As per usual in 'Murder, She Wrote,' there is a murder. Surprise, surprise. Jessica must go about solving the crime. Guest starring is Van Johnson and June Allyson. They respectively portray Daniel O'Brien and Katie Simmons. Daniel is an inventor. Katie is an old friend of Daniel's who is visiting. They both become twisted up in the mystery murder. As much as I love 'Murder, She Wrote,' Allyson and Johnson make the entire episode. It is so great to see Van and June playing opposite each other again. I would take them in any role but these roles do them justice. It helped rekindle that old sort of feeling I'd get from watching them in their movies from the 1940s.
9 Reviews
The runaway....Station Wagon....
Sleepin_Dragon29 October 2017
A stranger arrives in Cabot cove with a bang, chased by, a driver-less car. Escaping with his life Stewart Woodman ends up in hospital to convalesce. Prime suspect is inventor Daniel O'Brien, who also had business links with Woodman years before. Of course Jessica intercedes when Amos Tupper struggles, at one stage she has the ride of her life.
Quite a clever episode, very much of the time. Over thirty years ago, I imagine the concept of a radio controlled car was perhaps more cutting edge. It's cleverly staged, and the scenes of the driver-less car look strangely menacing.
Well acted as always, Lansbury is particularly good, her video game scenes with Ethan are fun. Van Johnson and June Allyson are a treat, classic film lovers will be familiar with both, they have a lot of quality between them.
I wish they had perhaps made Amos Tupper a little less silly, he's particularly clueless in this episode, where would he be without Miss Fletcher?
It's a good episode. 7/10
Quite a clever episode, very much of the time. Over thirty years ago, I imagine the concept of a radio controlled car was perhaps more cutting edge. It's cleverly staged, and the scenes of the driver-less car look strangely menacing.
Well acted as always, Lansbury is particularly good, her video game scenes with Ethan are fun. Van Johnson and June Allyson are a treat, classic film lovers will be familiar with both, they have a lot of quality between them.
I wish they had perhaps made Amos Tupper a little less silly, he's particularly clueless in this episode, where would he be without Miss Fletcher?
It's a good episode. 7/10
"But You Look Sweet upon the Seat of a Vehicle Speeding Through"
WeatherViolet27 December 2009
Familiar stars Claude Akins, Edward Albert, June Allyson, Tom Bosley, Patti D'Arbanville, Bruce Gray, Van Johnson and Stuart Whitman join this cast in an episode centering upon an eccentric inventor whose experiments go awry in the hands of perpetrators with an objective of murder.
As Cabot Cove, Maine, prepares for its annual Founder's Day celebration, an enigmatic chain of events alters the mood of its citizens from festive to cautious and alarmed, leaving Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), Captain Ethan Cragg (Claude Akins) and Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley) with a burden of chaos.
Eccentric inventor Daniel O'Brien (Van Johnson) fiddles with one experiment after another in his work-shoppe with assistant and housekeeper Katie Simmons (June Allyson), who welcome a visit from Jessica in preparation for Cabot Cove Founder's Day activities.
Daniel's former employers, Charles Woodley (Stuart Whitman) and Dean Merrill (Bruce Gray) are also in town, from Boston, to attempt to deal with Daniel and each other.
Tony Holiday (Edward Albert), Daniel's nephew and heir, visits his uncle and associate, along with his fiancée, Leslie Andler (Patti D'Arbanville), whom they receive with open arms, or at least until Tony discovers a bewildering invoice inside Leslie's glove compartment at a gasoline station.
Jessica continues to work with the planning committee, by researching Founding Father Joshua Peabody, a recurring topic throughout many Cabot Cove episodes. But here, she discovers evidence of his championing the British against American troops during the Revolutionary War, a factor which could dampen the tone of the picnic.
Eliza Bates (Lois Foraker), Lois Hoey (Paddi Edwards), Cora McIntyre (Dee Croxton) and Mrs. Miley (Crystal Jenious) (some of these actresses to repeat a Cabot Cove character) attend the Founder's Day picnic, which receives a different type of threat, as a driver-less station wagon swerves across the field, in pursuit of Captain Ethan Cragg and Charles Woodley.
