Mõrv sai teoks Jessica Behind Bars (1984–1996) watch online HD

West Barrington Institute for Women (in an unidentified U.S. state) sets the stage for the one and only "MSW" episode containing an all-female cast.

In addition to its star, ten guest stars and ten supporting actresses supplying roles of prison staff, guards, inmates and delivery drivers, its state has a female Lieutenant Governor, addressed as "Mrs. Campbell" (uncredited actress), whose voice is heard in four telephone conversations. No males, therefore, appear in any scenes.

Warden Elizabeth Gates (Vera Miles) operates West Barrington, as she aspires to announce her candidacy for potential nomination and election to the state senate.

During Warden Gates' campaign absences, Deputy Warden Amanda Debs (Barbara Baxley), who has been serving at the Institution for twenty years, much longer than Warden Gates, handles the prison charge.

Doctor Irene Matthews (Janet MacLachlan) also has served in her position as prison physician for about twenty years, at which she has now been treating Warden Gates for fainting spells and, against her employer's requests, promises to report her condition to the press, thereby creating an obstacle toward her state senate campaign.

Miss Springer (Yvonne De Carlo) serves as head cook at the prison, at which she is often addressed as "Cookie." She also has been employed here for some twenty years and often conducts dealings with Mrs. Mims (Darlene Conley), a grocery delivery driver, as inmates complain about the poor quality of their meals.

Several principle inmate roles are performed by actresses also very familiar to television audiences of the day: Mary Stamm (Linda Kelsey), who assists the prison Infirmary in a nursing capacity; Kathryn (Adrienne Barbeau), who rules the roost as she calls the shots around the inmate populace; Louise (Susan Oliver), who assists in the prison library; and Tug (Eve Plumb), who's serving time for robbery.

Other inmates include Dixie (Margaret Avery), with the long dark hair; Bertha (Susan Peretz), with the short dark hair; Jamie (Donna Ponterotto), with the curly dark hair; and Susie (Aimée Eccles), also with dark hair, but Susie is confined to the Infirmary in dire medical condition, which Mary attempts to comfort, by sneaking into the pharmacy cabinet.

It is into this environment that Margaret (unseen character) arrives to instruct a writing course, but because of illness, Margaret sends stories which the inmates have written for their assignment, to her substitute instructor, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), who arrives at West Barrington Institute to conduct the lesson.

After meeting staff members, Jessica sets up her class with the lesson on the chalkboard, "How to create the perfect murder." (Why she would conduct such a project before a volatile audience would be anyone's guess, but the class is interrupted by murder anyway).

Brady the Infirmary Guard (Mary Woronov), attempting to enter the health care offices, becomes snagged in a lock-up as sirens peel, alarms glisten, and gates lower across the corridors, setting the stage for chaos, as she, the Warden and Deputy Warden, Miss Springer and Jessica discover Mary Stamm's hovering over the body.

Warden Gates accuses Mary of the murder, but Jessica has her doubts because even though Mary is already serving her sentence for murder, Mary is a good writer, in Jessica's estimation; plus it was probably committed in self-defense anyhow.

When Kathryn and her rowdy lot take over the prison, the much-nicer Louise suggests for Jessica to solve the crime, a challenge with Jessica reluctantly accepts on the condition that the inmates turn over the guilty party to authorities.

But, as inmates continue to hold the Institute hostage with their demands for justice and edibles, Jessica suddenly figures that there's going to be another murder, but she arrives at the location too late, as a second body is discovered, the victim of a stabbing.

Jessica convinces the reluctant inmates to give her time for the Lieutenant Governor to identify two sets of fingerprints this evening, and to analyze the Morphine and pharmaceuticals as watered down, and to determine that pilfering has also affected the food supply, as the evening proceeds with her crash course in "Jessica Behind Bars."

The cast is rounded out by Kristall Eklund as Prisoner, Diana Bellamy as Head Guard, Gay Hagen as Guard #1, Faith Minton as Guard #2, Linda L. Rand as Reception Guard, and Jan Stratton as Gate Guard.

This episode represents the only acting credit to date by Kristall Eklund, and the most recent acting credit to date by Aimée Eccles, as well as the first of two "MSW" appearances each for Adrienne Barbeau, Diana Bellamy and Janet MacLachlan, the second of two each for Gay Hagen and Susan Oliver, the first of three for Vera Miles, and the second of three "MSW's" for Linda Kelsey.

Yvonne De Carlo, acting in film and on television since 1941; Barbara Baxley, acting since 1952; Susan Oliver, acting since 1956; Darlene Conley, acting since 1963; Susan Peretz, acting since 1973; and Diana Bellamy, acting since 1982, have unfortunately since passed.

Jessica stands in for a friend of hers to give a lecture at a women's prison. The prison is under the new stewardship of Warden Gates. Gates is seen having a heated argument with the Prison Doctor, Irene Matthews. Irene is discovered dead, having been injected with a lethal dose. Tests show convict Mary's prints are on the vial, Mary was also found hidden near the body.

I like the premise of the episode, and for the most part it's fun and entertaining, but in so many ways it's pretty silly. I know it's the eighties, but was it a Prison, or a hotel. Prisoners are wandering about, in and out of offices at will. I'm assuming each inmate had a private hair stylist, as in each scene, each prisoner appears beautifully coiffured.

It's well made, and nicely acted. I particularly liked Janet Maclachlan's Doctor, a shame she wasn't in it for very long. Vera Miles is excellent as the Warden too, a woman so strikingly beautiful in many films.

Good features, but a little unrealistic for the most part. 6/10

This episode of Murder She Wrote has Jessica Fletcher being a guest creative writer lecturer in a women's prison. She says several of the prisoners show some promise. But then a riot takes place after Janet MacLachlan the prison doctor's body is found led by the toughest woman in the joint Adrienne Barbeau.

There's a new warden Vera Miles who's trying to make some changes and she has opposition from staff and cons. Another death in the place and it looks like possibly we will have a distaff version of Attica.

Angela Lansbury has to get answers if nothing less than for her own life being caught up in the mayhem.

A few familiar faces from old and new Hollywood and some types as there were in the great classic Caged. The grandma of all women's prison pictures.

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 liked "Jessica Behind Bars" much more than the previous reviewers. In fact, it's always been a standout episode of Season 2 from personal opinion, and as far as 'Murder She Wrote' in general too it's up there. Didn't really buy how everything was resolved so patly at the end, and Jessica seemed almost too calm and collected in moments of great tension.

Otherwise, "Jessica Behind Bars" is a great episode, and a fairly unique one too. Having an all female cast was a first in 'Murder She Wrote' and even after the show ended in 1996 it's still a unique distinction.

Even in a confined setting, a prison this time, "Jessica Behind Bars" is well shot and suits the tension of the episode well. It is kind of a hoot as well seeing all those 80s hairdos. 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.

"Jessica Behind Bars" is very thoughtfully scripted too when it could easily have been trashy, instead it touches upon heavy themes like power, corruption, fight for survival and the nature of crime, debating it in an intelligent way. The story is compelling with a final solution that is quite shocking (for both deaths) and a quite suspenseful climax (so much so it was a shame that the episode ended on a pat note).

Angela Lansbury is terrific, while there are insane performances (in the best of ways) from Margaret Avery and Adrienne Barbeau and classy support from Vera Miles and Linda Kelsey. Even Yvonne De Carlo appears as a cook. As well as its unique distinction as a 'Murder She Wrote' episode with a all-female cast, "Jessica Behind Bars" is worth seeing for the cast alone.

In conclusion, great fun and quite thrilling. 9/10 Bethany Cox