A shy ventriloquist is suspected of murdering a ruthless comedy club owner.A shy ventriloquist is suspected of murdering a ruthless comedy club owner.A shy ventriloquist is suspected of murdering a ruthless comedy club owner.
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe title is from a line in the song "Billy Boy" concerning the topic of courtship and dates from an unknown source in 19th century America. "Oh, where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Oh, where have you been, Charming Billy? I have been to seek a wife, She's the joy of my life, She's a young thing And cannot leave her mother."
- GoofsWhen the murder victim's body is revealed, her mouth clearly moves.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Dennis Stanton: It's me.
Jessica Fletcher: It's not you.
Dennis Stanton: But of course it is. Damian Sinclair is dashing, intelligent, witty, compassionate. All my best traits. What I take issue with is this tailless dummy some hack illustrator's come up with. Really, now, I look like an aging gigolo.
- ConnectionsReferences City Lights (1931)
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
Featured review
Where has good episode quality gone, Billy Boy?
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.
Personally like the character of Dennis Stanton, if more with Jessica than on his own and mostly because his chemistry with Jessica is so great and the episodes are much better. He is a fun and compelling lead character, love how distinguished, sophisticated and suave he is, it is easy to be as charmed by me as Jessica is in her too few collaborations. Plus it is hard to not like a character who dresses dapper, drives a cool car and loves classical music and opera, sounds shallow and couldn't resist.
Can definitely understand why fans malign his solo bookend episodes, a few of them are good, others not so good to put it lightly. As far as his bookends go, the good episodes to me were "Always a Thief", "Murder in F Sharp" and particularly "See You in Court Baby". "Where Have You Gone, Billy Boy?" on the other hand gets my vote as the weakest, never did it for me, still doesn't. Not only is it the weakest Dennis Stanton episode from personal opinion, it's also one of the bottom 3 bookend episodes along with "The Szechuan Dragon" and "Good-Bye Charlie" and a lesser 'Murder She Wrote' episode.
There are certainly good things with "Where Have You Gone, Billy Boy?" Keith Michell is terrific as Dennis, he oozes charm and charisma, really love his distinguished and suave air that he does better than any other bookend lead character. Ken Swofford is great fun and Hallie Todd is actually charming and at her least annoying as Rhonda. The supporting cast on the most part do very capably with what they're given, though all of them deserved better.
'Murder She Wrote' has always been good in the production values and gets better with each season. Here they're slick and stylish with nostalgia-inducing fashions. 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. Some of the writing is thoughtful and amiable.
On the other hand, the story, stemming from a premise that veers on the improbable, is dull and ridiculous, some of it also convoluted (apart from the final solution which was not that hard to figure out) and the mystery isn't much of one. The discovery of the body and Dennis' role at the end are the most memorable things about it. Most of the script is sadly limp and dreary and the characters have very little to them that it is amazing that the actors were able to do anything with them.
Grant Shaud is a bland suspect where one doesn't really root for his innocence. Other than the story, faring weakest is the dummy, the dialogue for the character is poorly written and the fast-forward button is indeed needed and the character provides too much unintentional humour and creepiness. Can appreciate ventriloquism when it's done well and it is hard to do, understand that totally, but it was not done very well here.
Altogether, Dennis Stanton is a better character than given credit for but this is not a good episode for him or 'Murder She Wrote'. Hate to be the dissenting voice here (have no problem at all with anybody who considers it a good episode) but it just doesn't do it for me, sorry. 4/10 Bethany Cox
Personally like the character of Dennis Stanton, if more with Jessica than on his own and mostly because his chemistry with Jessica is so great and the episodes are much better. He is a fun and compelling lead character, love how distinguished, sophisticated and suave he is, it is easy to be as charmed by me as Jessica is in her too few collaborations. Plus it is hard to not like a character who dresses dapper, drives a cool car and loves classical music and opera, sounds shallow and couldn't resist.
Can definitely understand why fans malign his solo bookend episodes, a few of them are good, others not so good to put it lightly. As far as his bookends go, the good episodes to me were "Always a Thief", "Murder in F Sharp" and particularly "See You in Court Baby". "Where Have You Gone, Billy Boy?" on the other hand gets my vote as the weakest, never did it for me, still doesn't. Not only is it the weakest Dennis Stanton episode from personal opinion, it's also one of the bottom 3 bookend episodes along with "The Szechuan Dragon" and "Good-Bye Charlie" and a lesser 'Murder She Wrote' episode.
There are certainly good things with "Where Have You Gone, Billy Boy?" Keith Michell is terrific as Dennis, he oozes charm and charisma, really love his distinguished and suave air that he does better than any other bookend lead character. Ken Swofford is great fun and Hallie Todd is actually charming and at her least annoying as Rhonda. The supporting cast on the most part do very capably with what they're given, though all of them deserved better.
'Murder She Wrote' has always been good in the production values and gets better with each season. Here they're slick and stylish with nostalgia-inducing fashions. 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. Some of the writing is thoughtful and amiable.
On the other hand, the story, stemming from a premise that veers on the improbable, is dull and ridiculous, some of it also convoluted (apart from the final solution which was not that hard to figure out) and the mystery isn't much of one. The discovery of the body and Dennis' role at the end are the most memorable things about it. Most of the script is sadly limp and dreary and the characters have very little to them that it is amazing that the actors were able to do anything with them.
Grant Shaud is a bland suspect where one doesn't really root for his innocence. Other than the story, faring weakest is the dummy, the dialogue for the character is poorly written and the fast-forward button is indeed needed and the character provides too much unintentional humour and creepiness. Can appreciate ventriloquism when it's done well and it is hard to do, understand that totally, but it was not done very well here.
Altogether, Dennis Stanton is a better character than given credit for but this is not a good episode for him or 'Murder She Wrote'. Hate to be the dissenting voice here (have no problem at all with anybody who considers it a good episode) but it just doesn't do it for me, sorry. 4/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•1210
- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 17, 2017
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- 1028 Kearney St, San Francisco, California, USA(Kate Kelley's Comedy Club)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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