Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) Widow, Weep for Me (1985) User Reviews

Jessica incognito

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 13 July 2017]

Two things about this Murder She Wrote episode set it a bit apart from the rest. Jessica Fletcher does not become accidentally involved as she usually does. She gets a disturbing letter from a friend who winds up being murdered. She goes down under an alias, a rich international playgirl.

But that's the other thing. A whole bunch of people in this cast aren't who they say there. Even Iowa schoolteacher Anne Lockhart doesn't know she's the lost heir to a fortune and some like Olympic skier John Philip Law are buzzing like bees to rich honey.

Later on wealthy widow Mary Wickes is killed. This might have been her first death on the big screen or small.

Once the motive is figured out the culprit could be only one person. See if you agree.

When the Fortunes Fail across the Seas

[WeatherViolet · 7/10 · 26 September 2009]

Several episode guest stars have since unfortunately passed: Raymond St. Jacques, in 1990; Mary Wickes, in 1995; and Cyd Charisse, Mel Ferrer and John Phillip Law, within a few weeks' time apart, during the Spring of 2008.

"Widow, Weep for Me" serves as the opening episode for "MSW" Season Two. This sets a precedent among Season Openers, by adding fresh touches to the series: Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) displays her developing interest in fashion here, with a hatted flowing lavender dress with draped matching shawl; a Carribbean Island resort setting affords an exotic foreign location, and Len Cariou delivers his first of seven performances in his role as Secret Agent Michael Hagarty, who often complicates Jessica's investigations, by implicating her in his schemes.

Its title, by the way, parodies the 1940's standard "Willow Weep for Me" popularized by famous singers as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles.

When Jessica receives a letter from old friend Antoinette Farnsworth (Reggie Savard, in her only television role to date), a wealth widow vacationing on a Carribbean Sea resort island, who believes her life threatened, she travels incognito to assist her friend.

Myrna Montclair LeRoy (Cyd Charisse) operates the resort, along with Eric Brahm (Mel Ferrer), although they share a secret, which initially puzzles Jessica.

Mrs. Alva Crane (Mary Wickes) and Veronica Harrold (Anne Lockhart) stand among hotel guests, whom Jessica intends to protect during the course of her investigation. Veronica Harrold, an Iowa schoolteacher, is told that she has won her vacation in a drawing. Why "a schoolteacher from another state" would be considered unsophisticated remains unexplained although this demonstrates a recurring theme throughout this series.

Sheldon Greenberg (Howard Hesseman) serves as the hotel desk clerk. Sven Torvald (John Phillip Law), a handsome, fun-loving heir, has an eye for the ladies. Michael Hagarty (Len Cariou) pursues Jessica, to veer her off the course of her detective work.

But in the aftermath of two murders, Chief Inspector Claude Rensselaer (Raymond St. Jacques) and Sergeant D'arcy (Emmett Dennis III) arrive at the resort to investigate the pieces to the various puzzles with Jessica's volunteering to assist.

Barnes (Geoff Heise), Croupier (Edward B. Randolph), Doorman (Jerry Boyd) and Desk Clerk (Ekta Sohini) round out the cast, as many attempt to figure who commands, "Widow, Weep for Me."

A blinged out Jessica tries to catch a murderer and jewel thief.

[cgvsluis · 8/10 · 18 February 2022]

Wonderful episode in which Jessica masquerades as a wealthy woman at a luxurious tropical resort to try to find her friend's murderer...and jewel thief. On this adventure she meets the very charismatic "Michael Haggerty", played by Len Cariou, who she gets along with very well.

This episode has a great cast...including Howard Hesseman (who just passed away last month) and the incomparable Cyd Charisse!

It was fun seeing Jessica in some brighter colors and some more bling-y jewelry, she looked great! The mystery itself was as usual fun and while not as complex as some, still filled with some twists and turns.

Series two starts in style.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 17 November 2017]

Antoinette Farnsworth's last act is to write to old friend Jessica Fletcher asking for help. Believed to have been robbed of her jewellery and then taken her own life, Antoinette had been staying at a luxury Caribbean hotel. To flush out the killer, Jessica arrives at the hotel incognito, in the glamorous guise of Margurite Canfield, flashing her diamonds. She soon makes the acquaintance of Michael Hagarty, a man with more then a keen interest in recent events.

What a great way to launch the second series, I've always loved this episode, a particularly strong story, matched by a superb performance from Lansbury, you can see she relished the opportunity of playing her undercover guise. Incredible production values, it looks great, and some of those costumes are fabulous. Fine performances all round, of course noted for being the first of Len Cariou's 'Hagarty,' he added something every time he featured.

A great mystery 9/10

Intriguing, delightful, keeps you guessing

[dana-webstuff · 9/10 · 21 May 2019]

Some of the things that make this episode so enjoyable are the sunny tropical setting, Jessica's intriguing alias, the lively cast, the introduction of Michael Hagarty, and the plot that hits the ground running. (Almost all episodes featuring Agent Hagarty are full of intrigue and suspense!) This is one of my all-time favourites!

How could a famous person pose as someone else?

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 24 October 2022]

When the story begins, I was shocked to see Jessica Fletcher pretending to be a very rich and flamboyant lady at some tropical resort. Well, considering how famous she and her books are supposed to be, having her pretend to be someone in order to catch a criminal seems silly to say the least.

So why would Jessica pose as such a person? Well, her rich friend was robbed and murdered at the resort and she is hoping by posing as a rich target, she'll attract the attention of the criminal...which, if you think about it isn't all that smart!

Fortunately, despite this serious plot problem the episode is interesting and unusual. It's also nice to see the nice tropical location shoot (in Honolulu, Hawaii). Worth seeing but weak compared to most of the episodes in the series.

Very good start to Season 2

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 18 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.

After a solid Season 1, where the weakest episodes were still above average, Season 2 gets off to a very good start. There are some welcome fresh touches, such as Jessica actually having a reason for being there, introducing Michael Haggerty (one of the best re-occurring characters) and Season 1 didn't have this amount of people not being who they say they are.

"Widow Weep For Me" isn't by all means perfect. It is agreed that once the motive is revealed the murderer's identity is very easy to figure out, to be honest personally suspected them early on by intuition. Anne Lockhart is also miscast, in no way believable as an Iowa ingenue and her effort has to be seen to be believed.

However, it is a good looking episode as to be expected. Nicely shot and attractive fashions that makes one nostalgic for the 80s period (even to those who weren't even alive yet), as well as a gorgeous exotic location.

Scripting is thought-provoking, light-hearted and amiable, a welcome return after the darker and more sombre Season 1 finale "Funeral at Fifty Mile". The story is clever and absorbing with some nice twists and fun suspects.

One of the biggest joys here is the truly charming chemistry between Jessica and Michael, just like their other episodes together.

As always, 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). Len Cariou charms our hearts as well as Jessica's and beguiles in every way possible.

Mary Wickes is a standout in support, and seeing Mel Ferrer, John Phillip Law and Cyd Charisse was a lot of fun.

Overall, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Widow, Weep for me

[coltras35 · 5/10 · 10 June 2023]

Jessica arrives by limousine to a luxury Caribbean hotel as spoiled, jewel-covered Marguerite Canfield ( a super-rich recluse) as she was requested to help in the last letter of her unhappily divorced society friend Antoinette Farnsworth, a French wine fortune heiress who was brutally murdered in the hotel, apparently by a burglar in black who struck again meanwhile. 'Marguerite' hits the jet set, starting at the casino, where hotel security man Sheldon Greenberg uses a purse snatcher to verify her true identity. She investigates hotel owner Eric Brahm and his secret lover, hostess and former film actress Myrna Montclair LeRoy, former Olympic skiing champion Sven Torvald and his flirt Iowa school teacher Veronica Harrold, who didn't really win a trip for one, the mysterious Britton Michael Hagarty, another false identity, and the next murder, on old Mrs. Alva Crane...

There's more intrigue and less whodunnit in this ok episode that is enjoyable due to Angela Lansbury playing a rich recluse. She's totally opposite to Jessica. The locale is sunnier and plenty of boil to the potboiler, however it's no t an excites me too much.