The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel
- Episode aired Dec 18, 1988
- TV-PG
- 47m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
461
YOUR RATING
Jessica is summoned to California where a recently-recovered Air Force plane could pin a decades-old murder on her dead husband Frank.Jessica is summoned to California where a recently-recovered Air Force plane could pin a decades-old murder on her dead husband Frank.Jessica is summoned to California where a recently-recovered Air Force plane could pin a decades-old murder on her dead husband Frank.
Photos
Leonard Federico
- Pilot
- (uncredited)
Bob Minor
- 2nd Mugger
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe vintage "Dixie Damsel", one of the few "Air Fortresses" still in mechanical order for flight, was flown into Burbank from where the airplane is berthed in Idaho State.
- GoofsThe Dixie Damsel supposedly went down at the time of the Korean War, in the Kuskokwim Mountains of Alaska. The crew had bailed out and the plane somehow landed itself without being destroyed. The plane was found in reasonably good condition that it could be flown to the Air Force base where the episode takes place. It is not explained how that happened.
- Quotes
Lee Goddard: We have to be back her at 0830 in the morning, which is 'militarese' for... too confounded early.
- Crazy creditsDale Robertson, who was a featured guest in back-to-back episodes The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel (1988) and Prediction: Murder (1989), is not credited in either show. The following explanation is given in the book "The Unofficial Murder She Wrote Casebook" by James Robert Parish: Dale Robertson...was one of the few MSW performers to question the show's policy of listing the guest stars in the credits in alphabetical order. According to then executive producer and co-creator Peter S. Fischer, "This arrangement didn't sit well with Dale Robertson, who allowed as how he would just as soon have no billing...This was okay with us. He did two shows, we didn't break our top fee and he didn't get billing. That was his choice and I never knew why."
- ConnectionsReferences The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980)
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
Featured review
Cold case at the military base
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.
"The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel" is not quite one of the best episodes of Season 5 but it is an episode that has gotten better on re-watches. Found it dull at first, but actually it was very intriguing and it was interesting to hear more about Jessica's late husband Frank when implicated in an old cold case that allows Angela Lansbury to show a more determined and emotional side. There is not much wrong with it, other than that occasionally the pacing could have tightened up a little.
Angela Lansbury is typically splendid in one of her justifiably best remembered roles. She gets strong support work from Dale Robertson, Clifton James, Martin Milner, Richard Roundtree, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. and Robin Strasser.
Production values as ever are slick and stylish. 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.
The writing is thought-provoking, light-hearted and amiable and the mystery is very intriguing and surprising.
Overall, not one of Season 5's best but a fine episode regardless. 9/10 Bethany Cox
"The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel" is not quite one of the best episodes of Season 5 but it is an episode that has gotten better on re-watches. Found it dull at first, but actually it was very intriguing and it was interesting to hear more about Jessica's late husband Frank when implicated in an old cold case that allows Angela Lansbury to show a more determined and emotional side. There is not much wrong with it, other than that occasionally the pacing could have tightened up a little.
Angela Lansbury is typically splendid in one of her justifiably best remembered roles. She gets strong support work from Dale Robertson, Clifton James, Martin Milner, Richard Roundtree, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. and Robin Strasser.
Production values as ever are slick and stylish. 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.
The writing is thought-provoking, light-hearted and amiable and the mystery is very intriguing and surprising.
Overall, not one of Season 5's best but a fine episode regardless. 9/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•97
- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 8, 2017
Details
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
Top Gap
What is the Spanish language plot outline for The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel (1988)?
Answer