9 reviews
"Don't Give Up on the Baby; Don't Turn the Wrong to Right; the Future May Get Lost One Night."
One profession for which this series doesn't seem to take much of a shining would be Psychiatrists, who are usually portrayed as sneaky, manipulative, argumentative, underhanded and culpable of devious schemes, not the least of which may be their administering illegal narcotics, before the bodies begin to surface.
On the other hand, "MSW" often admirably portrays the patients of Psychiatry in an affirmative, sensitive, and gracious manner, perhaps as victims of a confidence scheme -- or at least until bodies begin to surface.
In "Threshold of Fear," young Agoraphobic Alice Morgan (Cynthia Nixon) stands amid the center of the action even though she is sequestered in her New York City apartment, and tormented under the care of another questionable Psychiatrist, Doctor Ellen Holden (Margot Kidder).
Doorman Richie Kanpinski (Eddie Barth) offers his efforts to minister to Alice's needs, by delivering her groceries and mail, and discarding her debris... oh, and by introducing to this solitary resident of 10-C, the gregarious resident of 4-B, one Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury).
Alice detours from her Psychiatrist's mandate not to admit visitors, by welcoming Richie and Jessica into her modest apartment, complete with telescope, to scrutinize activity in direct view of the old Brownstone townhouse of her childhood, this ending when her mother had been murdered there, five years earlier.
Alice has just experienced a recurring nightmare, in which she finds herself upon the old Brownstone staircase, looking into its darkened foyer, to discover the body of her late mother, with Jordan Barnett's (David Soul) hovering above it, he exiting upon hearing Alice's screams, accented with a hawk-like bird's fluttering toward her.
Jordan Barnett operates a New York City Architectural firm, with Laura Martin (Jamie Rose) as his demanding secretary and Ben Cutler (Andrew Bloch) as his ex-partner, with whom Jordan had severed ties five years previously, and, according to Ben, has swindled Ben of his share of its capital. Laura sides with Jordan's perspective of the business misdealing over Ben's because she plans to end up with Jordan romantically.
Peter Morgan (David Lansbury), meanwhile, attempts to place the family's old Brownstone townhouse on the market, but he needs his half-sister's (Alice) agreement to sell. Alice's now-late mother, Lillian, had married Peter's now-missing father, Wallace, after their children were born. But now that Wallace has been missing for more than five years, it's up to Alice and Peter to reach an agreement to settle Lillian's estate.
Henry Phelps (Michael Zelniker), meanwhile, resides next door to the reclusive Alice, he in apartment 10-B, six stories above Jessica's NYC residence. Henry attempts to join Jessica and Richie in looking after Alice, as the timid male neighbor also attempts to see what Jessica can do to champion young love, even if it is unrequited on his part and forbidden by the adamant Psychiatrist on her part.
Jessica stops by the Midtown Manhattan precinct of NYPD Lieutenant Artie Gelber (Herb Edelman), with Detective Grady (Tom Isbell) as his partner this time around, to research the cold case murder at the Morgan Brownstone. As Jessica compares the findings at the scene of the crime with Alice's account of her nightmare visions, others around Alice continue to manipulate her for their own benefit.
Peter Morgan makes a deal with Doctor Ellen Holden, to cooperate with her to control Alice if she'll provide him access to Alice, while Doctor Ellen Holden makes a deal with Jordan Barnett, for him to dump Laura Martin, for Jordan to romance her, for Ellen to sway Alice's conception of Lillian's murder for Jordan's benefit.
But when another body is discovered in a NYC alley around the corner from the doctor's office, with one of Alice's necklaces at the scene of the crime, another victim of a brutal knife attack, Jessica and Artie attempt to link the two stabbings, while Grady fights the protective Henry to arrest the reclusive Alice after Artie rushes to the hospital to welcome the delivery of his newborn grandson.
Jessica now has a soap-opera-ish puzzle to sort through, as she must protect Alice, to champion young love with Alice and Henry, to trap the perpetrator, and to rescue Alice from a "Threshold of Fear."
The cast is rounded out by Joy Claussen as Jennifer the Female Patient at Dr. Holden's office, Alexandra Kenworthy as Mrs. Eddington the Client at Barnett agency, Dave Fennoy as TV Interviewer on the Videotape, and Whitney Rydbeck as Medical Examiner Freddie at the scene of the murder.
This episode marks the the second of two "MSW" appearances each for Tom Isbell and David Soul, the first of three for Michael Zelniker, the second of three for Whitney Rydbeck, as well as the second of three for Eddie Barth (and his first of two as Richie Kanpinski), the third of three each for Jamie Rose and David Lansbury, and the fifth of ten "MSW's" for Herb Edelman (and his second of seven as NYPD Lieutenant Artie Gelber).
