User Reviews

This episode has Jessica Fletcher venturing into the realm of true crime as her fellow author Van Johnson who writes Mickey Spillane type stuff is working on a book about a real murder where Johnson feels the wrong man has done time for the murder of his wife. His powerful father-in-law Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. has squelched reopening of the case.

Angela Lansbury does her sleuthing while Johnson is being waked and buried. Of course Johnson is right, Zimbalist wrong and there is a very good reason why the cops have not followed up on what Johnson and she have uncovered.

It's a suspect one would never suspect.

A nice guest cast and Lansbury put this one over.

This episode marks one of the last appearances of, and final television role for, Mala Powers, who began her film and television acting career in 1942. Guy Stockwell, who appears in three "MSW" episodes, who began his film and television career in 1946, and Emory Bass, who appears in two "MSW" episodes, have also since passed after this, one of their respective final roles. Classic Film star Van Johnson also marks his final television performance in this, his third of three "MSW" roles.

Investigative reporter Daniel Hannigan (Van Johnson) has spent sixteen years researching the murder of Lydia Grant Thurlow, whose husband, Martin Thurlow, has been convicted of committing, by shoving her into a glass-paneled cabinet during an alleged domestic argument. The unseen Martin maintains his innocence, as does Daniel and his assistant, Phyllis Thurlow (Cynthia Harris), the sister of the wrongfully arrested Martin Thurlow.

When Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is notified of Daniel Hannigan's passing, she travels to Philadelphia to attend his services, under the arrangements of mortician Jonathan Barish (Emory Bass), with Daniel's close friend Ernie Dolan (Stephen Young) in attendance. Phyllis asks Jessica to bring along the notes from the case which Daniel had shared during a prior meeting, in which he had asked Jessica to consider writing the book which he has researched. When Phyllis pleads with Jessica finish Daniel's work, Jessica harbors mixed feelings.

Deputy Police Commissioner Bradley Folkes (Bradford Dillman) arrives at the viewing, paying his respects, and then to invite Jessica to lunch, at which he maintains Martin's guilt, while Jessica shares Daniel and Phyllis' suspicions that Lydia's brother, Eric Grant (Anthony Geary), had committed the crime during a reaction from illegal chemical substance abuse, which he has since been treated to overcome. Martin had passed a lie detector test, showing his innocence, but the results were lost during the original investigation, and the fingers were pointing to his wealthy father-in-law.

Richard Thompson Grant (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) then arrives at the restaurant, to agree with Commissioner Folkes that justice had been served, and that his son, Eric, did not murder his daughter, Lydia, but that his son-in-law, Martin, had done it. If Jessica continues to pursue an investigation, then he will take legal action against her, in the same manner in which he had threatened Daniel Hannigan before her.

There was at least one other individual in the residence that fateful night sixteen years ago, Lydia and Martin's then three-year-old son, Stephen Thurlow (Raphael Sbarge), who has since been reared by his maternal Grandfather, Richard Thompson Grant, and brainwashed to believe his father's guilt, according to his paternal Aunt Phyllis Thurlow. Stephen now hears a second possible side to the story upon confronting Jessica at the library.

Eric Grant, too, maintains his innocence, as he arrives at the Philadelphia Aiport from Atlantic City with Madeline (LaReine Chabut), who is immediately and reluctantly sent directly back to Atlantic City by Eric's domineering father, Richard Thompson Grant. Jessica visits with Eric, with his father on hand to tell her that she's "grasping at straws" by trying to track down a lead about Eric's former dealer, J.R., whose reference appears in early newspaper accounts but soon disappears from them. "He wore a bullet on a chain around his neck," Eric recalls, but little else except that he escaped with his life after being shot in Chicago during the political convention of 1968.

When Jessica takes this information to the office of Commissioner Folkes, with his assistant, Victor Impelleteri (Johnny Crear) on hand, Commissioner Folkes tells her that he does not remember J.R. cause he had inherited the case from the commissioner who retired to South Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the police receptionist, Madge (Kate Randolph Burns) enters, presenting an anonymous note which the office has just received claiming that Daniel Hannigan had been murdered by poison.

Jessica then visits Retired Detective Bert Kravitz (Guy Stockwell), who spends his time tending customers at Crusty Eagle Bar and Grill. He tells her that he also maintains Martin Thurlow's guilt, before escorting Jessica to a taxicab, when someone fires bullets from across the darkened street to shatter the window of Crusty Eagle Bar and Grill. Jessica must now figure who has fired these shots, and whether or not Daniel had been poisoned. She and Commissioner Folkes take Jessica's suspicions to one of the parties involved with the conflict regarding the cold case, which continues to be fueled with hot emotions.

On Friday morning, rather than to attend services at St. Anthony's Cathedral, Jessica pays a visit to the residence of Commissioner Folkes, at which his very polite wife, Dorothy Folkes (Mala Powers) tells Jessica that she will try to track him down. Here, Jessica learns of Bradley and Dorothy's only child, Eddie Folkes (Isaac Turner), who lost his life fifteen years earlier in the line of duty as a narcotics' officer in the police force.

Jessica then arrives at the memorial park in the aftermath of "Hannigan's Wake," to deliver her verdict to Deputy Police Commissioner Bradley Folkes, she receiving additional assistance from Daniel's friend Ernie Dolan, as becomes necessary.

Jessica is sad to hear that her friend, the writer Daniel Hannigan, has died, his final wish, that Jessica completes his book, a look into a sixteen year old murder, and a travesty of justice.

A very good story, I liked the awkward position that Jessica is placed in, her involvement felt very natural, she wasn't shoehorned in, or there because of some distant relative.

It's definitely one of those, where you point and say 'that's the killer,' and you may just hit the nail on the head.

Quite a serious story, no frivolity or nonsense here, it's a straight up mystery. The ending when it comes, is actually very gritty, a bit tougher than what's usual on the show. Nicely staged, it has impact.

Very well acted, Lansbury of course shines, but she's in fine company here.

It's sad to think that this was Van Johnson's final role, such a wonderful actor, seeing in his prime, just fabulous.

8/10.

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.

Of the Season 7 episodes, "Hannigan's Wake" is not one of the best by some way but is still in the better half. There are things that could have been done better. The revelation of who was responsible for what happens to Jessica mid-episode was more of a cheat than it was clever. And after such an intriguing and brain-teaser mystery where one does care about learning the truth, the episode did deserve a much better ending than the one here that will leave one dumbfounded by how hard to swallow it is.

It is a pity because "Hannigan's Wake" is a very good episode otherwise and could have been a great one, if the last 10-15 minutes or so were better. What elevates it to a higher level is the cast. Angela Lansbury demonstrates once again why Jessica Fletcher is one of her best-remembered roles and particularly excellent in support are Bradford Dillman and Anthony Geary. Van Johnson, in his last television episode, makes the most of his small screen time.

As said, the mystery is mostly very clever and engaging with three quarters of it being intriguing and twisty.

Production values as ever are slick and stylish. 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 suitably light-hearted, amiable and intriguing while taking itself seriously when needed without going overly so.

Overall, very good and nearly great until the last quarter or so spoilt things. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Jessica is asked to finish the book of a deceased journalist who was trying to vindicate a man apparently unjustly convicted of murdering his wife. Fairly engaging and intriguing mystery, though it's not an exceptional one, but it's good to see Jessica take on a case from the past and when the truth is revealed she still looks none to happy for it, but has to inform the police about who really is the murderer.

When the story begins, a famous newspaper writer (Van Johnson) dies...and there is a flashback scene where you learn that he had urged Jessica to write the story of a murder investigation gone wrong. According to the guy, he knew of a man in prison for a murder he didn't commit...and he begged Jessica to help him. Well, now that he's dead, she STILL is being urged to investigate and like the newspaper man, his family insists that the murdered woman's brother was responsible...though her husband was convicted of the death.

Again and again through the story, folks who want Jessica to investigate use Jessica badly....very badly. Yet she STILL works the case and is tenacious when anyone else would have walked. So what DID she discover? See the story yourself.

The story is good...not great. I think it's because I cannot imagine ANYONE working the case when they go through what they put Jessica through! See the show...see what I mean.