Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) The Phantom Killer (1993) User Reviews

"Who Throws That Dryer Into This Tub? ~ Shame! ~ Who Says Somebody Else Does This Snub? ~ Blame!"

[WeatherViolet · 7/10 · 17 May 2010]

Much tension arises around New York City's "Follies Magazine" to meet its publishing deadline for its latest edition around the corner.

Publisher Dean Richards (Scott Valentine) doesn't heed some suggestions by Administrative Assistant Ellen Harper (Janet Julian) and also disagrees with Financial Manager Carter Drummond (Jack Laufer) when banks deny loan applications for the fledgling operation.

Photographer Hans Dietrich (Reiner Schöne) works diligently to meet his deadlines with Model Kathryn Scofield (Vanessa Angel), to develop her fashion poses by Friday.

And fumbling Article Writer Ben Forman (David Kriegel) attempts his assignment to feature an interview with busy Mystery Author Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) by Friday, as she permits Ben to tag along with her on the run. So, Ben becomes Jessica's sidekick of sorts, but also investigates on his own.

Struggling Actress Abby Peters (Emily Warfield) goes with Ben Forman, while Dancer/Motorcyclist Dave Wolski (Christian Bocher) encourages Abby to meet her audition appointments, leading to a romantic triangle entanglement among Abby, Ben and Dave.

Dean Richards and Kathryn Scofield also see each other socially, which causes additional tension with Ellen Harper, who seems to like Dean, while Hans' working closely with Kathryn adds to the tension among Ellen, Carter, Hans, Kathryn and Dean.

But tensions and altercations are merely beginning when Corporate raider Harrison M. Kane (Alan Thicke) announces his take-over plans for "Follies Magazine" when Dean Richards lunches with Jessica, who, neither, is glad to see Harrison M. Kane because he has, against her permission, usurped one of her books to shop around to Hollywood studios, devaluing potential film rights once they all turn down Kane's demands.

While "Follies Magazine" employees rally to meet the publishing deadline with high professional standards to their output, somebody tosses an active hair dryer into the tub of a victim who bathes while inviting a sting of visitors into the open-door bubble-bath session. Well, you know how these things go by now.

Waiter (Mark Barriere) stumbles across the body while delivering room service, but he doesn't scream, uttering, "OMG!"

NYPD Lieutenant Artie Gelber (Herb Edelman) and Detective Henderson (Leonard Lightfoot) investigate the murder with Jessica on the trail. Artie Gelber's cases usually have sub-plots, and this time around, he's in a hurry to wrap the case because he has promised wife, Doris, a Catskills get-away.

With Detective Henderson around to identify fingerprints very speedily, and Jessica around to expedite matters all the more readily, evidence begins to point to cigar-happy Agent Gary Manning as the perpetrator. (Or do they call him Greg? or Manion? Maybe let's call him "GM.")

But whom does GM represent? And how could Detective Henderson identify the last fingerprint if nobody has seen Gary Manion, the perceived "Phantom Agent?"

Will "Follies Magazine" meet its deadline? Will Doris and Artie make it to the Catskills on time? Will Jessica manage to nurture young love from either set of frustrated admirers? And what about the Phantom? Has the Phantom killed, or has somebody killed the Phantom, as there is much to uncover regarding "The Phantom Killer."

The cast is rounded out by Steven Martini as (uncredited), who, perhaps serves as the voice across the intercom?

This episode represents the first of two "MSW" appearances each for Steven Martini and Scott Valentine, the second of two for Janet Julian, the second of five for Leonard Lightfoot (each in his role as Detective Henderson), and the seventh of ten for Herb Edelman (including this, his fourth of seven as NYPD Lieutenant Artie Gelber).

Herb Edelman, acting in film and on television since 1964, has unfortunately since passed.

Charlie McCarthy

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 13 June 2017]

This episode of Murder She Wrote finds both David Kriegel and Angela Lansbury sharing a common distrust for publisher Alan Thicke. Thicke is a real bottom feeding and ruthless scuzzball who will do whatever it takes to get what he wants in business or pleasure.

Kriegel is a bit of milquetoast, but he's created an alter ego, a Charlie McCarthy like device that enables him to cope with someone like Thicke in particular and the world in general. It's an agent who no one ever sees, but who gets on the phone and talks tough to whomever is threatening Kriegel's universe.

Of course it's Jessica Fletcher who discovers the other identity and helps detective Herb Edelman find the killer. There are no shortage of suspects.

Why Kriegel implicates the alter ego is the key to this mystery. And the episode hinges on the fine performance of Kriegel as the suspect and his Charlie McCarthy.

