oldbob-1 Review of Anna Lee: Headcase

Anna Lee: Headcase (1993 TV Movie)

Sassy young detective heroine in an era of dried old sticks

[7/10 · 2 November 2006]

This was a very nice pilot to a series which went on to disappoint. In an era of TV detectives from the dotty old dears stable or Columbo on his last legs it was a treat to be offered a sassy, peppy and quite gorgeous heroine in the shape of Imogen Stubbs. Anna Lee is a rather disorganised but determined London girl in search of a glamorous life as a private detective only to find herself in the employ of a stuffy old boss (Michael Bryant: brilliant) and working with a gang of has-beens on a routinely dull missing person's case. Needless to say Colin Bucksey takes the Liza Cody novel and quickly brings the story to life and engages the characters and plot at a spirited pace with both humour and charm from Miss Stubbs et al. When the missing girl Thea, (played by a remarkably young Kate Beckinsale) shows up without too much trouble the detective work really begins: leading us on a darkening trail of seduction, abuse and murder.