While Ethan manages to avoid injury, Charles finds himself pinned against a cyclone fence, which he attempts to climb, before the automobile pins him against it, causing a leg fracture and subsequent hospitalization.
But the driver-less vehicle doesn't stop there. Along a rural route leading to and from Cabot Cove, the station wagon pursues a pedestrian, knocking the victim onto the side of the road in a bitter rage of murder.
Jessica, assisting Amos with the investigation, pays another visit to Daniel and Katie, she discovering that Daniel had once tinkered with a remote control system to install into vehicles in order to guide them without a driver. Amos, however, decides this information places Daniel as the prime suspect and arrests him, to the dismay of Katie, Tony and Jessica.
While bicycling about a wooded area, Jessica discovers the murder weapon and decides to take a closer look at the station wagon's inner workings. Once inside, however, she becomes trapped when someone in a van operates the remote control device to lock her inside, to activate the automobile's engine, and to steer her away at a dangerous speed, en route to an overhang above the rocky seacoast.
Ethen, meanwhile, scouting around town in his pickup truck, observes Jessica's speeding by behind a steering wheel; and, realizing that she doesn't drive, spins his truck in pursuit, as Amos, also happening by in his sheriff's sedan, spins around to follow Jessica, Ethan and the van.
Charles, his leg now in a cast, is released from the hospital in time to attend the next outdoor celebration in the park, and yet another return of the driver-less station wagon plagues the occasion, but again in pursuit of Charles, who again attempts to outrun the automobile to the best of his ability before Cabot Cove would have another "Hit, Run and Homicide."
The cast is rounded out by Harry Stephens as Doctor, G.R. Smith as Deputy, Roger Price as Local #1, Ed Morgan as Local #2, David Ashrow as Umpire, Steven Ameche as Musician, Michael Rogers as Policeman, and Douglas Stevenson as Gas Station Attendant, the most recent role to date for Douglas Stevenson, acting since circa 1977.
Claude Akins, acting in film and on television since 1953, Edward Albert, acting since 1965, June Allyson, acting in film and on television since 1937, her real-life husband, Dr. David Ashrow, D.D.S., a retired dentist, who acted in television from 1982 through 1986, Paddi Edwards, acting since 1962, Van Johnson, acting in film and on television since 1940, and Roger Price, acting since 1950, have unfortunately since passed.
As Cabot Cove, Maine, prepares for its annual Founder's Day celebration, an enigmatic chain of events alters the mood of its citizens from festive to cautious and alarmed, leaving Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), Captain Ethan Cragg (Claude Akins) and Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley) with a burden of chaos.
Eccentric inventor Daniel O'Brien (Van Johnson) fiddles with one experiment after another in his work-shoppe with assistant and housekeeper Katie Simmons (June Allyson), who welcome a visit from Jessica in preparation for Cabot Cove Founder's Day activities.
Daniel's former employers, Charles Woodley (Stuart Whitman) and Dean Merrill (Bruce Gray) are also in town, from Boston, to attempt to deal with Daniel and each other.
Tony Holiday (Edward Albert), Daniel's nephew and heir, visits his uncle and associate, along with his fiancée, Leslie Andler (Patti D'Arbanville), whom they receive with open arms, or at least until Tony discovers a bewildering invoice inside Leslie's glove compartment at a gasoline station.
Jessica continues to work with the planning committee, by researching Founding Father Joshua Peabody, a recurring topic throughout many Cabot Cove episodes. But here, she discovers evidence of his championing the British against American troops during the Revolutionary War, a factor which could dampen the tone of the picnic.
Eliza Bates (Lois Foraker), Lois Hoey (Paddi Edwards), Cora McIntyre (Dee Croxton) and Mrs. Miley (Crystal Jenious) (some of these actresses to repeat a Cabot Cove character) attend the Founder's Day picnic, which receives a different type of threat, as a driver-less station wagon swerves across the field, in pursuit of Captain Ethan Cragg and Charles Woodley.
While Ethan manages to avoid injury, Charles finds himself pinned against a cyclone fence, which he attempts to climb, before the automobile pins him against it, causing a leg fracture and subsequent hospitalization.
But the driver-less vehicle doesn't stop there. Along a rural route leading to and from Cabot Cove, the station wagon pursues a pedestrian, knocking the victim onto the side of the road in a bitter rage of murder.
Jessica, assisting Amos with the investigation, pays another visit to Daniel and Katie, she discovering that Daniel had once tinkered with a remote control system to install into vehicles in order to guide them without a driver. Amos, however, decides this information places Daniel as the prime suspect and arrests him, to the dismay of Katie, Tony and Jessica.
While bicycling about a wooded area, Jessica discovers the murder weapon and decides to take a closer look at the station wagon's inner workings. Once inside, however, she becomes trapped when someone in a van operates the remote control device to lock her inside, to activate the automobile's engine, and to steer her away at a dangerous speed, en route to an overhang above the rocky seacoast.
Ethen, meanwhile, scouting around town in his pickup truck, observes Jessica's speeding by behind a steering wheel; and, realizing that she doesn't drive, spins his truck in pursuit, as Amos, also happening by in his sheriff's sedan, spins around to follow Jessica, Ethan and the van.
Charles, his leg now in a cast, is released from the hospital in time to attend the next outdoor celebration in the park, and yet another return of the driver-less station wagon plagues the occasion, but again in pursuit of Charles, who again attempts to outrun the automobile to the best of his ability before Cabot Cove would have another "Hit, Run and Homicide."
The cast is rounded out by Harry Stephens as Doctor, G.R. Smith as Deputy, Roger Price as Local #1, Ed Morgan as Local #2, David Ashrow as Umpire, Steven Ameche as Musician, Michael Rogers as Policeman, and Douglas Stevenson as Gas Station Attendant, the most recent role to date for Douglas Stevenson, acting since circa 1977.
Claude Akins, acting in film and on television since 1953, Edward Albert, acting since 1965, June Allyson, acting in film and on television since 1937, her real-life husband, Dr. David Ashrow, D.D.S., a retired dentist, who acted in television from 1982 through 1986, Paddi Edwards, acting since 1962, Van Johnson, acting in film and on television since 1940, and Roger Price, acting since 1950, have unfortunately since passed.
Murder by driver-less car
TheLittleSongbird9 July 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.
Although having a wonderful pilot episode in "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes", Season 1, as is the case with a lot of shows, took time to settle, though up to this point none of the episodes were bad. That is not to say that the season didn't have any gems, it certainly did. From the period of episodes from "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes" to this, the previous episode "Lovers and Other Killers" was a gem and this episode "Hit, Run and Homicide" is another.
My only complaint actually of "Hit, Run and Homicide" is the rather over-complicated motive for the murder, have seen this episode a few times now and already the identity of who's involved and how they did it makes sense the motive always confused me and was a bit difficult to swallow.
However, as always, "Hit, Run and Homicide" looks good. Actually with the scenic shots at the beginning, taking advantage of all that beautiful scenery, and the striking and clever helicopter shots during the attempted murder of Jessica, it's one of the best shot and best-looking episodes of the first season. The location is beautiful, and seeing all the fashions then gives a sense of nostalgia, even for anybody not born in the 80s or yet alive.
On top of that, the music has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, particularly loved it at the start, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.
Writing is charmingly light-hearted, gently amiable and down to earth but provokes thought too. The story is absorbing, with an otherwise clever final solution and a season highlight in the attempted murder of Jessica. Oh and the murder method has to be the most unique one on 'Murder She Wrote' and one of the cleverest.
Jessica is more than just your standard female detective, and Amos, despite making mistakes and jumping to conclusions, is more than the bumbling sheriff cliché. Love that Cabot Cove is like a close community, that has always been one of the charms of the episodes set in Cabot Cove.
Angela Lansbury is terrific in one of her best remembered roles (one of the roles that is most closely associated with me at any rate). Tom Bosley supports her well, and yes the episode is worth watching to see Van Johnson and June Allyson on screen.
In summary, great episode and a season high-point apart from the over-complicated motive. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Although having a wonderful pilot episode in "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes", Season 1, as is the case with a lot of shows, took time to settle, though up to this point none of the episodes were bad. That is not to say that the season didn't have any gems, it certainly did. From the period of episodes from "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes" to this, the previous episode "Lovers and Other Killers" was a gem and this episode "Hit, Run and Homicide" is another.
My only complaint actually of "Hit, Run and Homicide" is the rather over-complicated motive for the murder, have seen this episode a few times now and already the identity of who's involved and how they did it makes sense the motive always confused me and was a bit difficult to swallow.
However, as always, "Hit, Run and Homicide" looks good. Actually with the scenic shots at the beginning, taking advantage of all that beautiful scenery, and the striking and clever helicopter shots during the attempted murder of Jessica, it's one of the best shot and best-looking episodes of the first season. The location is beautiful, and seeing all the fashions then gives a sense of nostalgia, even for anybody not born in the 80s or yet alive.
On top of that, the music has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, particularly loved it at the start, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.
Writing is charmingly light-hearted, gently amiable and down to earth but provokes thought too. The story is absorbing, with an otherwise clever final solution and a season highlight in the attempted murder of Jessica. Oh and the murder method has to be the most unique one on 'Murder She Wrote' and one of the cleverest.
Jessica is more than just your standard female detective, and Amos, despite making mistakes and jumping to conclusions, is more than the bumbling sheriff cliché. Love that Cabot Cove is like a close community, that has always been one of the charms of the episodes set in Cabot Cove.
Angela Lansbury is terrific in one of her best remembered roles (one of the roles that is most closely associated with me at any rate). Tom Bosley supports her well, and yes the episode is worth watching to see Van Johnson and June Allyson on screen.
In summary, great episode and a season high-point apart from the over-complicated motive. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Death by remote control.
planktonrules18 October 2022
Early in this episode, a driverless car chases down a man (Stuart Whitman) and nearly runs him over...much to the horror of the onlookers. At first, the Sheriff (Tom Bosley) doesn't believe these tales of a driverless car...but after Jessica is almost killed by another driverless car, he realizes that the story isn't just a story. The leading candidate for creating this killer car is a local goofy inventor (Van Johnson) and, of course, Jessica sets out to prove some other person or persons are behind this evil killer car.
This is very good episode...exciting, with a few nice twists AND, thankfully, no confession by the murderer that comes with little evidence! Well worth seeing and nice selection of guest stars...which also includes June Allyson.
By the way, I live near many of the filming locations seen in the episode, so I recognized Point Cabrillo lighthouse and also noticed the crew forgot to remove the sign saying 'Mendo' in one scene...since it was filmed in Mendocino, California is the far north part of the state. And, locals often refer to Mendocino as 'Mendo'...as do a few businesses.
This is very good episode...exciting, with a few nice twists AND, thankfully, no confession by the murderer that comes with little evidence! Well worth seeing and nice selection of guest stars...which also includes June Allyson.
By the way, I live near many of the filming locations seen in the episode, so I recognized Point Cabrillo lighthouse and also noticed the crew forgot to remove the sign saying 'Mendo' in one scene...since it was filmed in Mendocino, California is the far north part of the state. And, locals often refer to Mendocino as 'Mendo'...as do a few businesses.
Remote control murder
bkoganbing9 October 2017
The presence of Van Johnson and June Allyson who were fellow MGM contract players back in Angela Lansbury's salad days with Leo the Lion, make this Murder She Wrote episode a nostalgic treat.
Johnson is an inventor specializing in electronics and his research was in remote control. Allyson was and is his girl Friday who looks after the socially inept and eccentric Johnson.
Things get interesting when a car with no driver nearly runs down Stuart Whitman who once employed Johnson and is in Cabot Cove on purportedly Johnson's invitation. Then Whitman's partner Bruce Gray arrives and he's found dead on a road presumably the victim of a hit and run accident.
Although later on Sheriff Amos Tupper never needed to ask for Jessica Fletcher's help it was interesting to see some of the psychology that Angela Lansbury used on Tom Bosley to sign on to the investigation.
Lansbury is almost killed by the remote controlled car with Claude Akins saving her life. May have been his finest hour in that first year when he was a semi-regular.
