Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart (1994) starring Robert Wagner, Stefanie Powers, Lionel Stander, Alan Rachins directed by Peter Roger Hunt Movie Review

Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart (1994)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers in Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart (1994)

The Hart of Theatre Land

Jonathan Hart (Robert Wagner) and Jennifer (Stefanie Powers) find themselves in New York having been invited as guests of top Broadway producer David Kramer (Alan Rachins) who has been shown an old play which Jennifer wrote when she was at NYU. The play is about Jack the Ripper except in Jennifer's version Jack is actually Jackie, a woman, which intrigues Kramer who is sure it will make for a great stage production. But after supporting Jennifer in working with the intense Kramer, Jonathan begins to worry as various people are killed and the police lead by Detective Frank Giordano (Richard Belzer) even suspect that the Harts could be the killers. Meanwhile Max (Lionel Stander) having moved to New York with the Harts has become sweet on the maid in the next door apartment.

There is a scene in "Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart" where Jonathan and Jennifer are going through a garage the size of a small warehouse where all their old stuff is stored away when Jonathan takes the cover off of a vintage car he had driven in college. It all seems a bit ridiculous but as Jonathan and Jennifer sit in the car he explains the importance of knowing the curves of the road so that you could make the right move and it is that sort of moment of natural charm as Jennifer falls into Jonathan's shoulder which is what these "Hart to Hart" movies were made from, the believable and frankly beautiful chemistry between Powers and Wagner. That is not the only one and in a strange way the more I watch these "Hart to Hart" movies the more I can see how they could be seen as being aspirational, showing the fantasy life of the Hart's as something everyone should reach for.

Richard Belzer in Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart (1994)

Anyway aside from that we also get more romance, no I am not just on about Max trying to sweep the maid next door off of her feet, but we are taken to New York when the streets are covered in snow. What a perfect setting for even more romance and softly lit scenes between Jonathan and Jennifer. And that also means that whilst we have them once again in the midst of some trouble there is enough opportunity for them to smile and laugh as well as frequently cuddle.

As for the crime which ironically comes way down the list of importance, well you know what to expect as again the Harts are in the midst of a crime, people are dropping dead and they start snooping whilst an awkward detective begins to suspect them. With this being set in theatre land we have various accidents and some bitchiness between the cast as jealousy spills over which means we have various suspects. But in truth the story and who did it is not the appeal of "Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart" but again it is Jonathan and Jennifer as the perfect couple.

What this all boils down to is that "Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart" is just a typical "Hart to Hart" movie and is very enjoyable but again it works not because of the story but because of Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers who have to go down as one of the best screen couples in TV/Movie history.

Tags: TV Mystery Movie Crime Solvers


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