Tough Guys Don't Die

Jessica had taken the unusual step of hiring a Private investigator, to look into a historic case, the Danbury murder. Having no luck with contacting Judge Lambert, Archie Miles seemed her only option. Unfortunately Archie is murdered, prompting his partner Harry McGraw to compete with Jessica to solve the case.

I see others consider this story quite highly, and while I like the story, I find the execution of it rather messy, it's a little muddled in parts, and a little paint by numbers at the conclusion, the ending was a tad silly.

Praise though for introducing the character of Harry McGraw, Jerry Orbach really did perform well, a great on screen chemistry with Lansbury. Harry apart, I found the characters rather bland, somewhat unappealing, as always Lansbury shines through. 6/10

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.

Notable for introducing the character of Harry McGraw, who would become a re-occurring character and one of the best, "Tough Guys Don't Die" is not one of the season's very best episodes (not as good as the previous episode which was one of my favourites of the show, but better than the two episodes before that one). It's still quite a lot of fun, even if darker than most of the Harry McGraw 'Murder She Wrote'.

It's at times a little limp in the script and there was suspicion as to who the murderer was three quarters of the way through (the motive however was less guessable and how Jessica came to the solution was clever). The very ending is a little on the corny side, like it tended to be on 'Murder She Wrote'.

"Tough Guys Don't Die" still looks good in the production values, nicely shot with a suitable location (though it's no The Mediterranean). The music has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.

Despite some limp moments, the script is often charming and amiable if somewhat less light-hearted than before. The story is clever and compelling, with a refreshing noir-ish feel that was unusual for 'Murder She Wrote' but suited a story that was quite dark in the first place. What makes the episode is the chemistry between Jessica and Harry, which is a sheer delight. The same can be said about the performances.

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), and after adoring his Lennie Briscoe and Lumiere for many years Orbach doesn't disappoint. The supporting cast are more than reliable.

Overall, a good introduction to Harry McGraw and a fun episode in general. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Paul Winfield plays the Boston police officer in this episode, which introduces hapless, sometimes shady, often down-on-his-luck, wisecracking Boston Private Investigator Harry McGraw to his first of six "MSW" appearances. During "MSW" Season Four, Jerry Orbach continues the roll in the one and only "MSW" spin-off series, "The Law and Harry McGraw," broadcast during the 1987-88 Season, before he returns here for an additional three episodes. Jerry Orbach, acting on television and in film since 1955, and Paul Winfield, also acting since 1965, have since unfortunately passed.

"Tough Guys Don't Die" covers three New England communities, beginning in Cabot Cove, Maine, setting primarily in Boston, Massachusetts, and taking an excursion into Danbury, Vermont.

Researching a 25-year-old unsolved Danbury murder case, upon which she proposes to set a Mystery novel, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) hires a Boston-based private investigator to uncover unreported evidence, before she receives a late-evening visitor by the name of Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach), who snoops around her Cabot Cove residence to give Jessica the once-over.

After Jessica and Harry share a confrontation, Harry explains that his private detective agency partner, whom Jessica has hired to investigate the cold case, has been iced in his own office, a tragedy which unleashes a chain of events connected with his three investigatory cases in process.

Jessica accompanies Harry to the Boston offices of Miles and McGraw, to meet with the remainder of the team, Receptionist (Jana Brown) and Bookkeeper Ray Kravitz (Gerald S. O'Loughlin), before conferring with Boston Police Detective Lieutenant Starkey (Paul Winfield), who tells Harry that P.I. Archie Miles was so respected by the law authorities that they would most likely look the other way should Harry find the opportunity to avenge the slaying of his investigative partner.

Jessica, fearing the worst, decides to investigate the three cases upon which Archie Miles has been working, considering that one of these may have led to his untimely demise, while attempting with her own crime-solving proclivity to prevent Harry from doing anything rash.

