Sing a Song of Murder

Brilliant tip of the hat to Portrait of Dorian Grey. Same song she sang in that film ....at 19 fans could see what a huge talent she was.

Surrounded by English talents to support her. Angela Lansbury knows her fans. Those who aren't familiar with her may be surprised at her beautiful singing voice.

Really enjoyed this episode. One of the villains could well have twirled a handle bar mustache. Fit right in with the vaudevillian setting.

I am enjoying binge watching episodes. Angel Lansbury can play any role and plays them all well. She's so good that stars must have been begging to be part of an episode. . Love a main character who can't drive.

I won't review the story as this has already been done, as has the obvious Non-British locations.

The 'English' Actors seem to have had the same voice coach as Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. Even the British ones have bad accents; I've never heard Patrick Macnee and Glynis Johns, both very talented, that bad! Don't know what was worse, Macnee's odd English or Johns appalling Irish.

Do Americans really think we talk like that, or just American directors? Certainly the Americans I know don't.

Please. if you want British characters, let them sound British. If you want an Irish accent, get an Irish actor to play it. The same applies to Scottish which thankfully there were none to be murdered in this film but are often done very badly in American films.

We want Characters, not Caricatures.

I loved this episode, people complaing about the accent. Do any of you know Angela Lansbury sang that song in, the picture of dorian Grey. And of course her accent is gone look how long she's been in America. People are never satisfied, just have to complain about something.

Jessica receives a call informing her that her English cousin Emma, a music hall entertainer has died. Jessica travels to London to sort out her affairs. Emma's nearest and dearest are shocked to see the resemblance of the two, but not as shocked as Jessica is that Emma is in fact alive.

Now, where do you begin with this one, it's almost impossible to review, if you're too critical and having a bad day you'd be forgiven for giving it a 4*, on a good day you'd sing along, get absorbed in the nonsense and give it a 9*. It is definitely a marmite episode, you will (in the mood) love or hate it. On the plus side, it's pure fun, and you can see that Lansbury enjoyed every second playing two parts, her stage song is the highlight. I like the story, and I applaud the efforts to create London.

If I were being critical, London it ain't, the stock footage looks bad, and the fact that on every corner you see London taxis, London buses, Big Ben etc. London overload or what. Olivia Hussey (I wouldn't ordinarily criticise as she's in my favourite film Death on the Nile) but she's very bad, are I say it Patrick Macnee perhaps attacked the role with too much enthusiasm.

Now the worst part, the accents. Normally on the show, every British guest star sounds like they've been living at Buckhingham Palace, here they sound like bouncers from Eastenders.

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.

"Sing a Song of Murder" may not be a season 2 highlight or one of the best episodes of 'Murder She Wrote', but it is hardly a stinker. Flaws and all, it's a lot of fun. Yes, London is basically a low-budget back-lot set and most of the accents are wretched, lacking authenticity and played too broadly, Patrick Macnee in particular sounds odd and Kristofer Tabori's is somewhat ambiguous.

While most of the performances are good, regardless of the accents, Olivia Hussey is wooden and Kenneth Dazinger has little to do as a character that gets practically lost amongst everything else.

However, "Sing a Song of Murder" is very nicely shot and there are as ever some attractive 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.

The writing is tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable, while the story is fun and easy to follow if not exactly surprising by the end, there are some nice twists though.

Angela Lansbury is terrific as both her characters, with a great entertaining contrast in Emma. Barrie Ingham fares best in support, while Macnee is charming even with the accent and Glynnis Johns is good likable value.

Overall, not great but fun. 7/10 Bethany Cox