Murder in F Sharp

Cabot Cove Gazette Publisher Bennett J. "Ben" Devlin (Joe Dorsey) visits the residence of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) with a record album of a Mozart performance by Vaacclav Maryska (pronounced Vas'lav Mah-ris'kah).

But Ben's nephew Bill has mistakingly inserted a hard rock album into the Maryska sleeve and the Maryska into his album jacket, and so Jessica and Ben discuss the pianist/conductor, who has been involved in a brutal murder case, which Dennis Stanton has been investigating, and Dennis, coincidentally, reports to Jessica via an audio-cassette tape, which she and Ben listen to instead of the concert recording....

One night in San Francisco, California, Vaacclav Maryska (Ricardo Montalban) prepares for a concert with his former student and current romantic interest, Nicole Gary (Melinda Culea), at his side although she admires his talent above his appeal.

Milena Maryska (Patricia Neal) approaches husband, Vaacclav, backstage with his assistant, Mr. Fritz Morris (Aaron Heyman), at her side to inform Vaacclav that Milena has no intention of staying to hear his performance.

When Vaacclav enters the stage, he begins his piano performance and abruptly ends it, canceling his concert before a stunned audience. From here, he returns to his apartment under the influence of alcohol and carries another bottle into his study after another confrontation with Milena, and before a fire erupts to scald his hands.

Robert Butler (James Sloyan) becomes hysterical upon learning the news the next day because Vaacclav Maryska holds a $ten million policy from his Consolodated Casualty Insurance Company to protect Vaacclav's hands from injury, and so agent Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell) promises to investigate matters completely.

While Dennis visits Vaacclav at the Maryska suite, Alex Seletz (Stephen Caffrey), the son of Milena from a former marriage, enters to see Vaacclav even though Alex has been estranged from his mother for several years because authorities have charged him with illegal chemical substance abuse although he has served his time and has also been cured of addiction through rehabilitation.

And so, besides the Stanton "Bookend" regulars, we are left with a small cast and an even smaller number of suspects once the body is discovered, the victim of a gunshot wound, which Lieutenant Catalano (Ken Swofford) investigates and questions Dennis Stanton once again about his purpose at the scene of the crime in this downbeat episode centering around marital and family strife, hopeless stations in life, and graphic depiction of human suffering.

Catalano nabs his suspect, and Stanton immediately names his primary suspect and continues his investigation behind Catalano's back, and without the Lieutenant's blessing.

For reasons as these, "Murder in F Sharp" may slip into your "MSW's" bin of "Bottom of the Barrel Week, Worst Episode #4 or so" although, of course, some may rate this otherwise, which is fine because it does have its moments.

One bright spot here would have to be the scene at Consolodated Casualty Insurance Company among Stanton, Butler and Rhoda Markowitz (Hallie Todd), who also reads Dennis like a book while serving as his right-hand receptionist.

This time, when Dennis asks Rhoda to telephone a certain doctor, she asks which profession Dennis will be impersonating and from where he'll be calling. When he answers "a doctor in a hospital," she immediately retrieves a hospital sound-effects tape from her cache to insert into an audio-cassette player so that "Doctor Dennis" may telephone from a "hospital."

A second bright spot comes from the character of Charlie (Dean R. Miller), a fast-talking doorman, who lightens this heavy episode and conducts an investigation of his own once Widow (Anne Gee Byrd) spots Stanton's snooping around the apartment building.

And a third plus would have to be that it's very nice to see Patricia Neal and Ricardo Montalban on this series. (Extra points for their appearances.)

Nicole Gary and Alex Seletz add plot twists of their own, while Dennis Stanton faces the barrel of a pistol upon confronting his primary suspect in a "Murder in F Sharp."

The cast is rounded out by John Kerry as Security Guard, and Alan Baltes as Waiter.

This episode represents the most recent appearance to date by Dean R. Miller, as well as the first of two "MSW" appearances each for Melinda Culea, Alan Baltes and Stephen Caffrey, the sixth of six for Joe Dorsey (and his third of three as Cabot Cove Newspaper Editor Bennett J. Devlin), the fifth of seven for Hallie Todd (and her fourth of six as Rhoda Markowitz), the fifth of seven for James Sloyan (and his third of five as Robert Butler), the sixth of nine for Keith Michell (each in his role as Dennis Stanton), and the eighth of eleven "MSW's" for Ken Swofford (and his fourth of six as Lieutenant Catalano).

Ricardo Montalban, acting in film and on television since 1942, and Aaron Heyman, acting since 1987, have unfortunately since passed.

