Death Stalks the Big Top: Part 1

Jessica has arrived for her niece's wedding and they express regret that the niece's grandfather cannot be there, for he supposedly died many years ago when his boat exploded and burned. The niece's grandmother is really a nasty woman, she is very domineering and controlling, even to people like Jessica. When the niece receives a silver leprechaun in the mail, both her and Jessica take it as a sign that the grandfather may be alive, for no body was ever recovered. Using the source address on the package as a clue, Jessica immediately departs for a small town in Arkansas. When she arrives, the trail leads her to a traveling circus that is struggling to survive financially. There have been a series of accidents that have created problems. Jessica pokes around and is not welcomed by the members of the circus. She finds the man she is looking for working as a clown in the circus and when one of the least liked members of the circus is beaten to death, the man she was searching for is arrested for the murder. There are many supporting characters to this episode, including a mayor that is full of himself, thinking that he is a better crime investigator than the professionals. Other supporting characters, such as the niece's grandmother, are also exaggerated in execution. Many extended head shots of a character expressing emotions for a fade-out are an integral part of the episode. Yet, it does set the proper ground for the second part, where Jessica solves the case and all is well in the end.

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.

"Death Stalks the Big Top Part 1" is a great start for Season 3, and to me the best 'Murder She Wrote' since Season 2's "Keep the Home Fries Burning". To me it wasn't overblown and with such a lot of twists and a lot going on having the episode in two parts was not just justified but in some ways needed. Just personal opinion of course. The whole business with the leprechaun figurine did create some poignancy, while the scenes at the circus were fun and saw a lot of tension between the characters, hard not to with such a loathsome character in Hank.

Who's going to get killed is blatantly obvious, hardly the first time on 'Murder She Wrote' and certainly not the last, but in no way does that spoil the enjoyment of the episode.

Production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography and a great circus setting that has so much colour and fun but also an equal amount of character tension under the surface. 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.

The writing is tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable and the characters and chemistry are good fun. The story is very engaging and suitably twisty.

Can't say enough good about Angela Lansbury, she is always dependable and there is a reason as to why Jessica Fletcher is one of her best-remembered roles. It was interesting to see a young Courteney Cox in an early role while former child star Jackie Cooper and Laraine Day bring classy colour and Charles Napier relishes his role as perhaps one of the show's most loathsome characters.

In conclusion, great season premiere. 10/10 Bethany Cox

As the Washington, DC, branch of the Fletcher family prepares for the wedding of granddaughter Carol Bannister (Courteney Cox), Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) arrives three days earlier than expected to visit with her great niece.

Carol stands up to the demands of her socially-conscious Grandmother Constance Fletcher (Laraine Day) and Mother Audrey Bannister (Susan Brown) to insist that she and her husband-to-be not follow their traditional demand. Father Howard Bannister (Dennis Howard) stands in his daughter's corner, along with Aunt Jessica.

Carol confides to Jessica that she believes Grandfather Neil Fletcher (Jackie Cooper) is still alive especially upon receiving the gift of a leprechaun figurine. "Grandfather always said that a leprechaun would visit on my wedding day," Carol informs her, causing Jessica to reminisce that her late husband, Frank, never believed that his brother perished in that event of ten years ago. Frank himself has been gone for five years at this point in time.

Jessica reviews the parcel's postmark: "Catlinburg, Arkansas. Well, that's a start. One way or the other, I'll be back in time for your wedding," she bids, before boarding a bus for Catlinburg (not to be confused with Gatlinburg).

When a shoppe owner recall the gentleman's purchasing the leprechaun as a stranger, who stopped in three times before returning to buy it, and hadn't been seen since. On the sidewalk, Jessica notices a banner for Carmody Circus, which had just left town. "Do you know where they went from here?" she asks a passerby.

The trail leads Jessica to Pullman City, Arkansas, outside of which Carmody Circus presents a run of performances. She picks up a clue that Neil, the man in her photograph, may be using the pseudonym Carl Schulman, a fact dismissed by circus owner Edgar Carmody (Martin Balsam), who ushers Jessica from the premises.

Edgar Carmody is having a rough time in keeping the operation afloat. A series of unexplained accidents have increased expenses and have caused tension among his family and employees.

Son Raymond Carmody (Mark Shera) and his wife, Daniella Morgana Carmody (Barbara Stock), remain determined, she with reservation, to stay with Edgar, while Daniella's fashion designer mother, Maria Morgana (Florence Henderson) arrives from NYC with her secretary, Mark (Robin Bach), she to convince Daniella and Raymond to return to her business even if she has to pay off Edgar with a handsome sum, for him to avoid shutting down the circus.

Rival circus owner Harry Kingman (Joe Dorsey) also propositions Edgar to purchase his circus, in the hopes of easing competition on the circuit. Several of Edgar's employees have worked with Kingman Circus in the past, including the bullying Roustabout Hank Sutter (Charles Napier), his wife Maylene Sutter (Lee Purcell), Trapeze artist Katie McCallum (Pamela Susan Shoop), whose husband had lost his life in a mishap while performing, their son Charlie McCallum (Joey Cramer), his father figure Brad Kaneally (Greg Evigan), and Ringmaster Preston Bartholomew (Alex Cord).

And when "Carl Schulman" recognizes Jessica, who returns to snoop around the circus the next morning, he tells Edgar that he'd really like to see her, but he mustn't. When Edgar approaches Jessica to tell her that she's wasting her time, they follow the screams toward the elephant stable, where a body has been discovered, badly beaten, as "Death Stalks the Big Top."

Jessica naturally volunteers to assist Sheriff Lynn Childs (Gregg Henry) in the ensuing investigation, overrun by the ever-politicking Pullman City Mayor Powers (Ronny Cox). who decides the prime suspect to be this Carl Schulman, who has fled the scene of the murder.

Angela Lansbury delivers one of her must compelling performances of this series in a jail house scene with Jackie Cooper and Ronny Cox.

"Death Stalks the Big Top" is a two-part episode...and my review covers both parts one and two.

The show begins with Jessica going to visit a niece (about the 3842th time so far in the series) because she's getting married. However, something strange happens...she receives a present which reminds her of her grandfather. The problem is he apparently died some time ago...and Jessica soon leaves to see if she can track down the sender and if it IS the supposedly dead man. The trail leads to a circus...and guess what....soon someone is murdered! While it looks as if an elephant did it, in reality the victim was beaten to death. So Jessica sticks around...and soon MORE bodies pile up!

The episodes have a rather amazing cast. Some old-time actors like Jackie Cooper, Laraine Day and Martin Balsam appear in the show. Some newer actors like a very young Courtney Cox, Alex Cord, and Ronny Cox also appear in the show.

As far as the plot goes it's good, though the way the show ended with the murderer being caught was a bit formulaic. Still, well done and worth watching.

By the way, the show is supposed to occur mostly in Catlinburg, Arkansas...though there really is no such place.

Jessica arrives at the family home of her beautiful niece Carol Bannister, a girl haunted by the death of her beloved grandfather, Jessica's brother in law Frank Fletcher. As the pair talk Carol receives a wedding gift, a small leprechaun, a gift Frank had promised Carol for her wedding. Jessica, convinced he's alive tracks Frank to a circus, where he's arrested for the murder of Hank Sutter, a member of the circus community and a bully.

The first installment of an excellent two part serial. The additional screen time allows great development of the characters, and a wider story. It's cleverly crafted, providing a quality start to Series 3. Lansbury is superb, her disguise to fool Maylene and find Frank is really funny. She is always particularly good, but each time she recounts memories of Frank she shines that bit brighter.

Courtney Cox has quite a small part, but she's great as niece Carol. I would love to see Jessica's family tree! Charles Napier is arguably the standout, making Hank utterly loathsome, the obvious candidate for murder. I would argue this is a more gritty episode then what's gone before, ore serious in tone, that's no bad thing.

Great episode. 9/10