Synopsis
As Remington Steele swings into its first season, sexy private detective Laura Holt (
Stephanie Zimbalist) and her nebbishy partner Murphy Michaels (
James Read) are enjoying a hitherto unimagined stretch of profitability. It seems that, up until recently, Laura had been unable to convince potential clients that a woman was qualified to do confidential detective work. Thus, she invented a fictional boss, dashing international adventurer Remington Steele, naming her agency after the selfsame Steele. Though it takes some doing to deflect the curiosity of those who'd like to meet and talk with the elusive Remington, Laura's little deception is paying off in spades. Then, while trying to protect a valuable jewel shipment from thieves, Laura comes face to face with the "real" Remington Steele (
Pierce Brosnan), who is every bit as suave and dauntless as she had imagined him. It turns out that this charming fellow is not really Remington Steele -- remember, the character doesn't exist -- but he is willing to continue working for Laura so long as she doesn't ask him anything about his real name or background. As the weeks roll by, it is clear that Remington's coolness is mostly a façade; in fact, he is downright bumbling and dimwitted at times. Still, appearance is all that matters -- and Remington is certainly blessed in the "appearance" department. In his very first collaboration with Laura, "Remington" displays his trademarked fondness for vintage Hollywood movies by quoting a key line of dialogue from the 1956 feature
Tea and Sympathy. In later escapades -- which range from industrial espionage to the murder of a seedy romance novelist -- Remington will invoke memories of such flicks as
Casablanca, D.O.A.,
The Shining,
The Third Man,
Enter the Dragon,
Psycho, and even It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. In a cute bit of inside casting, the episode "Sting of Steele" features
Stephanie Zimbalist's real-life father, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Remington Steele's enigmatic mentor, Daniel Chalmers. Meanwhile, back in the offices of the Remington Steele Agency, hardworking secretary Bernice Foxe (Janet de May) dreams of living as exciting a life as her employers. Whether or not these dreams explain why she ultimately decides to run off with a saxophone player (à la
Marilyn Monroe in
Some Like It Hot) is anybody's guess. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide