It's a big made-for-TV movie night on Sunday, and the offerings range from the sublime ("Grace & Glorie") to the ridiculous ("Hard Time"), from the cute ("Murder She Purred") to the intriguing ("The Cater Street Hangman") to the downright weird ("The Tempest").
Here's what to expect:GRACE & GLORIE (Sunday, 8 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) is the latest offering from the "Hallmark Hall of Fame," and it lives up to its heritage -- this is a literate, affecting telefilm that will challenge and uplift viewers.
For the most part, it's a two-woman play nicely filmed for television. Gena Rowlands stars as Grace, a still-feisty elderly woman who has lived her entire life on a farm and who hasn't got long to live. Diane Lane stars as Gloria (dubbed "Glorie" by Grace), a hospice volunteer who, following a tragedy, has moved from New York City to a more rural setting.
The two women couldn't be more different in age, experience or outlook -- or so it seems. They gradually form a deep friendship based on shared tragedy and mutual respect.
"Grace & Glorie" will make you cry and make you think, but it will also leave you laughing along the way. It's exactly what we've come to expect from Hallmark -- the best kind of TV movie.
MURDER SHE PURRED: A MRS. MURPHY MYSTERY (Sunday, 6 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) is a cute and diverting little offering from "The Wonderful World of Disney," based on one of Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy mystery novels.
Ricki Lake stars as Mary Minor Haristeen -- or Harry -- the recently divorced postmistress in a small town in Virginia. Her life is quiet, but her animals aren't. Her cat, Mrs. Murphy (voiced by Blythe Danner) and her Welsh corgi, Tucker (voiced by Anthony Clark) -- have plenty to say. At least to each other.
And when Mrs. Murphy and Tucker happen upon the murder of the town banker, the animals and Harry set about solving the mystery.
Not that this is a violent show by any means. The kids are going to like the mystery -- not to mention the animals -- and this is a show that parents can sit down and enjoy with the youngsters.
There may be sequels to "Murder She Purred" coming our way, and one of these a year would be just fine.
THE CATER STREET HANGMAN (Sunday, 7 p.m., A&E) is the first adaptation of an Anne Perry novel, bringing to life her Inspector Pitt. And, given the quality of this outing, let's hope there are more.
The mystery involves a series of murders in 1881 London. The story comes home to the upper-crust Ellison family when their maid becomes the latest victim.
Charlotte Ellison, the "modern" (and outspoken) daughter, starts asking questions. And quick on the scene is the enigmatic Pitt (a well-cast Eion McCarthy) who starts asking even harder questions of almost everyone on the scene.
And that's what's best about "Hangman" -- that suspicion is cast in so many directions that the mystery is a real puzzler.
This is great stuff.
THE TEMPEST (Sunday, 8 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) is, well, different than your average TV movie. It's a retelling of Shakespeare's tale -- only this time it's set in Mississippi in the midst of the Civil War.
Peter Fonda stars as Gideon Prosper, a slaveowner who dabbles in voodoo. Gideon frees his slave, Ariel (Harold Perrineau), but continues to bedevil him with magic. (The best part of this flick is the magical special effects.)
Elsewhere, Gideon's brother, Anthony (John Glover), is devising battle strategy against the Union army. And Gideon's daughter, Miranda (Katherine Heigl) is torn between her love for her father and her love for a Union soldier.
This adaptation is a bit confusing. And the performances can't quite make up for the weakness of the rather weird script.
HARD TIME (Sunday, 6 and 8 p.m., TNT) is, at the very least, the most appropriately titled movie on TV this weekend. You'll have a "Hard Time" sitting through it.
Burt Reynolds directs and stars in this cop movie, playing veteran police officer Logan McQueen. He and his partner (Charles Durning) play out an overly familiar storyline that involves allegations of police brutality that send McQueen to prison and force him to try to clear his name.
Basically, it's an excuse for various over-the-top car chases and fistfights -- and Reynolds is beginning to look rather ridiculous trying to play roles like this at his age.
As if all this isn't bad enough, TNT has already ordered two sequels to "Hard Time." Ouch.