SUMMARY: APPROX. RUNNING TIME: 47:00 Min.
First broadcast by CBS-TV, on November 25, 1990, Jerry Jameson directed this episode where Jessica Fletcher (Lansbury) briefly appears. Steve Brown is credited with the script.
In the prologue, Jessica is whisked away from a book signing by professional-thief-turned-insurance-fraud-investigator Dennis Stanton (Michell) to hear of his latest murder-mystery case. This episode is Stanton’s fourth appearance on Murder, She Wrote and would be the first of his five mysteries during Season Seven.
In San Francisco, Stanton’s employer is hired to insure a newly discovered Mark Twain manuscript, as an expert (Dotrice) has initially confirmed its historical authenticity. Stanton invariably smells a rat when a notorious ex-forger (Birney) becomes involved, especially as bitter memories of their old rivalry for Stanton’s late wife resurface. An ominously convenient act of arson sets up the policy’s holder (Baker) and her conniving daughter (Gagnier) with a potential monetary windfall, as only a single page of the manuscript now exists.
Having consulted an old friend (Persoff) re: his suspicions, Stanton finds himself in the crosshairs of his skeptical supervisor (Sloyan), with his job now at stake. Two homicides in rapid succession makes this case all too personal for Stanton. Ultimately, it’s up to the sophisticated British ex-thief and wary police Lt. Catalano (Swofford) to devise a means of snaring a desperate killer.
Jessica Fletcher: Angela Lansbury
Dennis Stanton: Keith Michell
Robert Butler: James Sloyan
Rhonda Markowitz: Hallie Todd
Lawrence Erlich: David Birney
Lindsey Barlow: Holly Gagnier
Anna Barlow: Diane Baker
Professor Chandler Fitzpatrick: Roy Dotrice
Constantin Stavros: Nehemiah Persoff
Lt. Perry Catalano: Ken Swofford
Sgt. Oliver: Stephen Prutting
Jessica’s Fan: Jan Hoag
Duke of Nonesuch: Lewis Dauber
Notes: Sloyan, Todd, & Swofford portray these same recurring characters for Michell’s Season Seven guest appearances. The trio previously debuted as Michell’s supporting cast in Season Six – Episode 19’s “Always a Thief.”
REVIEW:
Including its clever pun for a title, this episode deftly mixes intrigue and humor into a well-played whodunnit.
Aside from simmering comedic chemistry between Keith Michell and James Sloyan, an embittered rivalry with David Birney as Stanton’s old nemesis sets up a stellar second half. Michell’s reliable old-school charm is further boosted by a late red herring slyly deceiving viewers re: who the real culprit is. The epilogue’s light-hearted twist finish is a nice treat, too, as Michell evidently doesn’t need Lansbury’s star power going into the closing credits.
Though his own spin-off series would likely have been all too ordinary and easily forgotten, this ensemble cast’s teamwork makes Dennis Stanton’s “Great Twain Robbery” caper a pleasure to watch.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
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