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Murder, She Wrote
S1.E13
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IMDbPro

My Johnny Lies Over the Ocean

  • Episode aired Feb 10, 1985
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 47m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
432
YOUR RATING
Angela Lansbury, Belinda Montgomery, and George Marshall Ruge in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
When Jessica's recently widowed niece takes a cruise to get away from it all, a would-be murderer follows her.When Jessica's recently widowed niece takes a cruise to get away from it all, a would-be murderer follows her.When Jessica's recently widowed niece takes a cruise to get away from it all, a would-be murderer follows her.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
432
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Seymour Robbie
  • Writers
    • Peter S. Fischer
    • Richard Levinson
    • William Link
  • Stars
    • Angela Lansbury
    • Paul Carafotes
    • Jason Evers
Top credits
  • Director
    • Seymour Robbie
  • Writers
    • Peter S. Fischer
    • Richard Levinson
    • William Link
  • Stars
    • Angela Lansbury
    • Paul Carafotes
    • Jason Evers
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

    Belinda Montgomery in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
    Belinda Montgomery and Andrew Parks in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
    Rosemary Forsyth and Lawrence Pressman in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
    Leslie Nielsen in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
    Angela Lansbury, Don Matheson, and Jo Anne Worley in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
    Vicki Lawrence in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
    Angela Lansbury, Jason Evers, and Belinda Montgomery in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
    Angela Lansbury, Paul Carafotes, and Belinda Montgomery in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
    Angela Lansbury, Belinda Montgomery, and George Marshall Ruge in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
    Vicki Lawrence and Jo Anne Worley in Murder, She Wrote (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Angela Lansbury
    Angela Lansbury
    • Jessica Fletcheras Jessica Fletcher
    Paul Carafotes
    Paul Carafotes
    • Ramon, Ship's Stewardas Ramon, Ship's Steward
    Jason Evers
    Jason Evers
    • Dr. Marshall MacGillas Dr. Marshall MacGill
    Rosemary Forsyth
    Rosemary Forsyth
    • Dr. Andrea Jeffreys Reedas Dr. Andrea Jeffreys Reed
    Lynda Day George
    Lynda Day George
    • Diane Shelleyas Diane Shelley
    Vicki Lawrence
    Vicki Lawrence
    • Phoebe Carrollas Phoebe Carroll
    Belinda Montgomery
    Belinda Montgomery
    • Pamela Craneas Pamela Crane
    Leslie Nielsen
    Leslie Nielsen
    • Captain Danielsas Captain Daniels
    Andrew Parks
    Andrew Parks
    • Russell Tompkinsas Russell Tompkins
    Lawrence Pressman
    Lawrence Pressman
    • George Reedas George Reed
    Jo Anne Worley
    Jo Anne Worley
    • Carla Raymondas Carla Raymond
    • (as JoAnne Worley)
    Don Dubbins
    Don Dubbins
    • Dr. Charmichaelas Dr. Charmichael
    Byron Webster
    Byron Webster
    • Maitre d'as Maitre d'
    Michael G. Hawkins
    • Dr. Rossas Dr. Ross
    Don Matheson
    Don Matheson
    • Oklahoma Cowboyas Oklahoma Cowboy
    Kay Freeman
    • Nurseas Nurse
    Mark Pilon
    • 2nd Ship's Officeras 2nd Ship's Officer
    George Marshall Ruge
    George Marshall Ruge
    • Ship's Officeras Ship's Officer
    • Director
      • Seymour Robbie
    • Writers
      • Peter S. Fischer
      • Richard Levinson
      • William Link
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the first hint in the series that Jessica's maiden name is MacGill. Angela Lansbury's real-life mother was famed actress Moyna MacGill but MacGill was not her real birth name. Her birth name was Charlotte McIldowie but the series decided to use her mother's stage name as Jessica's maiden name.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Pamela Crane: Johnny!

      Nurse: It's all right now, Pamela. I'm here. Easy now. It's all right. Lie down, dear. Lie down. It's a dream. That's all. Just a dream.

    • Connections
      References Gaslight (1944)
    • Soundtracks
      Murder She Wrote Theme
      Written by John Addison

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    "Oh, Bring Back My Johnny to Flee"
    Fans have often kiddingly dubbed "Murder, She Wrote" as "The Hate Boat" because it parallels the ABC Comedy series "The Love Boat" by casting recognizable experienced talent. While "The Love Boat," which begins its run seven years prior, is still in production at the time of this "MSW" season, its light-hearted theme of instant love may be contrasted with "MSW's" theme of somewhat light-hearted animosity.

    Several years prior to "The Love Boat," "Love American Style" developed its episodes around a general formula of three segment sketches with skits dividing the comedy. "The Love Boat" would also generally present three separate story lines per episode, yet intertwining their action with one another to fill out the hour, while these generally involved interaction with series regulars, or the "Pacific Princess'" crew members.

    "My Johnny Lies Over the Ocean," the first of three "MSW" episodes set upon an ocean liner, seems to parody "The Love Boat" formula with three story lines cast with passengers, with interaction from crew members, including Captain, Doctor, Purser, Officers and Steward. So, if anything may be subtitled "The Animosity Boat," then this episode stands in contention for that title.

    It begins on land, on the campus exteriors of a psychiatric institution, at which one doctor consults another, the other being Marshall MacGill (IMDb bills him as "Dr. Marshall Fletcher, but his relationship within the narrative indicates otherwise). So, let's call him Doctor Marshall MacGill for now, or, better yet, "Marshall."

    Marshall (Jason Evers) has been concerned for his daughter, Pamela Crane (Belinda Montgomery), a young widow, whose husband, Johnny Crane, had been adopted as an infant, after being born to an unwed teenage mother. In the back-story, Johnny had been told this information by his adoptive parents, but none had been aware of his biological identity.

    But now that Johnny is presumed to have committed suicide by drowning, Pamela has been plagued with recurring nightmares regarding his loss plus her helplessly falling into a pool. The doctors prescribe rest and relaxation with caring company, perhaps a Caribbean cruise with a favorite aunt, such as Marshall's sister, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). After all, what could go wrong with a plan as this?

    (This marks the only event in which we meet one of Jessica's siblings, her brother Marshall.)

    After Marshall escorts Pamela and Jessica to the dock to board ship, another Psychiatrist, Doctor Andrea Jeffreys Reed (Rosemary Forsyth), arrives to sail with her husband, George Reed (Lawrence Pressman), who handles their luggage, while Jessica asks a favor of Andrea, to snap a photograph of Pamela and her with the ship as a backdrop.

    As the signal begins to bellow, Phoebe Carroll (Vicki Lawrence) and Carla Raymond (Jo Anne Worley) emerge from a cab to rush toward the ship on foot, they projecting, "Wait for us," as they manage to reach the gang-planks before they are drawn.

    Captain Daniels (Leslie Nielsen), Purser Diane Shelley (Lynda Day George), Morley, Ship's Officer (George Marshall Ruge), Ship's 2nd Officer (Mark Pilon) and Ramon, Ship's Steward (Paul Carafotes) comprise a portion of the ship's staff for a cruise booked under capacity to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

    Jessica and Pamela meet several passengers along the way, including Russell Tompkins (Andrew Parks), who seems to admire Pamela from afar, as he sneaks around corners, while she and Aunt Jessica stroll about the deck.

    At dinner, Pamela becomes alarmed at a menu codicil, describing a mustard and walnut sauce, a part of Johnny's favorite dish, which she claims to have invented. She frantically leaves the table, causing Jessica to question the source of the addition, which Maitre d' (Byron Webster) insists does not belong upon his menu.

    Phoebe Carroll and, especially, Carla Raymond seem to experience a wonderful vacation, upon meeting wealthy Oklahoma Cowboy (Don Matheson), an oil tycoon who fancies Carla's charm and enthusiasm for live. But Andrea and George don't seem to share the joy, as Andrea spends most of her time in her cabin.

    But as Pamela's apprehension increases, Jessica receives permission from Captain Daniels to question female passengers and crew members who have booked passage after Pamela has, in order to attempt to link one of them with Johnny's birth, as "My Johnny Lies Over the Ocean."

    And when a body is discovered in a cabin, a victim of a combination of pills and alcohol, this increases Pamela's fears because she is convinced that this incident is linked to Johnny; and, while it appears a suicide, Jessica is convinced that it's murder.

    The cast is rounded out by Kay Freeman as Nurse, Don Dubbins as Doctor Carmichael, and Michael G. Hawkins as Doctor Ross.

    This episode marks the first television acting credit for Mark Pilon, the first of two "MSW" guest roles each for Rosemary Forsyth, Don Matheson, Leslie Nielsen, Mark Pilon, Vicki Lawrence, and the first of three "MSW" guest appearances by Lawrence Pressman.

    Jason Evers, acting since 1943, Byron Webster, acting since 1951, Don Dubbins, acting since 1953, have unfortunately since passed.
    helpful•13
    2
    • WeatherViolet
    • Jan 6, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 10, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • RMS Queen Mary - 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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