Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) Mourning Among the Wisterias (1988) User Reviews

Scorned Thorn Creek Born: Adorned, Torn, Worn, Sworn, Forlorn

[WeatherViolet · 8/10 · 6 September 2009]

This episode marks one of the last performances of Barry Nelson, a film and television star for fifty years.

Renown Playwright Eugene McClenden (Barry Nelson) invites fellow author Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to Thorn Creek Manor, in Savannah, Georgia, without revealing his purpose other than to read unto her his latest Play. He soon reveals a decline in his health, admonishing Jessica to maintain that his play isn't compromised.

Eugene and Jessica share common ground as successful writers, plus each rearing a nephew whose parents lost their lives in a vehicular accident. In Eugene's case, the nephew would be the carefree Todd Wendle (Matt McCoy), whom he put through school to emerge as an attorney, and now a newlywed to the social-climbing Crystal Wendle (Linda Purl).

Todd has also recently gained employment in the legal office of Attorney Jonathan Keeler (Elliott Reid), who also serves as his Uncle Eugene's business manager. (Jonathan isn't given a last name in the credits although one line of dialogue reveals this as "Keeler.")

Theatre Producer Arnold Goldman (Frank Gorshin) arrives for a visit to discuss Eugene's latest play, along with veteran actress Deidre French (Lois Nettleton), whom Eugene esteems as too mature for the role of Margarite although Deidre disagrees and schemes with Arnold to rework the script. "Somber Twighlight," by Eugene McClenden, had served them well several years back, but neither has experienced a hit in its aftermath.

Grace Banfield (Penny Fuller) soon returns to Savannah from a trip to Atlanta, at which she attempts to rekindle a flame with Eugene in spite of his mounting attention to Jessica. Grace, Arnold and Eugene are some of the clients who have encountered losses from Jonathan's corrupt business dealings.

Maid Ola Mae (Beah Richards) rounds out the cast of those present at Thorn Creek on the night during which gunshots are heard and a body is discovered at Thorn Creek.

Homicide Captain Walker Thorn (Rene Auberjonois) heads the investigation, revealing to Jessica that his family was also swindled by Jonathan, to lose Thorn Creek, their once opulent estate, thus welcoming her to aid in the search for clues.

Jessica also must reach a decision regarding Eugene's sudden proposal amid much "Mourning Among the Wisterias."

A very well conceived murder mystery.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 11 March 2021]

Eugene McClenden calls on Jessica for help, and asks her a very big question.

It's a good episode, the writing in this series has been very good on the whole, and of a consistent standard. As you watch, you're convinced you know who the intended victim is, once again, it's a less likely victim, it makes the story and outcome very interesting.

If one hand was in the cookie jar, the other was definitely on the Just for men, you have to chuckle, the men either had wigs, or either had abysmally dyed hair.

I recently watched The Police Academy films, a few familiar faces appear here.

That house is so incredibly tasteful, it's going all the way back to 1988, some of the fashions may be a little bit hideous, but the decor is really smart.

I enjoyed this one a lot, 8/10.

Very good mystery

[coltras35 · 8/10 · 24 May 2022]

Jessica is shocked when famous playwright Eugene McLendon proposes marriage, confiding in her that he doesn't have long to live and would like to spend his last few months with her. There are more shocks in store when Eugene is arrested for the murder of his embezzling business manager.

A Tennessee Williams flavour is apparent in this rather good mystery that features a gargantuan performance by Barry Nelson, who propose to Jessica. It's well-conceived story, engaging and has some good atmosphere. The twist and turns are good, too.

Nothing to mourn here

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 27 August 2017]

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.

"Mourning Among the Wisterias" is up there with "Witness for the Defense", "Old Habits Die Hard" and "Trouble in Eden" as one of my favourite episodes of Season 4 and of 'Murder She Wrote' in general. Have seen comparisons to Tennessee Williams, and can definitely see similar elements to 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' (the characters played by Linda Purl and Matt McCoy) and 'Sweet Bird of Youth' (like Lois Nettleton's character).

The cast are to die for and the supporting cast are one of the best of Season 4. Angela Lansbury as usual is terrific, especially in the second half. Barry Nelson, Rene Auberjonois and Lois Nettleton are the supporting cast standouts while Beah Richards has the episode's best line (again like with Patrick McGoohan in "Witness for the Defense" summing up perfectly what the viewer is thinking) "maybe he didn't think it was any of your business." Matt McCoy shows that he has some acting talent in him when the material is capable.

When it comes to the mystery, it's one of the best of the season. Very clever and engaging, with charm, fun and poignancy in spades, and never kitschy or melodramatic despite the Williams influences.

Production values are slick and stylish as ever with 'Murder She Wrote'. 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.

Writing is thought-provoking, light-hearted and amiable.

