User Reviews

Keith Michell performs the role of San Francisco jewel-thief-turned-insurance-investigator Dennis Stanton in nine "MSW" episodes: three along with Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), and six as guest sleuth, starring in his own "Book-end" episodes with his recurring cast of supporting players, and now we're up to the first of these....

Jessica receives audio-tape cassette correspondence from Dennis, who tells her that he prefers speaking to writing; as she concludes listening to his latest adventures, she informs the audience of a narrative submitted by Dennis of a case with which he was involved in San Francisco three months prior, this involving the wealthy Douglas family and a very rare 1804 Gilbert Stewart silver dollar, valued at $two million.

(Note: in a later "MSW" episode, "Nailed (#12.1)," a rare 1804 silver dollar is valued at approximately $400,000., as only three are believed to remain in existence, so the value must depreciate after this point in time. So, if we have one in "Always a Thief," which has been in the Douglas family for generations, and one in "Nailed," which has been in the Stafford family for five generations, then anyone else possessing a 1804 silver dollar must be led to believe that s/he has the only remaining one.)

At any rate, this begins in a San Francisco restaurant, where Joey Freeman (Chris Mulkey) experiences difficulty with a demanding supplier, who insists that the restaurant pay for its delivery C.O.D. Joey steps into the rear office, where owner Langston 'Lanny' Douglas (Roscoe Born) orders Joey to deal with the situation, so as not to disturb Lanny.

Lanny is busy meeting with Mahmoud Amini (Aharon Ipalé), who offers to purchase his family's keepsake 1804 Gilbert Stewart silver dollar for $two million in cash. Lanny has already spent most of his inheritance, most of his mother's money, and most of his wife's money, so he sees this offer as a measure to fuel his lavish lifestyle.

Monica Douglas (Dina Merrill) works in the garden at her opulent estate, on the outskirts of San Francisco, with gardener Pedro (Marco López) at her side, when Lanny (her only child) returns to attempt to persuade her to sell the rare coin, a request to which she objects, as this coin has been in the family for generations.

Andrea Bascomb Douglas (Lisa Blount) drowns her sorrows in an afternoon cocktail, as she and husband, Lanny, enter into a heated argument over his spending her family's money, along with his chasing women and neglecting her, while Monica's sister, Grace Lambert (Shirley Knight), cannot help but to overhear the young bickering couple's argument, and his plan to spend the night in San Francisco.

But that night at around 3:00 AM, someone enters the Douglas estate to retrieve the rare coin and a large sum of cash from its safe, before creating the effects of a burglary, and stabbing a witness with a pitchfork.

Lieutenant Catalano (Ken Swofford) arrives the next morning to investigate the murder, as does Dennis Stanton, whose company, Consuladated Casualty Insurance, has protected the theft of the coin with a policy.

Dennis then enlists the assistance of his Receptionist, Rhoda Markowitz (Hallie Todd), to find out what she may about the Lambert-Douglas family social circle, as he pays a visit to Lanny's restaurant, where he observes Raymond 'Ray' Bascomb (Ed Nelson), a San Francisco-based Advertising Agency Executive, fleeing the parking lot by automobile.

Numismatist Deirdre (Jill Jaress), arrives at the Insurance Agency to authenticate the coin which Dennis somehow immediately recovers, in the presence of Dennis and Robert Butler (James Sloyan), whom she informs that this is an imitation, and not the genuine 1804 silver dollar.

But, by now, there's been another murder, as a victim has been bludgeoned by a trophy and transported into the woods, rolled down a hillside and onto a hiking trail, where the body is quite naturally discovered by early morning joggers the next day.

And so, it is up to Dennis Stanton to figure who's killing whom, who's moving the second body, who's harboring the $two million, and who's concealing the genuine silver dollar because, as Dennis may say, "Once a Thief," "Always a Thief."

The cast is rounded out by Virginia Hawkins as Housekeeper, Mitch Hara as Photographer, and E.E. Bell as Delivery Man.

