European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A murder Star basking in a Lovely Success by Susan King los Angeles times according to Angela Lansbury people Are always asking her to name the one that got away the role she always wanted to do but never got the Opportunity. Her answer to them is always the same a there Isnit any a said Lansbury her Blue eyes twinkling. A with me its always what a the next role that is going to come in the mail or that somebody is going to Tell me about and i am going to fall in love with. I have always loved to switch and Spring a change on people and i have constantly done  and As much As Lansbury 67, is relishing a this Lovely Success with murder she wrote i Felt a gosh i must do something that is different and has a new substance that i want to investigate and find out  a so before she began her ninth season As mystery writer Jessica Fletcher on the highly rated lbs sunday series Lansbury spent her hiatus in Europe filming mrs. A Arris goes to Paris airing in the United states sunday tonight on lbs right after an episode of murder. In the comedy drama which also stars Omar Sharif and Diana Rigg Lansbury plays the title character a Middle aged englishwoman who makes her living cleaning Homes for several wealthy londoners. While working for one client mrs. Harris becomes enchanted by her employers two dior gowns and decides by Hook or by Crook she must own one of these Beautiful and expensive creations. Lansbury a oldest son David Shaw was co Che Cutic producer and her other son Anthony was the director. A during a recent interview at her Home in the posh Brentwood neighbourhood of los Angeles Lansbury described mrs. A Arris As a Middle age fairly tale. A a it a a Lovely Holiday picture a she said taking a sip of her Tea. A i love the Story of  based on a Short Story by Paul Gallico which was first published in the new yorker Magazine in the 50s, mrs. A Arris had been a bandied around Broadway for years As a possible musical material which it could have been but nobody Ever developed it a said Lansbury a recipient of four Tony awards for the musicals Marne dear world Gypsy and Sweeney Todd. A we could never get a Good Book and for that reason it was never done a Lansbury said. The project was revived As a film a few years ago when someone brought the Story to lbs. Though the network thought it would be a perfect vehicle for Lansbury she said the Only Way she would do it is if there was an a a a script. Quot it needed to be written by an English writer a she said. A so i got in touch with John Hawkesworth upstairs downstairs danger Urb because i knew he would understand the mentality of mrs. Harris better than we in America could possibly  Lansbury said that there had been a few a dry runs with american writers but they had misconceived the character of mrs. Harris. A they made her funny and comical a Lansbury said. A i found that rather distracting and it diminished her in my Way of thinking. I Felt the Only Way to make the Story work As a drama was to make you realize that this woman was totally sincere and she had this absolute dream that she wanted to have this dress and she realized her  Lansbury feels mrs. A Arris will inspire people to realize their own dreams however unattainable. A it is a Little parable a Lansbury said. A i think we need those kind of stories today. People wanted to feel uplifted and want to feel they can go after something even though it seems like the last thing in the world you could attain. We All tend to think in life a i would love to have that but of course i done to have a  we All do that. A i have Learned to sort of say a cancel that  i believe that really there is very Little in life we can to get or you will get it in some Way even if it Isnit exactly the Way you thought you should have  Ever since she arrived in los Angeles in the Early 1940s, Lansbury has wanted to see the tournament of roses Parade. This year Shell finally see it a up close. Lansbury serves As grand marshal of the 104th tournament of roses Parade on Friday. A it is wonderful a Lansbury said of the Honor adding that it has taken her several weeks to decide what to Wear for the event a for the simple reason everyone tells Rne it is terribly cold that Early in the morning. You can to Wear fur you Sec. I done to like to Wear a Parka and overcoats arc pretty  so hat will she be wearing a something which will be interesting a she said with Grin. Lansbury who took on the role of executive producer of murder this year said she believes the series has been such a Success because it is a a comforting show. It simply allows you to sleep Well on sunday night. I think it has a lot of Nice strangely enough family values. I Hope it always will. I want to maintain those aspects and those facets of the show. It is a Nice mystery. Its not a show about issues. I know we have the Good old gory Corpse occasionally but its not a show about  Tom Arnold a new stateside sitcom the Jackie Thomas show took some newspaper critics heat which his wife Roseanne Arnold did no to take lying  Wrath another Salvo in actor critic War by Lynn elber a television writer Abc its a treasured Barb Sharp tongued Dorothy Parker tweaking actress Katharine Hepburn As running the a Gamut of emotions from a to  miss Hepburn a retort if any is lost. But Roseanne Arnold a angry howls were heard loud and Clear when husband Toms new sitcom was skewered by some television critics. They received Poison pen letters As off color As her Star spangled Banner rendition was off key. Brickbats Are part of the entertainment business whether you re a stand up comic with a hot to show bearing your own name or a revered playwright. A it would positively be a Relief to me to dig him up and throw stones at him a mischievous George Bernard Shaw once said of colleague William Shakespeare. Poor Bill. Poor Cherry Sisters a vaudeville Trio that sued a reviewer for such a gentlemanly characterizations As a legs like  they lost the Case. A critics Are not supposed to be Nice Guys basically a says Veteran film reviewer Andrew Sarris. A no journalist will survive if people think he a Pussy footing. Insults Are Lively. Creating controversy is  but Sarris said a a it a horrible if a surgeon enjoys cutting people up enjoys seeing the blood you have tremendous Power. You have a Power to Hurt people  since Arnold is perfectly capable of defending herself lets give her the Soapbox for a moment. She claims her critic bashing has been misconstrued. Its of with her she says if Ray Richmond of the los Angeles daily news or Howard Rosenberg of the los Angeles times knocks her husbands show. But she reserves the right to Send them a lighthearted witty responses. Wit obviously is subjective. So you decide if you re amused by her note to Rosenberg that she plans a a Howard Rosenboom to character to be played by an a effeminate Mousy  its hard to avoid the sneaking suspicion that Rosc Anne the series is funnier than the unedited Rosc Anne herself. Richmond himself was tickled enough by the expletive filled letter he received from Arnold to Send her roses. A thanks for putting me on the map. I owe you a read his accompanying note to the comedian. A harsher letter that she faxed to Matt Roush of Usa today was intended to be a painful and personal slap Arnold said. He has repeatedly degraded her she said using such anti women phrases As Bimbo or shrew. A Fine attack me. Attack All you want a said Arnold. A but when you attack Bill Cosby you done to use racial epithets to do it. If you do you would have the a act picketing in front of your  december 2/, 1992 sunday Page 9