In conclusion, brilliant episode, nothing to mourn here. 10/10 Bethany Cox

"Murder, She Wrote" meets Tennessee Williams.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 22 November 2022]

The mood and style of "Mourning Among the Wisterias" is much like combining an episode of "Murder, She Wrote" with a Tennessee Williams play. This isn't a complaint or compliment...just an observation of the style of the production.

In this story, Jessica is staying with a famous playwright, Eugene McClendon (Barry Nelson). Out of the blue, he proposes to her...not so much because there is any burning love between them but because he respects her as a writer and likes her. Plus, he says he's dying and wants to spend his remaining years with someone other than just his son and his wife. But, since this is "Murder, She Wrote", before any sort of romance occurs, someone is murdered...and another poisoned with ant poison! What's going on and how does Jessica once again save the day?

Other than the southern accents being slathered on thick with trowels, I enjoyed this episode. Additionally, Rene Auberjonois was very nice as the cop investigating the case.

The play's the thing

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 2 June 2018]

In this MSW story JB Fletcher is the guest of iconoclastic writer Barry Nelson a a straight Tennessee Williams wannabe. Whether he actually got that far I doubt it. But he's successful enough.

His closest surving relative is nephew Matt McCoy newly wed to social climbing Linda Purl. Nelson is in declining health so his estate disposition is a matter of big concern to friends and relatives gathered.

But it's former business manager Elliott Reid who winds up shot to death and Savannah homicide captain Rene Auberjonois is knee deep in suspects.

Angela Lansbury and Nelson indulge in a little dramatics of their own to flush out the killer.

The identity was obvious at least to me. The how was interesting though.

Murder Most Foul

[bashwell · 1/10 · 17 November 2022]

Quite possibly the worst episode of the entire series! If this episode was intended as an homage to southern gentility and Tennessee Williams himself, it failed miserably. If, however, it was intended to blatantly beat those stereotypes (not to mention horrendous Southern accents) to a well-deserved grave, then, land sakes alive, it has succeeded! Thank God, Tennessee Williams died before he had the "opportunity" to see this. Mind you, aside from a handful of episodes that have proved entertaining, the writers have never met a stereotype that they did not delight in murdering themselves.

Pardon me, while I rest on my verandah and sip away at my mint julep.

Stereotypical Southern Characters

[pvrtytk · 5/10 · 16 April 2023]

An excellent cast is largely wasted here as all except Rene Auberjonis and Beah Richards talk as though being Southern requires a mouth filled with mud. Auberjonis, however, suffers the indignity of playing a police detective who wears a Colonel Sanders white suit and black string tie. What police officers would dress in white suits? The playwright is a womanizing Tennessee Williams knock off - there's a concept - right down to his hypochondria and roman a clefs. The great Frank Gorshin is underutilized as a theatrical producer, while Lois Nettleton chews every piece of scenery within reach as an aging actress seeking her comeback role. (Why is she invited to the house when the playwright is adamantly opposed to casting her?) Why does the show insist on making Southerner characters drawl while Maine-based Jessica Fletcher has no trace of a New England brogue? Guess it's easier to mock Southerners.

Hair's The Thing...

[feindlicheubernahme · 4/10 · 8 October 2023]

Whahhh, Ahhh dooo decluhhh, I didn't particularly enjoy this episode. To begin with, I found Eugene McClenden intensely dislikeable and was longing to see him and the unidentified lifeform perched on top of his head quickly dispatched.

But, apart from that, there were certain other elements that just didn't work for me, even taking into account that Murder, She Wrote is a light-hearted, fluffy show, not meant to be taken too seriously. I present the evidence for the prosecution:

Exhibit A) The identity of the murderer is evident as soon as we witness one particular incident - and that's before the murder has even occurred! We might not know who's going to be offed, why, or how, but we know who's going to be making a killing.

Exhibit B) If you're going to warn someone that someone else is trying to kill them, you don't try and do it in front of the culprit. Then, if the intended victim isn't in a listening mood, you don't just agree to tell them the next morning; you make damn sure they hear you out, NOW! And you most certainly don't just go to bed without informing anyone else of what you know or taking any precautions to protect yourself.

Exhibit C) Instead of spending large amounts of money on gun silencers, maybe armies should just have their special forces troops carry their sleeping bags into firefights to almost totally suppress the sound of their weapons. Apparently, it works with quilts, so...

Exhibit D) Are we really expected to accept that one character is unable to discern that the very loud (unquilted!) gunshots he heard were fired from the other side of the bathroom door, mere feet away from him in one direction, but instead believes they came from another part of the house which lies in a different direction?

Three stars, raised to four just for having Linda Purl forget to put on a dress, but instead waft around the house for a whole social evening in a see-through negligee. See, I'm really not that hard to please.