How to Make a Killing Without Really Trying
- Episode aired Feb 4, 1990
- TV-PG
- 47m
Jessica's trip to New York City to meet with her stockbroker becomes complicated when the broker is found murdered and his secretary charged with the crime.Jessica's trip to New York City to meet with her stockbroker becomes complicated when the broker is found murdered and his secretary charged with the crime.Jessica's trip to New York City to meet with her stockbroker becomes complicated when the broker is found murdered and his secretary charged with the crime.
Photos
- Receptionist
- (as Connie Danese)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaInteresting that the character Candice Ashcroft was pushing stock in a company developing High Definition television.
- GoofsAll entries contain spoilers
- Quotes
[last lines]
Jessica Fletcher: You know , it sounds to me as if Wall Street is still in your blood. What are you planning to do?
Norma Pulaski: I'm gonna make it on Wall Street if it's the last thing I do, Mrs. Fletcher. I mean, I have got this terrific idea. Rudy makes this wonderful bread.
Rudy Bianco: "Heart Smart," all natural ingredients.
Norma Pulaski: How does that sound for a name?
Jessica Fletcher: Well, it's got a real ring.
Norma Pulaski: I'm going to incorporate Rudy's bakery, you know, issue stock. I- I figure, eventually, we could syndicate it. What do you think?
Jessica Fletcher: [to Lt. Moynihan] You know, knowing Norma, I think you should buy some of the stock.
- ConnectionsReferences How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967)
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
For an episode with such an imaginative title (also one of the longest titles for a 'Murder She Wrote' episode, a very close second to "Who Threw the Barbitals in Mrs Fletcher's Chowder" by about four or five letters), the story here is surprisingly ordinary. It's still a good episode, with a nicely paced and intriguing story with plenty of well-drawn suspects and one of Season 6's most surprising endings (seeing as the murderer is actually one of the more likable characters), just not a particularly imaginative or living-up-to-its-title one.
Credit is due for making the victim as suitably unlikable as possible (though they are one of those "victim stamped over forehead the moment they're introduced" characters) without making them so loathsome that the viewer feels sorry for everybody including the murderer and starts to not care as to who did it. While still liking "If the Shoe Fits" for the acting and the character interaction, that it had one of the most detestable victims on 'Murder She Wrote' (and took it a bit too extremely) was somewhat one of the main issues with its also derivative mystery.
Angela Lansbury is terrific as always in one of her best roles, while Morgan Brittany, Edd Byrnes, David Groh and particularly Farley Granger fare strongly in support, Candice, Jerome and Lela Ivey as Norma being the most likable characters and the ones you root for most. John Calvin enjoys himself and doesn't shy away from making it easy to see why the character is hated. The only real acting debit is Barry Van Dyke, he doesn't have an interesting character in the first place (basically heard in one scene and then face to face with Jessica in another, a plot-device character essentially who's barely in it) but Van Dyke is rather wooden and his line delivery is limited in expression (not even his threatening is that convincing).
Production values as ever are slick and stylish. 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 suitably light-hearted and intriguing.
Overall, good if not great. 7/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 3, 2017