Big Easy Murder 

Jessica travels to New Orleans and is caught up in a web of voodoo related murders.

Director:

Vincent McEveety

Writers:

Peter S. Fischer (created by), Richard Levinson (created by)

Stars:

Angela Lansbury, Lisa Akey, Elizabeth Ashley

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher
Lisa Akey	...	Cynthia Broussard
Elizabeth Ashley	...	Emily Broussard Renwyck
G.W. Bailey	...	Lt. Alex Tibideaux
Olivia Cole	...	Yvette Dauphin
Robert Forster	...	Frank Roussel
Juliette Jeffers	...	Vera Welles
Anne-Marie Johnson	...	Priscilla Dauphin
Nick LaTour	...	Charlie (as Nick La Tour)
Brian McNamara	...	Tom McCray
Clifton Powell	...	Ralph Danton
Mitchell Ryan	...	Senator Brent Renwyck
Lewis Van Bergen	...	Mal Carter
Steve Curtis	...	Jim Nash
George Sharperson	...	Waiter

Storyline

For the fourth time in three months, a man is murdered by machete in New Orleans, Louisiana, with, as a calling card, a rooster foot voodoo talisman. Victim Jim Nash was an intern reporter at the Daily News, a colleague of Tom McCray and Cynthia Broussard (daughter of Emily). Nash believed the voodoo was just a colorful cover for a turf war over restaurant control. Jim was supposed to pick up Jessica from the airport and help her with some local research on voodoo and crime. She stays with Senator Brent Renwyck, whose club is in financial trouble even before it opens, so he took a nasty loan from mobster Frank Roussel. Yvette Dauphin's daughter Priscilla, the club's singer, shows Emily an anonymous letter claiming that Arthur Broussard was both women's father, confirmed by Yvette. They were both after a share of the considerable estate. Julliard confirms Arthur anonymously paid for Priscilla's music studies. Roussel's front-man Carter overhears Tom tell the senator he knows all about ...

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Even though set in New Orleans, no filming is actually done there.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lt. Alex Tibideaux: Ms. Broussard, you make it a practice of bringing your dates onto a murder scene?
Tom McCray: Jim was Cynthia's friend as well as mine, and she's interning for the 'Daily News'.
Cynthia Broussard: This makes the fourth machete murder in three months, Lieutenant Tibideaux.
Lt. Alex Tibideaux: With the usual calling card, a rooster foot talisman. I don't buy this voodoo thing.

User Reviews

New Orleans, voodoo and murder

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.

Season 12, along with Seasons 9 and 11, is one of the weaker and more variable ones of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is though a season that got off to a good start and "Big Easy Murder" is another episode that continues this initially good if not great standard and is among the season's better episodes. To me, it is one of the show's better excursions to Louisiana.

"Big Easy Murder" is hardly an original episode. Elements of the story and script are recycled, voodoo and politicians is hardly unfamiliar territory. As are a large number of the actors.

The good news is that "Big Easy Murder" for all its lack of originality is still a very well executed episode. The guest stars are all just great, especially Olivia Cole, GW Bailey, Robert Forster and Brian McNamara, and easily one of the season's strongest guest casts. Angela Lansbury continues to delight as Jessica.

Regarding the mystery, it's a lot of fun and always interesting. It has a lot of twists and surprising ones, this is including the denouement. In terms of the atmosphere and writing, it does get a little over-heated and slightly weird in places, my only other complaint of the episode.

Production values are slick and stylish with great use of the setting. 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 amiable and thought-provoking.

All in all, very well done. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 October 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Big Easy Murder

Filming Locations:

Stage 29, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Corymore Productions, Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

47 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1