Herb Edelman, acting on television and in film since 1964, has unfortunately since passed.
On the other hand, "MSW" often admirably portrays the patients of Psychiatry in an affirmative, sensitive, and gracious manner, perhaps as victims of a confidence scheme -- or at least until bodies begin to surface.
In "Threshold of Fear," young Agoraphobic Alice Morgan (Cynthia Nixon) stands amid the center of the action even though she is sequestered in her New York City apartment, and tormented under the care of another questionable Psychiatrist, Doctor Ellen Holden (Margot Kidder).
Doorman Richie Kanpinski (Eddie Barth) offers his efforts to minister to Alice's needs, by delivering her groceries and mail, and discarding her debris... oh, and by introducing to this solitary resident of 10-C, the gregarious resident of 4-B, one Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury).
Alice detours from her Psychiatrist's mandate not to admit visitors, by welcoming Richie and Jessica into her modest apartment, complete with telescope, to scrutinize activity in direct view of the old Brownstone townhouse of her childhood, this ending when her mother had been murdered there, five years earlier.
Alice has just experienced a recurring nightmare, in which she finds herself upon the old Brownstone staircase, looking into its darkened foyer, to discover the body of her late mother, with Jordan Barnett's (David Soul) hovering above it, he exiting upon hearing Alice's screams, accented with a hawk-like bird's fluttering toward her.
Jordan Barnett operates a New York City Architectural firm, with Laura Martin (Jamie Rose) as his demanding secretary and Ben Cutler (Andrew Bloch) as his ex-partner, with whom Jordan had severed ties five years previously, and, according to Ben, has swindled Ben of his share of its capital. Laura sides with Jordan's perspective of the business misdealing over Ben's because she plans to end up with Jordan romantically.
Peter Morgan (David Lansbury), meanwhile, attempts to place the family's old Brownstone townhouse on the market, but he needs his half-sister's (Alice) agreement to sell. Alice's now-late mother, Lillian, had married Peter's now-missing father, Wallace, after their children were born. But now that Wallace has been missing for more than five years, it's up to Alice and Peter to reach an agreement to settle Lillian's estate.
Henry Phelps (Michael Zelniker), meanwhile, resides next door to the reclusive Alice, he in apartment 10-B, six stories above Jessica's NYC residence. Henry attempts to join Jessica and Richie in looking after Alice, as the timid male neighbor also attempts to see what Jessica can do to champion young love, even if it is unrequited on his part and forbidden by the adamant Psychiatrist on her part.
Jessica stops by the Midtown Manhattan precinct of NYPD Lieutenant Artie Gelber (Herb Edelman), with Detective Grady (Tom Isbell) as his partner this time around, to research the cold case murder at the Morgan Brownstone. As Jessica compares the findings at the scene of the crime with Alice's account of her nightmare visions, others around Alice continue to manipulate her for their own benefit.
Peter Morgan makes a deal with Doctor Ellen Holden, to cooperate with her to control Alice if she'll provide him access to Alice, while Doctor Ellen Holden makes a deal with Jordan Barnett, for him to dump Laura Martin, for Jordan to romance her, for Ellen to sway Alice's conception of Lillian's murder for Jordan's benefit.
But when another body is discovered in a NYC alley around the corner from the doctor's office, with one of Alice's necklaces at the scene of the crime, another victim of a brutal knife attack, Jessica and Artie attempt to link the two stabbings, while Grady fights the protective Henry to arrest the reclusive Alice after Artie rushes to the hospital to welcome the delivery of his newborn grandson.
Jessica now has a soap-opera-ish puzzle to sort through, as she must protect Alice, to champion young love with Alice and Henry, to trap the perpetrator, and to rescue Alice from a "Threshold of Fear."
The cast is rounded out by Joy Claussen as Jennifer the Female Patient at Dr. Holden's office, Alexandra Kenworthy as Mrs. Eddington the Client at Barnett agency, Dave Fennoy as TV Interviewer on the Videotape, and Whitney Rydbeck as Medical Examiner Freddie at the scene of the murder.
This episode marks the the second of two "MSW" appearances each for Tom Isbell and David Soul, the first of three for Michael Zelniker, the second of three for Whitney Rydbeck, as well as the second of three for Eddie Barth (and his first of two as Richie Kanpinski), the third of three each for Jamie Rose and David Lansbury, and the fifth of ten "MSW's" for Herb Edelman (and his second of seven as NYPD Lieutenant Artie Gelber).
Herb Edelman, acting on television and in film since 1964, has unfortunately since passed.
- WeatherViolet
- Apr 1, 2010
- Permalink
Hitchcockian thriller about repressed memories
Jessica helps an agoraphobic young woman who witnessed her mother's murder to confront her fears and solve the five-year-old mystery. This episode is full of atmosphere, it is stylishly shot with great lighting. It's creepy in places, and the tension is unbearable, but its Cynthia Nixon's performance as an agoraphobic woman that is so effective in making us feel her pain. There's a tragic tinge to the tale.
A high quality myatery.
Jessica is called to assist an agoraphobic young woman called Alice, who is mentally unwell and constantly tended to by a protective Doctor. Jordan Barnett pays a call on Alice, and soon after is found dead.
This is possibly the standout episode from Series nine, this is a very high quality episode. The mystery is incredible appealing, the characters are very rich, and it's unlike any other episode I can think of. They could have filmed this one in black and white, and given it a noir vibe, it would have worked.
As far away from the tone and style of the early years as you could possibly get, this is a much more gritty affair, no laughs or comical characters, this one's more of an evening watch, than tea time viewing.
Anyone that enjoys Chopin is alright by me, amazing how it can elevate a TV series scene.
Herb Edelman was wonderful here as The Guest Detective, maybe best known for his role as Stan on The Golden Girls. Bruce Lansbury was excellent also I thought.
9/10.
This is possibly the standout episode from Series nine, this is a very high quality episode. The mystery is incredible appealing, the characters are very rich, and it's unlike any other episode I can think of. They could have filmed this one in black and white, and given it a noir vibe, it would have worked.
As far away from the tone and style of the early years as you could possibly get, this is a much more gritty affair, no laughs or comical characters, this one's more of an evening watch, than tea time viewing.
Anyone that enjoys Chopin is alright by me, amazing how it can elevate a TV series scene.
Herb Edelman was wonderful here as The Guest Detective, maybe best known for his role as Stan on The Golden Girls. Bruce Lansbury was excellent also I thought.
9/10.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Apr 17, 2023
- Permalink
Enjoyable
This story is an homage of sorts to Hitchcock. The mood is evocative - especially through its handling of the theme of mental disorder and amnesia - of such film classics as Spellbound and Psycho. The camera work and the score are a notch above other MSW installments. Several actors who would later appear on Sex and The City give a fine performance, without disrupting the viewer's focus. (I wish that were true of Dorothy's loser ex-husband from Golden Girls who gets a recurring turn as a Manhattan police inspector.) The ending is not quite the thunderbolt from heaven one might have expected, but that's because, true to form, Christie-style observation takes a back seat to repressed memories. Ironically, the creators in the same breath get away with a subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle indictment of the psychiatric-pharmaceutical industry. A great tale of suspense.
- martin-intercultural
- Sep 12, 2017
- Permalink
'Murder She Wrote' at its most Hitchcockian
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.
"Threshold of Fear" is another one of the best episodes of Season 9 and a standout of the latter seasons. Although "Incident in Lot 7" had the Psycho house, "Threshold of Fear" had a creepiness and suspense (nail-biting in the murder and recalling past murder in the brownstone scenes), as well as some of the show's most stylish and atmospherically lit and shot visuals, worthy of Hitchcock and easily the most Hitchcockian the show ever got, high praise indeed. The story is really terrifically done, with an ending that is very effective and clever if not a complete shock, again high praise for Season 9 in a season with too many disappointing denouements.
Can't fault Angela Lansbury, while Cynthia Nixon puts many of the younger actors who've appeared on 'Murder She Wrote' with variable results (too many of them quite ropy in the latter seasons) to shame in an excellent performance that made me feel a lot of sympathy for Alice and her troubles. On a side note, that "Threshold of Fear" addressed some very sensitive themes like agoraphobia, amnesia and trauma and handled them with harrowing honesty was very brave and deserving of a lot of credit.
David Soul brought a surprising ambiguity to a character who one is not sure whether he is guilty or not, while Margot Kidder has fun in her role. David Lansbury makes by far his best 'Murder She Wrote' appearance, didn't care for him before while finding him pretty decent here. Herb Edelman's Gelber has a very easy-going likability and his chemistry with Lansbury charms. Only a fairly dull Michael Zelnicker isn't so good.
Production values are wonderful here, one of the few 'Murder She Wrote' episodes where one forgets it was made for TV. 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.
Writing is amiable and thought-provoking.
