Jessica jaunts to Paris at the beckon of an old friend whose fashion boutique is in financial trouble. When a local loan shark is murdered, Jessica must dig deep to find the truth.Jessica jaunts to Paris at the beckon of an old friend whose fashion boutique is in financial trouble. When a local loan shark is murdered, Jessica must dig deep to find the truth.Jessica jaunts to Paris at the beckon of an old friend whose fashion boutique is in financial trouble. When a local loan shark is murdered, Jessica must dig deep to find the truth.
Photos
- Officer Luter
- (as Michael Voletti)
- Margo
- (as Julie Silliman)
- Bellman
- (as Alain St. Alix)
- Albert
- (as Louis R. Plante)
- Fashion Show Spectator
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJuliet Prowse's last television acting performance.
- GoofsIn scenes that take place in unmistakably Parisian exterior locations, Angela Lansbury is doubled by a different actress of similar height and weight who wears the same outfits, but whose hair is slightly darker and is cut shorter in the back. In most scenes, the actress is seen only from the rear at a distance with cars positioned in front of her, and when she arrives at the Jules Verne Restaurant, her face is obscured by another character's hat as she turns to face the camera; under normal circumstances, these would be unusual ways to block scenes that feature the star of a show.
- Quotes
Paris Inspector Hugues Panassié: The color is immaterial. Place her in custody. Panassie has done it again, huh?
Jessica Fletcher: Yes, Inspector, I think you have.
Paris Inspector Hugues Panassié: Merci, madam.
Jessica Fletcher: I think you've once again arrested the wrong woman.
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
"A Fashionable Way to Die" is a truly great start to the fourth season, which for me is one of the better seasons consistency-wise of 'Murder She Wrote'. It has a very interesting and well-paced mystery, with an ending that is the opposite of obvious, it looked that way at first once things got explained but then brought another twist that pulls the rug from under the viewer. Believability on occasions gets thrown out the window (with the actual motive for the murder being somewhat clichéd and on the weak side), but never in an intelligence insulting way. Besides, one is having too much fun.
Production values, however, are slick and stylish as ever with 'Murder She Wrote', with gorgeous costuming (some of the best of the show up to this point) and Paris as always looking beautiful. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.
Writing is thought-provoking, light-hearted and amiable and while the story is not always inspired it has some well executed twists and turns and is never dull. The glamorous and not so glamorous sides of fashion is not a new idea that handled very intriguingly here.
The always dependable Angela Lansbury is terrific, Jessica Fletcher is one of her most remembered roles for very good reason. The supporting cast are on point with Barbara Rush, Juliet Prowse, Taina Elg, Danielle Brisebois and Randi Brooks upping up the class and glamour, while Lee Bergere's Maxim is a strong presence.
In summation, great start for Season 4. 9/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 17, 2017