Case #1 centers around female magazine Executive Publisher Priscilla Daniels (Barbara Babcock), who aspires to public office by undertaking a political campaign based upon her stance to promote female rights. Priscilla arrives at Boston Airport from a campaign trip with companion Erin Carey (Nancy Lee Grahn), before returning to her office, to meet the inquisitive Jessica, who befriends her Private Secretary, Larry King (John Furey).

Gavin Daniels (John McMartin), the husband of Priscilla, supports her political aspirations, which, by the way, may be short-lived because Priscilla harbors a secret from her past, which may lead to political suicide should it be exposed. And Archie Miles may have uncovered the secret during the course of his investigation.

Case #2 involves a wife's suspicions that her hot-tempered husband, construction company owner Ernie Santini (Alex Rocco), has been stepping out on her because of unexplained meetings and evening appointments. She has hired Archie Miles to trail Ernie.

Case #3 focuses upon the 25-year-old Danbury murder investigation, which Jessica has hired Archie to assist in her researching.

During a fund-raising reception to which Priscilla Daniels has invited Jessica, she meets Judge Lambert (Fritz Weaver), who has also been involved in one of the three cases, unbeknownst to Jessica.

While Detective Lieutenant Starkey keeps tabs upon the Daniels, Harry McGraw decides to shadow Ernie Santini, and Jessica boards a bus for Danbury, Vermont. (For her second trip into Vemont in a future episode, Jessica also rides the bus from Cabot Cove; however, in a future trip into New Hampshire, she flies, perhaps because of the urgency of the matter at hand.)

In Danbury, Jessica attempts to garner information from uncooperative residents, as Connie Miles (Rosanna Huffman), Archie Miles (Floyd Levine), Alma Leonard (Margery Nelson), and Leora Cargill (Tina Lifford), before she, too, is trailed by a man in the shadows, who turns out to be Judge Lambert, who suggests that Jessica cease her snooping about the community.

Back in Boston, Priscilla Daniels must face the decision upon whether or not to resign her political campaign, and whether to confide in Gavin Daniels, while Jessica searches through Archie Miles' effects to discover a page missing from his files, while listening to a tape recording of his final moments, and now must act quickly before another murder occurs.

The cast is rounded out by Conrad Bachmann as Office Manager, and Steven Ameche as Musician at the Daniels' fund-raising reception.

Archie Miles is a PI in Boston who is doing some research on an old murder case which will form the basis of Jessica Fletcher's next mystery novel.

Only Archie is found dead, just after he phoned Jessica with a new lead to follow up.

She travels up to Boston and also meets Archie's PI partner Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach.)

It might just be that something Archie discovered lead to his death or it might be linked with other cases the firm were investigating.

Harry is beaten up by Ernie Santini (Alex Rocco.) A hot tempered Italian American local construction boss, he is tired being tailed by Harry and his guys. Not realising that Ernie's wife hired the firm as she thinks that he might be cheating on her.

The other case concerned magazine publishing executive Priscilla Daniels (Barbara Babcock) who has aspiration to run for political office. It might be Archie dug up some dirt about her past.

There is a light hearted tone to the story even though poor Harry gets worked over a few times by Ernie Santini, who has a very innocent explanation for his nocturnal activities.

It probably was easy to figure out who the culprit might be, even though their motives was unclear.

Orbach would return several times as Harry McGraw.

I appreciated all of "The Maltese Falcon" references, from McGraw's partner's name Archie Miles (Spade's partner was Miles Archer), the similar secretary, and the partner's names on the window, to Spade's/McGraw's quote "When a man's partner is killed, he's supposed to do something about it." Made it fun to watch, to catch any similarities! Otherwise, it was the standard "Murder She Wrote" episode, which isn't a bad thing. As I've been going back and watching all of the MSW episodes (for the third time), I've selectively been watching those with Harry McGraw, Michael Hagerty, and Dennis Stanton. This episode is one of my favorites!