Overall, a fine episode and a standout of a very inconsistent season. 9/10 Bethany Cox
"Threshold of Fear" is another one of the best episodes of Season 9 and a standout of the latter seasons. Although "Incident in Lot 7" had the Psycho house, "Threshold of Fear" had a creepiness and suspense (nail-biting in the murder and recalling past murder in the brownstone scenes), as well as some of the show's most stylish and atmospherically lit and shot visuals, worthy of Hitchcock and easily the most Hitchcockian the show ever got, high praise indeed. The story is really terrifically done, with an ending that is very effective and clever if not a complete shock, again high praise for Season 9 in a season with too many disappointing denouements.
Can't fault Angela Lansbury, while Cynthia Nixon puts many of the younger actors who've appeared on 'Murder She Wrote' with variable results (too many of them quite ropy in the latter seasons) to shame in an excellent performance that made me feel a lot of sympathy for Alice and her troubles. On a side note, that "Threshold of Fear" addressed some very sensitive themes like agoraphobia, amnesia and trauma and handled them with harrowing honesty was very brave and deserving of a lot of credit.
David Soul brought a surprising ambiguity to a character who one is not sure whether he is guilty or not, while Margot Kidder has fun in her role. David Lansbury makes by far his best 'Murder She Wrote' appearance, didn't care for him before while finding him pretty decent here. Herb Edelman's Gelber has a very easy-going likability and his chemistry with Lansbury charms. Only a fairly dull Michael Zelnicker isn't so good.
Production values are wonderful here, one of the few 'Murder She Wrote' episodes where one forgets it was made for TV. 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.
Writing is amiable and thought-provoking.
Overall, a fine episode and a standout of a very inconsistent season. 9/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 5, 2017
- Permalink
Living next door to Alice
Cynthia Nixon stars as an agoraphobe who is being stalked.
Cynthia Nixon plays Alice, a woman suffering from a combination of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Agoraphobia. Apparently, years before, she witnessed her mother's murder...and as a result, she's shut herself inside an apartment and hasn't left since. It's a very sad case and this comes to Jessica Fletcher's attention because the young woman is one of Jessica's New York neighbors and the doorman has asked her to help. Oddly, the doctor helping Alice seems to be getting in the way of the investigation...but why??
This episode surprised me. I am a trained psychotherapist and normally I find lots of fault with the psychological mumbo-jumbo usually found on TV shows. However, here the disorder is treated fairly and the psychiatrist and her involvement isn't exactly hard to believe. All in all, an enjoyable and well crafted episode.
This episode surprised me. I am a trained psychotherapist and normally I find lots of fault with the psychological mumbo-jumbo usually found on TV shows. However, here the disorder is treated fairly and the psychiatrist and her involvement isn't exactly hard to believe. All in all, an enjoyable and well crafted episode.
- planktonrules
- Jul 22, 2023
- Permalink
An agoraphobic neighbor
In this Murder She Wrote episode doorman Eddie Barth gets Jessica Fletcher
involved in the affairs of shut in fellow tenant Cynthia Nixon. Ever since the
murder of her mother the girl has been plagued by a recurrent nightmare involving that night.
It all comes back when she spots architect David Soul on television as a face from her dream. Angela Lansbury succeeds in getting that unsolved murder out of cold case. Later though the NYPD has a fresh murder to solve when Soul turns up stabbed to death.
Really though this episode owes so much to the Alfred Hitchcock classic Spellbound. In less time than it took Ingrid Bergman to cure Gregory Peck, Lansbury solves the old and new murder and gift wraps the solution for her friend Lt. Herb Edelman.
Note also there is a nice performance by bottom feeding psychiatrist Margot Kidder whom we just lost. And to keep things up to date, Cynthia Nixon is currently running for governor of New York.
It all comes back when she spots architect David Soul on television as a face from her dream. Angela Lansbury succeeds in getting that unsolved murder out of cold case. Later though the NYPD has a fresh murder to solve when Soul turns up stabbed to death.
Really though this episode owes so much to the Alfred Hitchcock classic Spellbound. In less time than it took Ingrid Bergman to cure Gregory Peck, Lansbury solves the old and new murder and gift wraps the solution for her friend Lt. Herb Edelman.
Note also there is a nice performance by bottom feeding psychiatrist Margot Kidder whom we just lost. And to keep things up to date, Cynthia Nixon is currently running for governor of New York.
- bkoganbing
- May 15, 2018
- Permalink
So was (spoiler) right all along?
- xbatgirl-30029
- Sep 3, 2022
- Permalink