When one of Jessica's former students brings a play based on her novel to Broadway, she finds herself in the middle of a war between two rival critics.When one of Jessica's former students brings a play based on her novel to Broadway, she finds herself in the middle of a war between two rival critics.When one of Jessica's former students brings a play based on her novel to Broadway, she finds herself in the middle of a war between two rival critics.
Photos
- Sergeant
- (as R. J. Arterburn)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIf you look at Elliott's name plate the lettering is in the style of the series credits.The name of the theatre is the Woolcott. Alexander Wollcott was a critic back in the 30s, 40s and 50s.
- GoofsWhen Jessica says "oh no no, I still use my old bucket of bolts typewriter" a laugh is inserted into the middle of the sentence, to hide either a mistake or wrong word and it is very obvious. Angela Lansbury bobbles her line slightly when she says, "Oh, no, no. I still my use my good old bucket of bolts." It sounds as if "Jessica" chuckles at the joke she just made about her typewriter, or, less likely, that Angela chuckled about slightly flubbing her line.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Eliot Easterbrook: Good evening. Elliot Easterbrook with your "Live At 5:00 Mini Cam" at the Woolcott Theatre. Do you know that it has been said that the theater is a temple? If so, it is a temple which has frequently worshiped false gods. Only time and astute critical judgment will tell if "Mainely Murder", which opens here tomorrow night, will honor the gods or, yet again, profane them.
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
"Deadpan" is in my top 5 episodes of Season 4, along with "Witness for the Defense", "Old Habits Die Hard", "Trouble in Eden" and "Mourning Among the Wisterias", and one of my favourite episodes of 'Murder She Wrote' too. Season 4 was a very good season on the whole, with the only disappointments being "It Runs in the Family" (not awful with the efforts of the cast saving it but didn't feel like 'Murder She Wrote') and "Just Another Fish Story" (for non-Grady and Donna fans this is not an easy sit through and the mystery was disappointing, but Angela Lansbury and the rest of the supporting cast upped things a bit).
Of the "Jessica has her work adapted" episodes, and there are quite a few of them, "Deadpan" is not just one of the best of them, to me it's THE best. The story is always engaging, with the behind the scenes of the play and how theatre critiquing is portrayed providing a lot of intrigue. The mystery is a clever one and keeps one guessing right up the last second, with a denouement that may be complicated on first glance but is one of the show's most ingenious. There are some obvious, rushed or clunky ones on the show but also a lot of clever and well thought ones, but not many truly shocked me, this one did.
Angela Lansbury is terrific in one of her best remembered roles for good reason, and there is a delicious guest supporting cast, one of the most delicious on 'Murder She Wrote'. As good as John DiSanti, Lloyd Bochner, Carole Cook, Eugene Roche, Rich Little and Marilyn Hassett are it is a fantastic Dean Stockwell who steals the show as one of the show's most loathsome characters.
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.
The writing is thought-provoking and amiable and as said the story and acting are on point.
In conclusion, one of my favourites. 10/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 6, 2017
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Huntington Hartford Theater, Hollywood, California, USA(Broadway theatre exterior and interior.)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro