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    3. Murder 101: College Can Be Murder

    Murder 101: College Can Be Murder

    Not yet rated·2007·1h 23m·Weirdness 3/10
    Bingo Card
    Murder 101: College Can Be Murder poster

    At a glance

    3/10

    Mostly standard issue

    Time period
    Contemporary
    Runtime
    1h 23m
    IMDbLetterboxdTMDBJustWatch

    Where to watch

    We haven’t pinned down where Murder 101: College Can Be Murder is streaming yet — check JustWatch.

    The premise

    Criminology Professor Dr. Jonathan Maxwell does not believe that Professor Archer Coe died of a heart attack, so he hires his friend Mike Parker to investigate. The pair discover that the murdered professor had many enemies, and many secrets.

    Themes:academic ambitionblackmailtruth versus circumstantial evidencetenure politicsprofessional jealousysecond chances

    How unusual is it?

    Honestly? Not very — and that's the charm. It plays the hits, which is exactly the point for a cozy night in.

    Who’s in it

    Dick Van Dyke headshot

    Lead

    Dick Van Dyke

    as Dr. Jonathan Maxwell

    Barry Van Dyke headshot

    Lead

    Barry Van Dyke

    as Mike Bryant

    Alongside them

    • Kimberly Quinn headshot
      Kimberly QuinnKelly Fogelle
    • Alex Hyde-White headshot
      Alex Hyde-WhiteArcher Coe
    • Molly Hagan headshot
      Molly HaganHilda Lake
    • Whip Hubley headshot
      Whip HubleyStuart Evans
    Show all 8 castShow fewer
    • Jonathan Banks headshot
      Jonathan BanksDet. Frank Chambers
    • Sarah Jones headshot
      Sarah JonesDayna Rosovitch

    Behind the camera

    ShowHide

    Directed by

    • John Putch headshot
      John Putch

    Written by

    • Michael Gleason headshot
      Michael Gleason

    Wait, what?

    The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

    • A poisoned orange is used as the murder weapon at a faculty meeting
    • A vintage 1938 American Speed Streamer bicycle becomes a running subplot
    • A secret unpublished campus novel becomes the motive for murder

    Every trope, all in one place

    Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 5 to find more movies that do the same thing.

    Setting1

    📍A university campus and nearby town

    Time & season1

    🗓️Contemporary

    Characters3

    👥Lead: Criminology Professor🐱Cat🐕Pet

    How it all plays out

    Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

    Full story (spoilers)
    Criminology professor Jonathan Maxwell is serving on the tenure committee reviewing his colleague Stuart Evans when Professor Archer Coe dies after eating a poisoned orange. Reporter Kelly Fogelle shadows Jonathan, and private investigator Mike Bryant joins him as the evidence begins to frame Stuart. Jonathan and Mike trace digitoxin to the medical lab and uncover Coe's affair with Danya Rosovitch, Danya's blackmail, Coe's gambling debt, and his unpublished novel. The manuscript gives Hilda, a faculty assistant with access to the committee and its rooms, a motive to kill Coe and steal his work. Jonathan traps Hilda with the manuscript and exposes her as the person who poisoned Coe, planted evidence against Stuart, and tried to run down witnesses. Stuart is cleared and gets another chance at tenure, Kelly receives her byline, and Jonathan's stolen American Speed Streamer bicycle is returned.

    Beat by beat

    1. 1

      Opening

      Jonathan Maxwell helps push Stuart Evans's tenure case forward while the university debates his credentials, and Jonathan's missing antique bicycle becomes a side distraction.

    2. 2

      Inciting incident

      During the tenure committee meeting, Professor Archer Coe suddenly collapses after eating an orange and dies, with Acting Dean Camille Brewster quickly calling it a heart attack.

    3. 3

      Rising action

      Jonathan suspects murder, hires Mike Bryant to investigate, and starts tracking clues involving digitoxin, Coe's blackmail material, and reporter Kelly Foggel's nosy coverage.

    4. 4

      Midpoint

      Stuart Evans is arrested when poison is found in his apartment, and Jonathan publicly dismantles the circumstantial evidence while looking for other suspects and motives.

    5. 5

      Conflict escalates

      The investigation uncovers Coe's gambling debts, his affair with Danya Rosovitch, his secret manuscript, and suspicious behavior from Muriel Coe, Camille Brewster, and faculty staff.

