The Snoop Sisters (aka The Female Instinct) (1972)

When a fading movie actress (Paulette Goddard in her final film role) is murdered, the clue may lie in the lurid tell all autobiography she was writing. Two elderly sisters, one a murder mystery novelist (Helen Hayes) and the other a poetess (Mildred Natwick), who were acquaintances of the actress decide to investigate. Directed by Leonard Stern. In the 1960s and 1970s, it was common for networks to air a TV movie to see if there would be any interest in turning it into a TV series. This feature length telefilm aired in December of 1972 and exactly a year later, it made its debut as a TV series. It was a forerunner to MURDER SHE WROTE with its mystery writer becoming involved in real life murders. For murder mystery fans (like me), this is good fun with plenty of murder suspects to keep you guessing and the appealing Hayes and Natwick are charming. When one of the actress's old movies is screened because it provides a clue to the murder, film buffs should recognize THE GHOST BREAKERS which Goddard did in 1940. When the movie was picked up for a series, Art Carney as the sisters' chauffeur was replaced by Lou Antonio and Lawrence Pressman as their policeman nephew replaced by Bert Convy. With Jill Clayburgh, Craig Stevens, Fritz Weaver, Kurt Kasznar, Kent Smith, Ed Flanders and Edward Platt.