The phantom killer

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 1 June 2022]

A journalist takes the blame for the murder of a tycoon in a bid to protect the woman he loves. The plot is quite busy, there's plenty of standard MSW tropes that still hook you in. Like usual, there's a nasty character who rubs people the wrong way, even Jessica. So when he gets an electric device thrown in the bath tub and becomes toast, the line of suspects is long as an arm. It's an enjoyable one.

A very familiar plot twist...but still quite good.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 27 July 2023]

Back in the 1930s and 40s, murder mystery movies were quite the rage and studios made tons of them. One of the plot elements I remember from many of them is the murder that occurs just AFTER another people had a rather public argument with the person who was about to become the deceases....and shortly after this argument, another person arrives and actually commits the murder. This is pretty much what happens in "The Phantom Killer".

A sleazebag makes the moves on a young woman and when she doesn't respond the way he wants, he attacks her. She, fortunately gets away...and after she leaves his apartment, another person murders the jerk guy. Jessica's instincts are that neither she nor her secret admirer did it...and she sets a trap to catch them.

While nothing all that new occurs here, the show is interesting and the show quite satisfying. Clever and well worth seeing.

Season 10 so far, so good

[xbatgirl-30029 · 8/10 · 16 September 2022]

This has to be the most Nineties episode yet. Just like the Eighties really didn't get going until about 1983, it also took a while for the Nineties to kick in, especially on mainstream tv. Up until now, MSW has basically looked like a greige, 80s hangover. The new trends are noticeable right way in the opening montage. There's the guy playing Ben with long hair and a plaid shirt. Abby dressed like Blossom or Elaine Benes in a floral hat and dress. The guy playing Dave with even longer hair and hoops in both ears. Vanessa Angel in a floral midriff top with the world's largest sleeves. And on an on. In general, the sets and costumes so far this season also look like they cost a bit more than the $10 they seemed to be worth in season 9, which was mostly made of neutrals and cardboard.

The Eighties haven't been left completely behind. We get both Scott Valentine from Family Ties and Alan Thicke from Growing Pains, 2 of the biggest sitcoms of the time. Valentine especially does a great job and is very likeable.

The mystery this episode however is more mundane than the enjoyable cast. The best part was the funny, though not surprising, identity of the agent on the phone. Very Seinfeld indeed. The plot moves quickly though and the killer is speedily revealed with not much drama all around.

A weaker episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 5/10 · 9 May 2023]

Jessica helps out clumsy young writer Ben Foreman, a promising young writer whom she's been helping, when he becomes the prime suspect in the murder of Harrison Kane, an unscrupulous and devious Magazine owner.

I found this one almost impossible to get into, I didn't care for the story, and I really struggled to get into any of the characters, Ben was too clumsy, that horrendous haircut and the goofy dropping things and knocking things over was just too much.

There is thing of note, when you think of what happened between Abbie and Harrison, it puts you in mind of the diabolical behaviours which led to the whole Me2 movement. How much of it went on, it's sickening to contemplate.

I didn't care for the episode, but once again, it was great to see Herb Edelman back again, he was great.

Sadly it's not too tough to work out whodunnit, this was the first weak episode for a while.

5/10.

Deadly publishing

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 10 November 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.

After a promising start to Season 10, with "For Whom the Ball Tolls" being the best up to this very early point in the season, "The Phantom Killer" is pretty underwhelming. To me it's one of the season's weaker episodes, though there are certainly far worse episodes of 'Murder She Wrote'. Not a bad episode by all means and there are a fair share of good points (as well as an equal share of faults), just that many of its components have been executed a thousand times better before and since.

"The Phantom Killer", as always for 'Murder She Wrote', contains a terrific Angela Lansbury who can do no wrong in one of her best roles. She gets charming support from Herb Edelman, who is always good value throughout his rather too brief stint as Gelber. They work very well together as with their previous and subsequent appearances. David Kriegel is very good as the prime suspect, and even so a deliciously ruthless Alan Thicke (though he isn't in it for long).

Production values are slick and stylish and the setting and scenery is nicely done. 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. Some of the script is thoughtful and amiable, and the tensions behind the scenes of the publishing company intrigue.

Conversely, "The Phantom Killer" is rather too formulaic with a couple of the subplots being slightly soap operatic on top and a mystery with next to no surprises. It is obvious from the start who the victim will be, what the outcome of the prime suspect's predicament is and the whole business with the evidence against the suspect is as obvious to the viewer as it is to Jessica plus we get to that conclusion before she does. Even the murder method is on the derivative side and there is a lack of mystery and energy. The ending is very poorly acted by the killer and is one of the season's least surprising (too obvious too early to me actually).

Some of the script is lacking and, apart from the aforementioned exceptions, the acting is not that note-worthy with the only other standout being the terrible performance of Vanessa Angel.

Overall, watchable but really not great. 5/10 Bethany Cox