    • Young John Smith
    Ingrid Tesch
    Ingrid Tesch
    • Dawn Smith
    Adam Battrick
    Adam Battrick
    • Young Michael Smith
    Marcel Maillard
    Marcel Maillard
    • Granpa Chaney
    Louise Grant
    • Ethel Chaney
    Annabel Kershaw
    Annabel Kershaw
    • Susan Redman
    Mary Black
    Mary Black
    • Mickey Gladden
    Monica Marko
    • Grandma Cannon
    Keith Martin Gordey
    Keith Martin Gordey
    • Dave David
    Rebecca Geheran
    • Nici
    • Director
      • Michael M. Scott
    • Writers
      • Walter Klenhard
      • Sherrie Gladden-Davis
      • Brad Crawford
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    5.9567
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    Featured reviews

    3alannasser

    as flat as Arkin's performance

    Lifetime seriously hyped this movie for weeks prior to its premier. I persuaded myself that this thriller would be more than the patented, formulaic flick that is standard for a Lifetime thriller. And there have been excellent thrillers on this channel: Ladies Night is a good, if rare, example, and features a first rate performance by Paul Michael Glaser. Alas, my hopes were dashed. This film, about a sociopathic murderer of a succession of wives, lacks dynamics, tension and narrative flow. It is the visual equivalent of an essay outlining this (based-on-a-true) story. What we get is flat story telling, with no depth or energy.

    At the core of the film's many flaws is Adam Arkin's comatose performance as the sociopath. The character is described as lacking in conscience and emotion. He apparently suffers from a kind of Asperger's Syndrome, unable to experience or understand others' inner life. The character is thus without depth, a bit lifeless and, as is acknowledged in the film, therefore plain boring. But an actor playing a flat, shallow and boring character must not give a flat, shallow and boring performance. And there lies the challenge to the actor. Arkin sinks to the challenge. There is virtually no variation in his facial expressions, and he is vocally monotonous. Every actor knows that playing an intensely bad or evil character can be fun. Classic examples are Al Lettieri in the original The Getaway, and Christopher Plummer in The Silent Partner. You can't take your eyes off those villains. A serious baddie can be given both nuance and depth and texture by a skilled actor. Arkin seems to lack the chops of a good actor, and his performance is accordingly as dull as dishwater.

    In all fairness, I must admit that I have found all of Arkin's work similarly bland, energyless and lacking in range.

    This pic was a huge disappointment.
    9MarieGabrielle

    Adam Arkin should be in more leading roles...

    he is consistently underrated. While this film is a bit choppy, and relevant themes within Smith's family are left unexplored; Arkin gives a believable, chilling and intriguing performance.

    He portrays John David Smith- the true story of an engineer who also happens to be a sociopath. We see him relocate to New Jersey, with his new wife, who is then disposed of. Her daughter and sister, portrayed by Kelli Williams and Amy Madigan, respectively, attempt to solve the mystery of John Smith. What happened and why? The writer may have included more history, especially regarding Smith's mother, the apparent dysfunctional family in Indiana, and some of Smith's other encounters with women.

    The last TV movie which had a good male performer in this type of role was Gary Cole, as Capt. Jeffrey MacDonald. (Another case of a sociopath responsible for his family's violent murder.) While this film was not a stand-out; Adam Arkin was excellent, and should be in more leading male roles (I confess I have liked him since Chicago Hope, as Dr. Aaron Shutt).

    At any rate, you will be interested in this story. Perhaps the director and writer can team up with Arkin once again, in a similar project. It is interesting to see older, intelligent and charismatic actors playing roles other than doctors, attorneys or principals.
    7phd_travel

    Interesting pursuit for the killer

    The top quality cast makes this movie above the usual Lifetime movie. It's a fascinating true story about a man who killed 2 wives, by the interesting thing is how the family of the second wife went after the killer for years. Kelli Williams is earnest and sympathetic as the anxious daughter of the second wife. Adam Arkin is eerily autistic looking in the role of the killer. Worth watching.
    6krorie

    Never marry a stranger

    This made-for-TV thriller, not mystery (because you know right away who the killer is), doesn't quite make it all work, but is still worth a look. The script by sometimes actor Walter Klenhard, which he based on a true account entitled "My Sister Is Missing" by Sherrie Davis, could stand a little more wit and wisdom and the direction by Michael Scott would benefit from more suspense and excitement. Otherwise, the story is an intriguing one, made more so by the fact that it actually happened. The ironic title adds to the film's appeal.

    John Smith (Adam Arkin), what a name for a cold-blooded sociopath, has wives that keep disappearing. The latest is Fran (Susan Hogan) whom he marries after a brief courtship. Fran leaves a note that she is terminating the relationship and not coming back but fails to inform her family. Her daughter, Deanna Whelen (Kelli Williams), and her sister, Sherrie Davis (Amy Madigan), know that something evil has happened to their loved one and are determined to find out exactly what. John behaves strangely to say the least. That he has been forsaken seems to consume his entire psyche. Deanna and Sherrie pretend to be supportive of him, to gain his confidence in order to get evidence for the police. The local police do all they can to help but without a body or something substantive they are unable to charge John. The FBI eventually gets involved as more is uncovered about John's previous life. A key figure turns out to be John's brother, Michael (Bill Marchant), who has been in his older brother's shadow all his life. How John is ultimately brought to justice is the crux of the film.

    The talented actor, Adam Arkin, son of the also talented actor Alan Arkin, makes a creepy, scary psycho, with his slow, methodical speech pattern which exudes the essence of the demons lurking inside this seemingly mild-mannered engineer. Bill Marchant as his slow-witted younger brother turns in an effective and believable performance. An actress who has been overlooked by movie moguls for years, Amy Madigan, plays the crucial role of Fran's indefatigable sister to perfection. The rest of the cast is above average for a routine made-for-TV film.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      As John is being arrested, it's obvious that he's holding the handcuffs, unlocked, in his hands behind his back.
    • Quotes

      Michael: I've been a bad boy.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 8, 2006 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Lifetime TV
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El caso Hartman
    • Production companies
      • Dan Wigutow Productions
      • Front Street Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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