Jessica tries to disprove charges against her friend's boyfriend, suspected of murdering a Las Vegas casino manager.Jessica tries to disprove charges against her friend's boyfriend, suspected of murdering a Las Vegas casino manager.Jessica tries to disprove charges against her friend's boyfriend, suspected of murdering a Las Vegas casino manager.
Photos
- Ahmed Shankar
- (as Andrew Brye)
- Bookseller
- (uncredited)
- Offficer Kimbrough
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDavid Soul's character calls casino manager Pappas, played by Andreas Katsulas "better than a one arm bandit". A couple years later, Kasulas played "Sykes", the man with one arm in "The Fugitive".
- GoofsWhen Jessica inquires how & why her money on the roulette table doubled, Larry tells her that the chips were actually played on two numbers (13 &14) and that one of those "came in". He says that bet pays 2 to 1. Actually, that particular bet pays 17 to 1.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Ahmed Shankar: [answers phone] Hello?
[pause]
Ahmed Shankar: Eh, uh, yes, Mother, hold on.
Jessica Fletcher: I have your winnings from Las Vegas.
[hands Ahmed an envelope]
Jessica Fletcher: I hope you're planning to do something very worthwhile with it.
Ahmed Shankar: [on telephone as he opens envelope] Uh, eh, yes, Mother, I'm still here.
[sees a lot of money in envelope]
Ahmed Shankar: Well, uh, tell Rashid I have a surprise for him!
- ConnectionsReferences The Lone Ranger (1949)
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
The previous Season 8 episodes were very good to great, though the high-points would come later, so it was a shame to have an episode of a season that started so promisingly and generally is one of the better 'Murder She Wrote' seasons being as underwhelming, but still watchable, as this. There are certainly far worse episodes of 'Murder She Wrote' before and since. There are also far better, again before and since. As far as Season 8 episodes go, "A Killing in Vegas" is one of the weaker ones.
"A Killing in Vegas" has good things certainly, few if any 'Murder She Wrote' episodes are irredeemably bad. Angela Lansbury can't be faulted in one of her best-remembered roles, and there are a few good supporting turns. Howard Keel as always is an immensely likable charmer and David Soul is a nice presence.
Las Vegas is a suitably glitzy and atmospheric setting, and while a casino is a pretty clichéd location for a murder it is used to full advantage. Production values are slick and stylish as ever. 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 writing is thoughtful, cosy and light-hearted while taking itself seriously as well and some of the story intrigues, the security tape/elevator scenes compel.
On the other hand, "A Killing in Vegas" is particularly hampered by the awful performances of Amy O'Neill and particularly Jeff Kaake. O'Neill over-compensates and comes over as overwrought (almost annoying) and Kaake is completely charisma-free and lifeless. The chemistry between them isn't there, which makes their situation really difficult to empathise with. Shelley Smith is almost as bad, with the badness of her acting providing unintentional humour especially some of the worst and overdone consequences of drink acting personally seen. The rest of the cast are functional but not particularly memorable, Keel and Soul are the only good standouts.
Didn't find myself completely engaging with the story. The mystery, while at times formulaic, does intrigue but plays second fiddle too much to the whole interminably done story/situation of Eddie and Susan. The denouement disappoints, after the clues and deductions started adding up the identity of the killer and the motivation, once one realises they had the strongest motive and the most likely opportunity, were not surprising at all, actually suspected them quite early on.
Some of the dialogue is overripe, particularly with Eddie and Susan and it's even worse when they're together. Some of the pace is dull and there is no real tension when one knows the outcome of the prime suspect's predicament straight off the bat.
In summary, watchable but a disappointment. 5/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 22, 2017
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- S Grand Ave & W 6th St, Los Angeles, California, USA(exterior: as Jessica's NYC apartment building, NE corner)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro