MSW differed from many mystery/detective shows in that it there was usually some humor and a cheerful tone mixed in with the necessary drama of a murder mystery. That's not an easy balance to achieve, and the risk is that too much humor can make an episode feel too silly and far-fetched. Magnum, PI comes to mind as another show--same network, CBS, airing around the same period--that also usually had some humor, and ran the same risk.
The emphasis in this episode is strongly on the humor. The writing is quite tongue-in-cheek, kind of like a homage to tough-guy dialogue of 1940's movies.
I enjoyed it, but I'm also glad that the frequent humor of the series was usually more subtle. Great guest, especially Angela's friend Hurd Hatfield in a rare later career appearance. Karen Black gives us nice turn as an oddball therapist.
8 Reviews
Jessica's integrity
bkoganbing19 July 2017
Edward Mulhare certainly had a lot of trust in the integrity of Jessica Fletcher. There aren't too many people out there I would make out a million dollar check to assuming I had same.
In this episode Mulhare rendezvous's with Angela Lansbury at Logan Airport. He's an old time matinée idol star and asks her to bid on his behalf for the diary of a late star who committed suicide. He entrusts her with a million dollar check.
Five days later at the auction Mulhare's body is discovered and Lt. Ray Girardin thinks of all people Jessica Fletcher looks good for it. It doesn't help when her old friend PI Harry McGraw is there at the same time and offers his investigative services to clear her.
This is an historic episode when Jessica Fletcher's help is not only not wanted, but the cops are hostile and think she could be the culprit.
The only clue I give you is that it isn't Jerry Orbach back once again as Harry McGraw.
In this episode Mulhare rendezvous's with Angela Lansbury at Logan Airport. He's an old time matinée idol star and asks her to bid on his behalf for the diary of a late star who committed suicide. He entrusts her with a million dollar check.
Five days later at the auction Mulhare's body is discovered and Lt. Ray Girardin thinks of all people Jessica Fletcher looks good for it. It doesn't help when her old friend PI Harry McGraw is there at the same time and offers his investigative services to clear her.
This is an historic episode when Jessica Fletcher's help is not only not wanted, but the cops are hostile and think she could be the culprit.
The only clue I give you is that it isn't Jerry Orbach back once again as Harry McGraw.
One bid deserves a murder.
coltras3521 August 2023
Jessica receives an unusual request from actor Richard Bennett: buy and destroy the diary of late star Evangeline. However, this will prove more easily said than done as multiple people are desperate to get their hands on the diary and the secrets therein. When Bennett turns up dead during the auction, Jessica finds herself involved in the investigation and even suspected of murder. Teamed up with private eye Harry McGraw, she attempts to smoke out the real killer to lay the ghosts of the past to rest.
Harry McGraw and Jessica always make a good team, and this time they are involved in some late actress' diary that everyone wants. A few corpses turn up, one fall out of the wardrobe and the other is stabbed. More dead bodies might turn up if Jessica and Harry don't find the killer. It's a good episode that has some quirky humour, the usual Harry's entertaining lingo, and a tragic tone at the end.
Harry McGraw and Jessica always make a good team, and this time they are involved in some late actress' diary that everyone wants. A few corpses turn up, one fall out of the wardrobe and the other is stabbed. More dead bodies might turn up if Jessica and Harry don't find the killer. It's a good episode that has some quirky humour, the usual Harry's entertaining lingo, and a tragic tone at the end.
I think Jessica did it.
planktonrules31 October 2022
My summary may sound facetious, but I wrote it because this is a rare case where Jessica Fletcher is suspected for a murder...and a theft.
When the story begins, Jessica meets an old friend, Richard Bennett (Edward Mulhare). He wants her to represent him at an auction in order to buy the diary of some famous dead celebrity (much like a Marilyn Monroe). However, LOTS of people seem to want the diary...some in order to destroy it and some in order to exploit it.
On the day of the auction, an armoire is brought up for sale. When it's opened, Jessica's friend is found inside...dead. When the cops talk to her, she shows them the check the dead man had given her for the auction. Since her name is on it, the cops jump to conclusions (big surprise). And, when the diary disappears and Jessica in the last known person to see it, she's arrested. Imagine her surprise when her old friend Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach) comes to her aid!
Through the course of this show, practically EVERYONE approaches Jessica and offers to buy the diary. This is because she found it and folks think she has a copy...thanks to Harry McGraw.
Overall, a very interesting episode...but one, once again, which had the killer admit to the act even though there really was no proof. This does weaken the episode...but it's otherwise watchable and enjoyable.
By the way, an interesting part of the show is when the psychiatrist confronts Jessica. During this rant, the Doctor easily could have been diagnosed with a Paranoid Personality Disorder...a fine problem for an analyst to have!
When the story begins, Jessica meets an old friend, Richard Bennett (Edward Mulhare). He wants her to represent him at an auction in order to buy the diary of some famous dead celebrity (much like a Marilyn Monroe). However, LOTS of people seem to want the diary...some in order to destroy it and some in order to exploit it.
On the day of the auction, an armoire is brought up for sale. When it's opened, Jessica's friend is found inside...dead. When the cops talk to her, she shows them the check the dead man had given her for the auction. Since her name is on it, the cops jump to conclusions (big surprise). And, when the diary disappears and Jessica in the last known person to see it, she's arrested. Imagine her surprise when her old friend Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach) comes to her aid!
Through the course of this show, practically EVERYONE approaches Jessica and offers to buy the diary. This is because she found it and folks think she has a copy...thanks to Harry McGraw.
Overall, a very interesting episode...but one, once again, which had the killer admit to the act even though there really was no proof. This does weaken the episode...but it's otherwise watchable and enjoyable.
By the way, an interesting part of the show is when the psychiatrist confronts Jessica. During this rant, the Doctor easily could have been diagnosed with a Paranoid Personality Disorder...a fine problem for an analyst to have!
If Murder were a disease, you'd be contagious...Excellent mystery.
Sleepin_Dragon13 November 2017
Edward Mulhare meets with Jessica to task her with a strange mission, he entrusts a cheque for a Million dollars, for her to use at auction to obtain a diary belonging to Evangeline, a high profile star who recently took her own life. The diary contains inflammatory information, prompting huge interest in it from all mentioned in it. As the auction goes ahead, Richard's body is discovered in a large cupboard. This time round, the Police, in the form of Lieutenant Casey believe Jessica is one of the suspects. Prompting Jessica to rely on the help of PI McGraw.
This is a brilliant episode, wonderfully theatrical, a cracking story with so much going on. It's very cohesive and tight, everything somehow falls into place. Arguably this is more serious in tone then the usual episode, finally the Police see her as a suspect, deeming her an irritation rather then a help. It looks wonderful, particularly the scenes from the Auction house. Harry McGraw impressed in his last outing and makes a welcome return, once again, Orbach and Lansbury have a great chemistry.
9/10 it's a cracker, and contains the wonderful line in my title from Casey.
This is a brilliant episode, wonderfully theatrical, a cracking story with so much going on. It's very cohesive and tight, everything somehow falls into place. Arguably this is more serious in tone then the usual episode, finally the Police see her as a suspect, deeming her an irritation rather then a help. It looks wonderful, particularly the scenes from the Auction house. Harry McGraw impressed in his last outing and makes a welcome return, once again, Orbach and Lansbury have a great chemistry.
9/10 it's a cracker, and contains the wonderful line in my title from Casey.
Dear Diary: "Remind Me Never to Get Murdered in Boston"
WeatherViolet24 August 2009
Classic Television actress Jean Vander Pyl, famous as the voice of Wilma Flintstone, makes a cameo in this episode, as Lydia, a pleasant fan of fictional actor Richard Bennett.
"One Good Bid Deserves a Murder" also prominently features Jerry Orbach in the second of his six episodes as lightweight Boston-based Private Investigator Harry McGraw.
On Monday evening, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) arrives by Cabot Cove bus at the Boston airport, from which Richard Bennett (Edward Mulhare) plans to depart for Spain. He presents her with a check for $one million to bid upon Evangeline's diary, scheduled to be auctioned at Readford's at 5:00 PM this coming Saturday, and authorizes his bank to give Jessica whatever it takes to procure the diary of his old flame, a late troubled actress, whom he wishes to protect from further unwarranted publicity. He explains that his presence would attract undue publicity and coaxes Jessica to act as his agent in the matter.
On Friday, Ambassador Jonathan Damon, who had also been involved with Evangeline demands that his lawyer, Robert Rhine (Cotter Smith) outbid all others for the diary, in an attempt to shield its pages from the press and public, in his hopes to seek national political office.
On Saturday afternoon, Producer Sheila Saxon (Nancy Lee Grahn) meets with publisher Sal Domino (Vic Tayback) to suggest joining financial resources to outbid everyone else for this treasured booklet, one to plan to turn Evangeline's life story into a film, the other to plan to publish its contents, each to dream of great financial gain.
At Readford's Auction House, Jessica seeks to authenticate Evangeline's diary with owner William Readford (Hurd Hatfield), who sells her an antique Spanish chess set, which she carries into the bidding room in a wrapped cardboard container.
Dr. Sylvia Dunn (Karen Black), psychiatrist to the stars, including Evangeline, is reported to Mr. Readford by Albert Cromwell (Robert Gray), who claims that she attempted to bribe him with $five thousand to lift the diary. Her plan is to conceal its contents to protect her career from any disparaging remarks which Evangeline may have written in a moment of contempt.
Secretary Deborah Chase (Rebecca Street), whose mother had long been Richard Bennett's Fan Club President, also arrives on time for the bidding with her employer, Sal Domino.
But when an armoire, which opens the bidding segment, is, in fact, opened for inspection, a body descends from within, and into a room filled with suspects.
Lieutenant Casey (Ray Girardin) questions Jessica at length, as she carries the chess set into the police station, he interrogating her over the $one million check made out to her order, as Harry McGraw enters to get into the act of investigating, to Casey's displeasure.
When Harry escorts Jessica to her hotel room, they find it ransacked, with nothing missing. Upon a table stands the antique Spanish chess set, which she has been carrying around. How or why Jessica unpacks it to assemble its pieces in proper order remains as much a mystery as Evangeline's last name, which is never spoken. But the chess set remains a crucial plot device because within a concealed drawer lies Evangeline's diary.
And when Jessica arrives at the auction house on Sunday morning to return the goods, she stumbles across another body at the moment Lieutenant Casey arrives from the opposite direction.
"One Good Bid Deserves a Murder" also prominently features Jerry Orbach in the second of his six episodes as lightweight Boston-based Private Investigator Harry McGraw.
On Monday evening, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) arrives by Cabot Cove bus at the Boston airport, from which Richard Bennett (Edward Mulhare) plans to depart for Spain. He presents her with a check for $one million to bid upon Evangeline's diary, scheduled to be auctioned at Readford's at 5:00 PM this coming Saturday, and authorizes his bank to give Jessica whatever it takes to procure the diary of his old flame, a late troubled actress, whom he wishes to protect from further unwarranted publicity. He explains that his presence would attract undue publicity and coaxes Jessica to act as his agent in the matter.
On Friday, Ambassador Jonathan Damon, who had also been involved with Evangeline demands that his lawyer, Robert Rhine (Cotter Smith) outbid all others for the diary, in an attempt to shield its pages from the press and public, in his hopes to seek national political office.
On Saturday afternoon, Producer Sheila Saxon (Nancy Lee Grahn) meets with publisher Sal Domino (Vic Tayback) to suggest joining financial resources to outbid everyone else for this treasured booklet, one to plan to turn Evangeline's life story into a film, the other to plan to publish its contents, each to dream of great financial gain.
At Readford's Auction House, Jessica seeks to authenticate Evangeline's diary with owner William Readford (Hurd Hatfield), who sells her an antique Spanish chess set, which she carries into the bidding room in a wrapped cardboard container.
Dr. Sylvia Dunn (Karen Black), psychiatrist to the stars, including Evangeline, is reported to Mr. Readford by Albert Cromwell (Robert Gray), who claims that she attempted to bribe him with $five thousand to lift the diary. Her plan is to conceal its contents to protect her career from any disparaging remarks which Evangeline may have written in a moment of contempt.
Secretary Deborah Chase (Rebecca Street), whose mother had long been Richard Bennett's Fan Club President, also arrives on time for the bidding with her employer, Sal Domino.
But when an armoire, which opens the bidding segment, is, in fact, opened for inspection, a body descends from within, and into a room filled with suspects.
Lieutenant Casey (Ray Girardin) questions Jessica at length, as she carries the chess set into the police station, he interrogating her over the $one million check made out to her order, as Harry McGraw enters to get into the act of investigating, to Casey's displeasure.
When Harry escorts Jessica to her hotel room, they find it ransacked, with nothing missing. Upon a table stands the antique Spanish chess set, which she has been carrying around. How or why Jessica unpacks it to assemble its pieces in proper order remains as much a mystery as Evangeline's last name, which is never spoken. But the chess set remains a crucial plot device because within a concealed drawer lies Evangeline's diary.
And when Jessica arrives at the auction house on Sunday morning to return the goods, she stumbles across another body at the moment Lieutenant Casey arrives from the opposite direction.
Murder at the auction
TheLittleSongbird29 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.
Season 2 has had a few not so good, while far from terrible, episodes (judging just previous episodes for now, "Joshua Peabody Died Here...Possibly", "Dead Heat" and "Powder Keg"), but is mostly a solid season with some great episodes. While "Trial By Error" and "Keep the Home Fries Burning" are particularly great episodes, "One Good Bid Deserves a Murder" is among the better ones of the season. Also some of the better episodes featuring Harry McGraw, not all of his episodes have had him completely sold but like him a lot as a character. Then again, that he is played by Jerry Orbach and how good his chemistry is with Angela Lansbury have a lot to do with it.
The only problem personally had with "One Good Bid Deserves a Murder" is that the viewer hardly gets to know much about Evangeline so caring about her is not always easy. However, "One Good Bid Deserves a Murder" is hugely entertaining with one of the classiest casts of the season and, other than with Evangeline, it does engage as a mystery. It's suitably complicated while still making sense and the ending is a pleasant surprise and not what things initially seems.
Production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography. 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 tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable and the characters and chemistry are great fun. As said, Jessica and McGraw together is magic. Jessica's help not being wanted by the police, being considered a hindrance to the investigation and even considered a suspect was something different at this point in the show and it was a case of different working.
Angela Lansbury is typically terrific and Jerry Orbach likewise. There is classy support Edward Mulhare, Vic Tayback, Hurd Hatfield, and Nancy Lee Grahn, and there is even the pleasure of seeing a bat out of hell Karen Black as a psychiatrist.
In conclusion, great episode and one of the season's better ones. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Season 2 has had a few not so good, while far from terrible, episodes (judging just previous episodes for now, "Joshua Peabody Died Here...Possibly", "Dead Heat" and "Powder Keg"), but is mostly a solid season with some great episodes. While "Trial By Error" and "Keep the Home Fries Burning" are particularly great episodes, "One Good Bid Deserves a Murder" is among the better ones of the season. Also some of the better episodes featuring Harry McGraw, not all of his episodes have had him completely sold but like him a lot as a character. Then again, that he is played by Jerry Orbach and how good his chemistry is with Angela Lansbury have a lot to do with it.
The only problem personally had with "One Good Bid Deserves a Murder" is that the viewer hardly gets to know much about Evangeline so caring about her is not always easy. However, "One Good Bid Deserves a Murder" is hugely entertaining with one of the classiest casts of the season and, other than with Evangeline, it does engage as a mystery. It's suitably complicated while still making sense and the ending is a pleasant surprise and not what things initially seems.
Production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography. 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 tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable and the characters and chemistry are great fun. As said, Jessica and McGraw together is magic. Jessica's help not being wanted by the police, being considered a hindrance to the investigation and even considered a suspect was something different at this point in the show and it was a case of different working.
Angela Lansbury is typically terrific and Jerry Orbach likewise. There is classy support Edward Mulhare, Vic Tayback, Hurd Hatfield, and Nancy Lee Grahn, and there is even the pleasure of seeing a bat out of hell Karen Black as a psychiatrist.
In conclusion, great episode and one of the season's better ones. 9/10 Bethany Cox
You can call me Al
feindlicheubernahme1 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Oh, come on. We all know that culprits in Murder, She Wrote are just longing to get themselves locked up for life or maybe even executed by needlessly confessing, and I usually overlook it because I really like the series, but this is just too much.
The guy confesses to THREE murders - one of which no one even knew about! - upon being confronted with the damning fact that his name can be shortened to Al. (To be honest, though, he probably deserves jail time anyway for having the ridiculous moniker of Albert Cromwell. Where does he think he is - Ye Olde England?)
This is one of the many, many examples of an otherwise cracking MSW being spoiled by an unnecessary confession. I still have in my mind Trial by Error, the 13th episode of this same season. In that one, after a very clever Columbo-esque plot in which a woman's lover killed his wife and she ended up shooting her husband, she then proceeded to obligingly confess for both of them, despite the fact that there was no evidence against them at all. If all these murderers just satisfied their need for confession by going to church, nearly all of them would get away with their crimes.
What's that, Jess? You suspect me of having awarded you a measly five stars but you have no proof? Well, I did it, do you hear? I so totally did it. Now lock me up, please.
The guy confesses to THREE murders - one of which no one even knew about! - upon being confronted with the damning fact that his name can be shortened to Al. (To be honest, though, he probably deserves jail time anyway for having the ridiculous moniker of Albert Cromwell. Where does he think he is - Ye Olde England?)
This is one of the many, many examples of an otherwise cracking MSW being spoiled by an unnecessary confession. I still have in my mind Trial by Error, the 13th episode of this same season. In that one, after a very clever Columbo-esque plot in which a woman's lover killed his wife and she ended up shooting her husband, she then proceeded to obligingly confess for both of them, despite the fact that there was no evidence against them at all. If all these murderers just satisfied their need for confession by going to church, nearly all of them would get away with their crimes.
What's that, Jess? You suspect me of having awarded you a measly five stars but you have no proof? Well, I did it, do you hear? I so totally did it. Now lock me up, please.
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