This episode represents first of two "MSW" appearances each for Dina Merrill, Chris Mulkey and Aharon Ipalé, the the second of two for Shirley Knight, the the third of five for Ed Nelson, the the second of seven for Hallie Todd (and her first of six as Rhoda Markowitz), the the third of seven for James Sloyan (and his first of five as Robert Butler), the the fifth of nine for Keith Michell (each in his role as Dennis Stanton), and the and the fifth of eleven "MSW's" for Ken Swofford (and his first of six as Lieutenant Catalano).

Most so-called 'bookend' episodes of "Murder, She Wrote" are second-rate. After all, who wants to see a show where the star isn't a character in the story and just introduces the show?! But in this case, "Always a Thief" works because Keith Mitchell is enjoyable, once again, playing the delightful rogue, Dennis Stanton.

In this case, Stanton continues to walk the straight and narrow...leaving his old cat burglar life behind him and now working as an insurance investigator. He's brought into a case after a man is murdered during a robbery and Stanton does an amazing job piecing everything together.

What I liked about this one, apart from Mitchell, is that the story had MANY twists. As soon as Stanton figured out who committed the robbery, a NEW question arises...and the same with each step along the way. Very interesting and well worth seeing...it could have been only better had the show's star also been along for the ride.

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, the best ones to me are this and the episode with Ricardo Montalban while "The Great Twain Robbery" and ventriloquist ones from memory particularly left me indifferent. But the blame doesn't lie with Dennis, don't have a problem with him, but the writing and storytelling. "Always a Thief" is however one of his better bookend episodes and also one of the better bookend episodes in general. Would be lying though when saying it is a 'Murder She Wrote' high-point.

The pacing could have had a little more kick in places and have never cared for the character of the secretary Rhonda. Hallie Todd is annoying smug as a character who's dull in development and neither interesting or endearing in personality, with her line delivery of Rhonda's pretty bad dialogue grating.

Other than that, there's not much wrong. 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. Matching him every step of the way are one of the best supporting casts in a Dennis Stanton episode, Roscoe Born, Shirley Knight, Dina Merrill and Ken Swofford are particularly good. Only Todd underwhelms.

"Always a Thief's" mystery is one of the better ones in a Dennis Stanton episode, one of the cleverest, least predictable and engaging with both crimes being easy to root for in getting solved. Didn't have a problem with the murderer being obvious early on, it made the murderer more interesting and made their motivations clear.

'Murder She Wrote' has always been good in the production values and gets better with each season. Here they're slick and stylish with a gorgeous location and 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. Apart from with Rhonda, the writing is amiable and thought-provoking.

In summary, for a Dennis Stanton bookend "Always a Thief" is pretty good. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Dennis is now working as an advisor to an insurance company, his services are needed when a rare coin vanishes.

I quite enjoyed this, we are now used to Jessica's absence, and once again there's another Detective on hand to solve the crime, this time it's old foe/new friend Dennis.

Keith Michell's presence is great, the mystery itself is very average. Dennis is suave, debonair, and has some pretty cool accessories, he truly is a character with a bit of depth.

The mystery was just so very average, an hour after watching it, I've forgotten moat of the events.....

Pretty good, 6/10.

Keith Michell as Dennis Stanton takes over the Murder She Wrote episode as Angela Lansbury narrates the tale about Michell's adventures as an insurance investigator for Consolidated Casual.

The insured object is a coin dated from 1804 that society heiress Dina Merrill has and that her son wants her to sell because he's got some deep debts in deep do-do. First Merrill's gardner is killed when there's an attempt to steal it and later it's a rich carpet merchant Aharon Ipale done in as well over the coin.

Of course Dennis Stanton's interest is the coin which is insured for 2 million dollars. That he helps solve a pair of homicides for the ever unappreciative Lt. Ken Swofford goes without saying.

Always liked Stanton's character, wish he got a series of his own.