Jessica's friend, former jewel thief Dennis Stanton, solves a high-society collector's coin theft and murder.Jessica's friend, former jewel thief Dennis Stanton, solves a high-society collector's coin theft and murder.Jessica's friend, former jewel thief Dennis Stanton, solves a high-society collector's coin theft and murder.
E.E. Bell
- Delivery Man
- (as E. E. Bell)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis is one of a numerous number of Season 6 episodes in which Jessica Fletcher appears only as the narrator in a brief frame story. This was done to give an overworked Angela Lansbury a break.
- GoofsShadow of a boom mic clearly visible on the front door at the end of the conversation between Dennis and the housekeeper.
- Quotes
Dennis Stanton: Lieutenant, I have cast my pearls before you. Don't ask me to string them for you, too.
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
Featured review
Coin theft and murder
Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.
Personally like the character of Dennis Stanton, if more with Jessica than on his own and mostly because his chemistry with Jessica is so great and the episodes are much better. He is a fun and compelling lead character, love how distinguished, sophisticated and suave he is, it is easy to be as charmed by me as Jessica is in her too few collaborations. Plus it is hard to not like a character who dresses dapper, drives a cool car and loves classical music and opera, sounds shallow and couldn't resist.
Can definitely understand why fans malign his solo bookend episodes, the best ones to me are this and the episode with Ricardo Montalban while "The Great Twain Robbery" and ventriloquist ones from memory particularly left me indifferent. But the blame doesn't lie with Dennis, don't have a problem with him, but the writing and storytelling. "Always a Thief" is however one of his better bookend episodes and also one of the better bookend episodes in general. Would be lying though when saying it is a 'Murder She Wrote' high-point.
The pacing could have had a little more kick in places and have never cared for the character of the secretary Rhonda. Hallie Todd is annoying smug as a character who's dull in development and neither interesting or endearing in personality, with her line delivery of Rhonda's pretty bad dialogue grating.
Other than that, there's not much wrong. Keith Michell is terrific as Dennis, he oozes charm and charisma, really love his distinguished and suave air that he does better than any other bookend lead character. Matching him every step of the way are one of the best supporting casts in a Dennis Stanton episode, Roscoe Born, Shirley Knight, Dina Merrill and Ken Swofford are particularly good. Only Todd underwhelms.
"Always a Thief's" mystery is one of the better ones in a Dennis Stanton episode, one of the cleverest, least predictable and engaging with both crimes being easy to root for in getting solved. Didn't have a problem with the murderer being obvious early on, it made the murderer more interesting and made their motivations clear.
'Murder She Wrote' has always been good in the production values and gets better with each season. Here they're slick and stylish with a gorgeous location and nostalgia-inducing fashions. 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. Apart from with Rhonda, the writing is amiable and thought-provoking.
In summary, for a Dennis Stanton bookend "Always a Thief" is pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Personally like the character of Dennis Stanton, if more with Jessica than on his own and mostly because his chemistry with Jessica is so great and the episodes are much better. He is a fun and compelling lead character, love how distinguished, sophisticated and suave he is, it is easy to be as charmed by me as Jessica is in her too few collaborations. Plus it is hard to not like a character who dresses dapper, drives a cool car and loves classical music and opera, sounds shallow and couldn't resist.
Can definitely understand why fans malign his solo bookend episodes, the best ones to me are this and the episode with Ricardo Montalban while "The Great Twain Robbery" and ventriloquist ones from memory particularly left me indifferent. But the blame doesn't lie with Dennis, don't have a problem with him, but the writing and storytelling. "Always a Thief" is however one of his better bookend episodes and also one of the better bookend episodes in general. Would be lying though when saying it is a 'Murder She Wrote' high-point.
The pacing could have had a little more kick in places and have never cared for the character of the secretary Rhonda. Hallie Todd is annoying smug as a character who's dull in development and neither interesting or endearing in personality, with her line delivery of Rhonda's pretty bad dialogue grating.
Other than that, there's not much wrong. Keith Michell is terrific as Dennis, he oozes charm and charisma, really love his distinguished and suave air that he does better than any other bookend lead character. Matching him every step of the way are one of the best supporting casts in a Dennis Stanton episode, Roscoe Born, Shirley Knight, Dina Merrill and Ken Swofford are particularly good. Only Todd underwhelms.
"Always a Thief's" mystery is one of the better ones in a Dennis Stanton episode, one of the cleverest, least predictable and engaging with both crimes being easy to root for in getting solved. Didn't have a problem with the murderer being obvious early on, it made the murderer more interesting and made their motivations clear.
'Murder She Wrote' has always been good in the production values and gets better with each season. Here they're slick and stylish with a gorgeous location and nostalgia-inducing fashions. 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. Apart from with Rhonda, the writing is amiable and thought-provoking.
In summary, for a Dennis Stanton bookend "Always a Thief" is pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•64
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 8, 2017
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