    6. 6

      Climax

      Jonathan traps Hilda with the missing manuscript and exposes her as the killer, revealing that she stole Coe's novel, poisoned the orange, and tried to eliminate anyone who could expose her.

    7. 7

      Resolution

      Hilda is exposed, Stuart is exonerated and restored, Kelly lands the story, and the stolen bike subplot ends with Jonathan recovering the sentimental machine.

    Where this one fits

    The corners of the catalog Murder 101: College Can Be Murder belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

    Murder 101Part of the 4-film Murder 101 series.
    • 🐶Hallmark Dog & Pet MoviesA four-legged matchmaker.
    • 🧁Hallmark Baking & Cooking MoviesPlenty of time in the kitchen.
    BINGOA walk-and-talk through townThe lead works as a criminology professorA warm hug that lingersA misunderstanding nearly ruins everythingA genuine Christmas miracleThe town pulls together for one of its ownA best friend who has all the answersA nervous voicemail goes unsentA shared errand turns into bondingA wise elder dispenses adviceSomeone’s guard finally comes downA cute dog or cat★A heart-to-heart on a porch or benchA handwritten note or letterA charming local cafe or dinerA quiet moment under string lightsA calendar reminder raises the stakesSomeone decorates a Christmas treeAn almost-kiss gets interruptedA scenic spot becomes their meeting placeA shared meal around a crowded tableA change of heart by the final actA classic Hallmark meet-cuteThe two leads are forced to work together
    Hallmark Bingo

    Your Murder 101: College Can Be Murder card is dealt.

    Twenty-four squares pulled from this movie’s own quirks — the cosy classics, a few only-in-this-one curveballs, and a couple of decoys. Mark them as you watch.

    Open your card→

    Lines worth quoting

    The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

    • “If that doesn't get you tenure, I don't know what will.”
      — Jonathan MaxwellHe reacts to a glowing letter of recommendation for Stuart Evans.
    • “Foul play? Does anybody but Sherlock Holmes use foul play?”
      — Kelly FogelleShe jokes with Jonathan when he starts suspecting murder.
    • “I was blackmailing Archer.”
      — Danya RosovitchShe admits her own involvement after Jonathan presses her about Coe.
    • “It was a setup. You knew I'd come.”
      — HildaShe realizes Jonathan has trapped her with the evidence.
    • “The study of criminology isn't all dry lectures and slide shows you know.”
      — Jonathan MaxwellHe defends his work and tries to impress Kelly during the investigation.

    Meet the characters

    Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

    • Jonathan Maxwell

      Lead

      criminology professor and amateur investigator

      analyticalwittypersistentethicalcurious

    • Hilda

      Antagonist

      faculty assistant and committee note-taker

      the hidden killer and final suspect

      patientcalculatingresentfulambitiousdeceitful

    • Mike Bryant

      Supporting

      private investigator

      Jonathan's friend and hired investigative partner

      pragmaticsardonicloyalresourceful

    • Kelly Fogelle

      Supporting

      newspaper reporter

      reporter who shadows Jonathan and becomes an ally

      ambitiouscuriousbrashpersistent

    • Stuart Evans

      Supporting

      professor seeking tenure

      colleague whom Jonathan tries to clear of murder

      intelligentproudfrustratedscholarly

    • Archer Coe

      Supporting

      professor and department figure

      murder victim whose death drives the mystery

      vainbrilliantmanipulativeegotistical

    • Camille Brewster

      Supporting

      acting dean

      university administrator and institutional obstacle

      controlledambitiouscautiousdefensive

    • Danya Rosovitch

      Supporting

      pre-med student and lab worker

      student connected to Coe through an affair and blackmail

      brightdefensivecalculatingimpulsive

    • Muriel Coe

      Supporting

      Archer Coe's widow

      victim's wife and early suspect

      sharp-tonguedbitterguardedperceptive

    • Herbie Saxe

      Supporting

      bookie and loan shark

      source of the gambling-debt clue tied to Coe

      slipperygreedyevasivethreatening

    Questions people ask about Murder 101: College Can Be Murder

    How long is Murder 101: College Can Be Murder?

    Murder 101: College Can Be Murder runs about 1 hour and 23 minutes, and was released in 2007.

    More like this

    Browse all movies

    Nothing close enough to suggest yet — the full catalog is a good place to wander.

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    Data and sources

    Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.

    Sources:IMDb·TMDB·JustWatch

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