June Allyson did more films with Van Johnson during their glory days at MGM than with any other leading man. For their fans especially, they should see this one.
Johnson is an inventor specializing in electronics and his research was in remote control. Allyson was and is his girl Friday who looks after the socially inept and eccentric Johnson.
Things get interesting when a car with no driver nearly runs down Stuart Whitman who once employed Johnson and is in Cabot Cove on purportedly Johnson's invitation. Then Whitman's partner Bruce Gray arrives and he's found dead on a road presumably the victim of a hit and run accident.
Although later on Sheriff Amos Tupper never needed to ask for Jessica Fletcher's help it was interesting to see some of the psychology that Angela Lansbury used on Tom Bosley to sign on to the investigation.
Lansbury is almost killed by the remote controlled car with Claude Akins saving her life. May have been his finest hour in that first year when he was a semi-regular.
June Allyson did more films with Van Johnson during their glory days at MGM than with any other leading man. For their fans especially, they should see this one.
Pure fun!
rgxdzrybr13 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
My favorite of the very early episodes of Murder She Wrote.
The early seasons are the best at using the stars of Hollywood's golden era of course the later seasons more of them were unable or had passed away .
This one had frequent co stars June Allyson and Van Johnson who add so much to the episode.
This is one of the early lighthearted entries the mystery is interesting and holds our attention but never gets too dark.
Johnson plays an inventor with a heart and can see the possibilities in the future.
We even get the driverless car long before it seemed possible to most and the bugs in it are more intentional by the wrong people.
We also get a better idea of why Jessica didn't drive.
Early character Ethan is kind of fun here . Amos is clueless but willing to bring in Jessica for help.
The killer is more obvious if you go back over the episode and something doesn't quite add up early on. The motive though is what adds some layers.
The ending has a sweetness to it for our special guest stars .
A most enjoyable episode.
The early seasons are the best at using the stars of Hollywood's golden era of course the later seasons more of them were unable or had passed away .
This one had frequent co stars June Allyson and Van Johnson who add so much to the episode.
This is one of the early lighthearted entries the mystery is interesting and holds our attention but never gets too dark.
Johnson plays an inventor with a heart and can see the possibilities in the future.
We even get the driverless car long before it seemed possible to most and the bugs in it are more intentional by the wrong people.
We also get a better idea of why Jessica didn't drive.
Early character Ethan is kind of fun here . Amos is clueless but willing to bring in Jessica for help.
The killer is more obvious if you go back over the episode and something doesn't quite add up early on. The motive though is what adds some layers.
The ending has a sweetness to it for our special guest stars .
A most enjoyable episode.
Some inconsistencies
komiserkolombo8 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I enjoy watching this series, but I can't help but notice a few inconsistencies in this episode:
* How does one partner inherit everything when the other dies? To my knowledge, the deceased's shares should go to their heirs. This point undermines the entire motive.
* Ms. Fletcher carelessly handles parts of the remote-controlled car, potentially tampering with evidence.
* Why does nobody examine the car and the van for tangible evidence?
* How is it sufficient to arrest someone just because incriminating papers were found in the car? What kind of murderer would leave such evidence in a "killer" car?
* Why would Daniel's IP be passed to the killers when he's judged insane? He left the company years ago. He won the case about IP already. It legally doesn't make sense.
* How does one partner inherit everything when the other dies? To my knowledge, the deceased's shares should go to their heirs. This point undermines the entire motive.
* Ms. Fletcher carelessly handles parts of the remote-controlled car, potentially tampering with evidence.
* Why does nobody examine the car and the van for tangible evidence?
* How is it sufficient to arrest someone just because incriminating papers were found in the car? What kind of murderer would leave such evidence in a "killer" car?
* Why would Daniel's IP be passed to the killers when he's judged insane? He left the company years ago. He won the case about IP already. It legally doesn't make sense.
Jessica takes on a Driverless killer car
coltras351 January 2022
A murder she wrote with a difference, a killer car attacking people, but of course someone is using remote control to drive the car, and the number one suspect is Van Johnson, who is an inventor. Not a great episode, but still watchable.
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