User Reviews

An above average episode of MSW, with an occasionally over-wrought plot, but well put together, and a nice appearance from Mildred Natwick. What makes this remarkable, however, is not the plot or the acting, it's the wigs.

Jack Bannon, Richard Herd and Dick Van Patten sport amazingly obvious cheap hairpieces. This goes on all the time, of course, but in this particular episode it's very distracting. In one scene, Jack, Dick and Richard are arguing and decide to take the row elsewhere. The viewer just hopes it isn't the car park, because at the first scent of a high wind it's going to get like The Trouble With Tribbles out there. Steve Forrest looks like he's augmented as well, but this could just be a an extension put on to help his characterisation as a florid tele-evangalist.

I don't think any of that counts as spoilers. More a warning.

Over all scores: Episode: 7/10; rugs 2/10.

Jessica takes advantage of her time in Oklahoma to pay a visit to her old friend Carrie McKittrick. Before the pair can chat at great length Carrie's Stepson and Grandson burst in, berating her for changing her will, leaving her vast fortune to Rev. Willie John Fargo, head of the Electrical Cathedral. During the argument, Carries suffers a heart attack, and gets taken to the Church attached to the Electrical Cathedral. Soon after arriving, a body is found.

I must admit all I could think about watching this was what an appalling selection of wigs, so it made me laugh to read the other comments.

It's a pretty good mystery, a clever enough plot, though the involvement of the Electrical Cathedral movement, was I thought a little bit tacky.

The innocence of the show is never more apparent then here, to see Jessica picking the syringe up at the crime scene and pop it into her bag is quite amusing, not bothered by her great friends death at all, but a twinkle in the eye knowing there's a murder to solve.

Well acted, Mildred Natwick is particularly good, had a real sense of quality about her acting.

Pretty average in a strong series, definitely better then the poor Powder Keg, it's a solid watch, 7/10

Jessica Fletcher's travels take her to Tulsa, Oklahoma where she visits old friend Mildred Natwick who's well fixed with a nice chunk of oil money. But her relatives are quite concerned that she's going to leave it all to Reverend Steve Forrest who has one of those big evangelical palaces called the Electric Cathedral. Forrest looks a lot like Oral Roberts who had his palace in Tulsa.

District Attorney Dick Van Patten is in a real pickle and grateful indeed for the help of Angela Lansbury. Half the town is either employed by Natwick's company or goes to Forrest's church. When Natwick is poisoned, it's a real political mess as well for this elected official.

For Van Patten's sake and the viewer as well, Lansbury solves the murder and all come together in the memory of Ms. Natwick.

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.

"Murder in the Electric Cathedral" is a better episode than the previous episode "Powder Keg", the story being more compelling (even if not perfect) and the guest star acting being leagues better (being actually good here whereas some of the acting in "Powder Keg" was pretty amateurish, which undermined the tension in a story that sorely needed it). It is not one of the best episodes of 'Murder She Wrote', and there are better episodes of Season 2, namely "Keep the Home Fries Burning" and particularly "Trial By Error" which are two of my favourites.

It is agreed that "Murder in the Electric Cathedral" does get overwrought in the story at times, then again the premise to me has a lot to do with it, and the wigs and hair-pieces make the viewer howl in how truly cheap and horrid-looking they are. It is easy to see too why some may be, and have been (know a fair few people who don't like this episode), put off by the premise, which admittedly is not the most tasteful of ones.

However, awful wigs aside, production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography, beautiful fashions and attractive scenery. 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.

Enough of the dialogue has some thought-provoking and amiable moments, and much of the story is absorbing and never feels too simplistic or confused. There are more shocking final solutions on 'Murder She Wrote' but also far more obvious ones.

As usual as Jessica, Angela Lansbury is terrific, as is Mildred Natwick. Art Hindle, Richard Herd, Steve Forrest, and Judy Geeson also give strong contributions.

Overall, good above average episode that falls short of being great. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Jessica must find the murderer of her close friend whose will is in contention between family and a popular evangelist. The evangelist is played by Steve Forrest, who is in full Elmer Gantry mode ( well sort of), and he steals every scene he is in. Actually he's the anchor in this above average mystery. Of course, Jessica Fletcher does what she does best - get to the bottom of the mystery. The rest of the cast is great - and I love the wigs. They're so cool.

I don't rate this one quite as high as I usually do. Nothing wrong with it, it delivers as fans expect. And, to be fair, no series, even one as excellent as MSW, can be expected to hit home runs, or even triples, all the time! I think what holds this episode down a bit for me is the Oklahoma setting. Oklahoma is a fine state, but for this armchair adventurer, the episodes I like best are when Jessica is someplace either exotic (Paris, London, etc.); or home in Cabot Cove; or maybe in New York City, where there are detectives with New York "attitude" who have sparks flying with our shrewd New Englander. The episode shows Steve Forrest's character as an over-the-top televangelist, which is a stock character in so many TV shows. Again, it's an OK plot point, it's just not all that amusing, as perhaps the writer intended. The guest cast is strong as usual. A good though not great episode.

This episode features one of the last appearances by stage, screen and television star Mildred Natwick, in her delightful performance as Carrie McKittrick.

In its back story, Carrie had served as a schoolteacher, who encouraged Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to teach and to write. Carrie had gone on to settle in Oklahoma, to marry widowed farmer Wendall McKittrick, who struck oil on his land, to incur wealth. Wendall's son, Carrie's stepson, Harvey McKittrick (Richard Herd) continues in the oil business some fifteen years after Wendall's passing. Carries hasn't seen Jessica in more than thirty years by now, but they continued to correspond, and Carrie has told her that if she ever crosses through Oklahoma, to stop by for a pleasant visit.

Upon Jessica's stopover to Cherokee Flats, Oklahoma, in the Tulsa region, Carrie informs her that she has met "the most wonderful man," a local televangelist who ministers to the masses through his Church of the Electric Cathedral.

Reverend Willie John Fargo (Steve Forrest), along with his wife, Sister Ruth Fargo (Judy Geeson), and his business manager/brother Earl Fargo (Frank Bonner) has created an empire, consisting of television studio, hospital, soup kitchen and three clinics on a nearby reservation. And now Carrie has named Willie John in her will as sole beneficiary to her estate.

Carrie's stepson, Harvey, and grandson, Sam McKittrick (Art Hindle) adamantly oppose Carrie's bequeathing her fortune to Willie John Fargo. Sam's wife, Alice McKittrick (Jeannie Wilson) befriends Jessica, confiding Sam's cruelty toward her.

Dr. Mark Brady (Jack Bannon) operates the hospital on the grounds of the Electric Cathedral, with capable Nurse Sue Beth (Barbi Benton) near at hand.

And after the night of a "Murder in the Electric Cathedral," District Attorney Fred Whittaker (Dick Van Patten) welcomes Jessica's assistance to investigate clues in the absence of his police force, and in the presence of the mounting feud between McKittrick oil interests and the Electric Cathedral ministry, often battled in hospital corridors.

Rounding out the guest cast, the character of Maid Ethel O'Neil (Belinda Beatty) witnesses one of the will documents, and secretary at the D.A.'s office, Tammy Lee (Jill Hill), provides information leading to additional clues.

"Murder in the Electric Cathedral" earns points for convincing acting, meticulous directing, well-scripted dialogue, sharp fashion and beautiful segue music.

When the story begins, Jessica is visiting an old friend (Mildred Natwick). Now you KNOW this means someone is about to die...and it turns out to be this friend. But this rich friend is clear to Jessica before her murder...she wants a famous televangelist to get the money for his ministry. So, Jessica spends the episode digging to determine who used cyanide on this dear old lady.

Despite being about a televangelist, the episode does NOT portray him (Steve Forrest) as a total sleazebag hypocrite. I appreciated that, as it would have been too easy to go that way. The same with the dead woman's family...they weren't exactly stereotypes. Overall, not a bad episode at all...and the only thing I hated was Barbi Benton's godawful wig. She was such a lovely lady....and the wig made her look clownish.