The Murder of Sherlock Holmes: Pilot (30 Sep. 1984)

In this Pilot episode we are introduced to Jessica Fletcher, a recent widow, who lives in Cabot Cove, Maine. Jessica is an English teacher who becomes a mystery book author thanks to her ... See full summary »

Director:

Corey Allen

Writers:

Peter S. Fischer (creator), Richard Levinson (creator),

Stars:

Angela Lansbury, Eddie Barth, Jessica Browne

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher
Eddie Barth	...	Bernie
Jessica Browne	...	Kitty Donovan
Bert Convy	...	Peter Brill
Herb Edelman	...	George
Anne Francis	...	Louise McCallum (as Anne Lloyd Francis)
Michael Horton	...	Grady Fletcher
Tricia O'Neil	...	Ashley Vickers
Dennis Patrick	...	Dexter Baxendale
Raymond St. Jacques	...	Doctor
Ned Beatty	...	Chief Roy Gunderson
Arthur Hill	...	Preston Giles
Brian Keith	...	Caleb McCallum
Rosanna Huffman	...	Eleanor Thompson
Paddi Edwards	...	Lois Hoey

Storyline

In this Pilot episode we are introduced to Jessica Fletcher, a recent widow, who lives in Cabot Cove, Maine. Jessica is an English teacher who becomes a mystery book author thanks to her nephew, Grady Fletcher. Grady submits his Aunts manuscript to a publishing company who loves it and publishes it immediately. It is a best-seller and Jessica goes to New York City to promote her new book. While there Jessica gets involved in a murder while at her publishers home for a costume party. When her nephew becomes a suspect of the murder, Jessica must find the real killer.

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Plot Keywords:

nephew | costume party | sherlock holmes | new york city | reference to sherlock holmes | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 September 1984 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Production Designer Hub Braden, early in his career, had been the scenic designer for a summer at the Kennybunkport Playhouse, in Maine. During his return to Kennybunkport for a vacation, he discovered an Atlantic ocean inlet bay which a main town road bridged over. The inlet has a very small sign on either end of the bridge with the inlet bay's name: Cabot Cove.

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Goofs

When Jessica is harassed by the two guys on the street, she hits them with her purse and it is obviously a male stunt performer in a wig.

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Connections

Followed by Murder, She Wrote (1984)

User Reviews

A really great start to a wonderful detective series

I love Murder She Wrote, it is a lovely, entertaining and light-hearted series with clever story lines, good guest stars and a playful theme tune. Not to mention a wonderful Angela Lansbury. The pilot The Murder of Sherlock Holmes(it is cleverer than it sounds) is everything the show is, perhaps a little more serious than some of the episodes from the series but it is a really great start. It is strikingly filmed, the locations are amazing and the photography is skillful and simple. The music is fine too, the plot has enough twists and turns to interest, though I personally could have done without the mugging attempt, with a very unexpected ending that was quite emotional(it certainly seemed so for Lansbury), the writing is funny and intelligent, the pacing is brisk and the direction is good. The acting is excellent, Angela Lansbury really makes the role of Jessica Fletcher her own and is wonderful as always, while Michael Horton and Jessica Browne are appealing as Grady and Kitty and Arthur Hill is great as Preston Giles. Overall, a rock solid start to a wonderful series. 10/10 Bethany Cox