Ricardo Montalban plays a man named Václav Maryska, and Václav is a Czech name. Having the Mexican-American playing a Czech is ridiculous...though once, Montalban played a Japanese man on "Hawaii Five-O"!! You need to look past this goofy casting decision when you watch "Murder in F Sharp".

Early in the show, Václav (Montalban) stops playing the piano in the middle of a concert...declaring he cannot play an instrument that is out of tune. Soon after, there's an apparent accident and the man's hands are badly burned...and it turns out the pianist had an insurance policy for $10,000,000 if his hands were injured. Not surprisingly, Dennis Stanton (Keith Mitchell) investigates the case to see if it really was an accident. Surprisingly, very shortly after, Maryska's wife is murdered...and there's policy on her as well. Can Stanton figure all this out and save his company a fortune?

This episode has two things against it. First, like many weak episodes, Angela Lansbury is only there to introduce the show. Second, while I love the Stanton character, the plot is weak...and the solution to all this VERY obvious. Still, despite these problems, it is enjoyable...as would any session with Stanton.

Dennis Stanton is called in to investigate a huge insurance claim, after world renowned pianist Vaclav Maryska, damages his hands in a house fire.

Very fine episode once again, in this series, they really did manage to perfect The Jessica free episodes, it's yet another accomplished performance from stand in Keith Michell, I no longer dread this format of episode.

A story that perfectly suits Dennis, at no point does he feel shoehorned in, it's a story that's very much written around him, his presence was great, as was that of his team, very enjoyable.

It may not have been the most imaginative story, and it wasn't hard to solve, but it was well done, and the character play was great.

Ricardo Montalban is really good here as Vaclav Maryska, it's a part that he could have very easily gone over the top with, but he manages to keep it together, he's very believable as a famous musician.

7/10.

Dennis Stanton's (Keith Michell), a jewel thief turned insurance investigator, latest assignment is to investigate the suspicious events surrounding a fire that destroyed the hands of famous concert pianist Vaclav Maryska (Ricardo Montalban). The intrigue reaches a crescendo when Maryska's wife Milena (Patricia Neal) is murdered, with a veritable orchestra of suspects at Stanton's disposal. As usual, Stanton is more or less assisted by ditzy Rhoda Markowitz (Hallie Todd) and by flustered Lt. Catalano (Ken Swofford).

The story is interesting and there's a fine performance by Ricardo Montalban who plays a famous pianist whose hands are burnt in an accident, however it's a bit flat in places, and though Stanton is an ok character, I think it's lacking Jessica to add some punch.

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 but couldn't resist.

Can definitely understand why fans malign his solo bookend episodes, a few of them are good, others not so good to put it lightly. To me, despite misgivings, "Murder in F Sharp" is one of his better episodes and one of the better bookend episodes overall, if not one of the very best 'Murder She Wrote' episodes.

Not sure what the general consensus of "Murder in F Sharp" is among fans, but if there are those that dislike it it is understandable. The biggest problem is that it is a mystery with far too few suspects and it is obvious straightaway who the killer is and why, it's the how for obvious reasons needing to be proved.

This time Rhonda is not the annoying one, actually she contributes to the plot here, has charming chemistry with Dennis and Hallie Todd is the most likable by far of all her appearances playing her. The annoying character here is Ben Devlin, this is his third of three episodes and neither of the episodes gave any reasons for the viewer to invest anything in him and his pushiness just grates. Joe Dorsey is not much better in the acting stakes either, and quite a lot of the supporting cast while never amateurish don't register that much.

On the other hand, 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. Ken Swofford is great fun and Stephen Caffrey is an appealingly sweet presence.

In support, there are two standouts. One is a delicious Patricia Neal. The other, and particularly so, is a superbly conniving Ricardo Montalban, giving not just the single best guest supporting performance in a 'Murder She Wrote' bookend episode but one of the best guest supporting performances of the show. Todd as said is surprisingly good. While nobody else stands out, the only bad performance here is by Dorsey.

Apart from having too few suspects and a too obvious murderer, the mystery is still very diverting and cleverly plotted, even if heavier in tone to usual which for some fans may be a strike against it. Of the episode, the doctor profession impersonation between Dennis and Rhonda (by far the best Dennis/Rhonda moment ever) is a standout, as is the character of Charlie the doorman, and it is hard to forget the scalded hands image.

'Murder She Wrote' has always been good in the production values and gets better with each season. Here they're slick and stylish with 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. The writing is thoughtful and amiable, with some levity amongst the heaviness of the mystery.

Overall, not one of the best episodes of the show but one of the better Dennis Stanton episodes and one of the better bookends in general. 7/10 Bethany Cox