abitrowdy

S1, Episode 11 is an unfortunate deviation from this series' founding premise - crimes should be solved using science-based evidence instead of emotions, hunches, pseudo psychic nonsense, or beating a confession out of someone. Murdoch Mysteries came along a few years after the acclaimed U. S. TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and initially copied its logic-based approach to solving crimes. What sets Murdoch Mysteries apart from other run-of-the-mill procedural detective series is the very interesting time-period it is set in where all kinds of new thinking was occurring based upon scientific discoveries. (Not to mention, being set in Canada at the turn of the previous century is also quite intriguing.) However, CSI's Gil Grissom continually coached his team to stop speculating, but instead to "follow the evidence". Some of CSI's best episodes involved starting with an apparent case of urban legend, but then debunking it with evidence and rational logic. As much as I enjoy other episodes of Murdoch Mysteries, this silly episode with its credulous acceptance of on-demand psychic fortune telling really 'jumped the shark'. S1, E4 featuring Arthur Conan Doyle (who really did believe in fairies and such) was much more even-handed in exposing tricks that psychic charlatans use. Perhaps some of them complained to the producers that it hurt their business (and it is a business) to be exposed. Whatever, the writers of S1, E11 should be ashamed of this piece of rubbish.

I am a Frank Morgan fan. So my review is for this movie and his performance in it. You won't see the prototypical Frank Morgan role as the Wizard of Oz. Or any of the other many movies featuring him as the congenial, slightly confused, bumbling erstwhile con-man. Frank Morgan's role ranges here from a slightly pompous father figure to a serious man of justice in a dramatic courtroom scene that was totally unexpected and may astonish you as it did me. It is one of the two best dramatic roles I've seen him in. (The other is in "The Kiss Before the Mirror", 1933. I recommend that movie, as well.) A minor distraction for me is Kathryn Grayson's singing. She was popular when this movie was made and the producers no doubt saw her as attracting a wider audience. For me, her singing style was a little too operatic for this movie's time and place. But that does not detract from the core of the movie. I won't pretend that any movie that involves racial relations in the old, post-war South will adequately cover all variations that existed. No such movie can please everyone. But if you are willing to view this movie as a legitimate slice of life for this family, you may enjoy a daughter's memories of her father and his extraordinary life. It is more than just nostalgia for "the old South". It is a story about a different time when people not only thought differently, but struggled with changing concepts of morality and equality and justice that we take for granted today.

First of all you should know that I will watch any movie Frank Morgan is in. Some have been great. Some perhaps less so. But Frank Morgan has never failed to entertain me. His avuncular, bumbling, inept con man film persona is so well known that I sometimes remark on a movie "oh, Frank Morgan is playing the Frank Morgan role". It wasn't always so. You will be surprised at his superb performance in "The Kiss Before the Mirror" (1933). I consider it a tour de force performance. Other reviewers will tell you the plot, or comment on the other actors, or explain its dated social shortcomings ad nauseam. I am not here to defend the social attitudes of the 1930's. I am here to urge you to watch a masterful performance in a riveting courtroom drama. If you like it and want to see another surprising Frank Morgan dramatic performance, then you should watch "The Vanishing Virginian" (1942). Again, you will need to suspend your modern preconceptions of social morality and accept that you are watching a story about a different time when people not only thought differently, but struggled with concepts of morality and justice that we take for granted today. It is the results of their struggles that we enjoy our so-called enlightened attitudes today.