I read that Angela Lansbury was not the original choice for the role of Jessica Fletcher. It was Jean Stapleton (who is arguably most famous for playing Edith Bunker on "All in the Family" and the first season of "Archie Bunker's Place") who was the first choice for JB Fletcher. She turned it down. If Stapleton didn't turn down the role, what would you think the series would be like? I personally think that it would have been hard for me to watch MSR without associating Jessica Fletcher with Edith Bunker. It is difficult to say whether I would like it because it never happened.

I think that A LOT, and I do mean A LOT of people would rather see Jean Stapleton as Edith bunker than anyone else. She has been commonly and characteristically type-cast into the Editch Bunker character.I also realize that A LOT of the stories wouldn't have been written (was it EDGAR or BRUCE who did a lot of the writing? They both were supervising or creative producers at one point, I know...and one of them did a lot of the scripts...I think it was Bruce, but I can't be sure). Those scripts written by Angela Lansbury's brother wouldn't have exsisted had Angela Lansbury not been Jessica Fletcher. The ones set in Cork would most likely not have exsisted, because that was probably Angela's idea...with her having a house there and all.
Also, the Jessica character herself would've been totally different. Peter Fischer and the gang (lol) wanted to wait to fill in some of the character details until they found the correct actress (or so it says in Angela's authorized biography "Balancing Act"). They wanted to bleed some of the actress into Jessica's character (i.e- Jessica's maiden name of MacGill, was Angela Lansbury's mother's last name in her stage name: Moyna MacGill--that's just one of the little things). If Jean Stapleton had taken the role, Jessica would've developed into a completely different character. Besides that, the show wouldn't have lasted nearly as long. The whole reason most people watch the show IS Angela Lansbury. It's because of her exquisitely developed talent, and because we enjoy seeing her. She's a lovable person.:)

An Angela Lansbury site (http://www.geocities.com/charlotte_rae_fan/index.html)

Carroll O'Connor starred for years on "In the Heat of the Night", playing a character totally different than Archie Bunker. So it's not much of a stretch to imagine Jean Stapleton on "Murder, She Wrote. But I do like Angela Lansbury in the role of Jessica Fletcher.

Though Jean Stapleton is an excellent actress, the perfect foil and "straight man(woman oops!!)" to Carroll O' Connell in All in the Family, There is only one Jessica B Fletcher!! Angela Lansbury!!

I think Jean Stapleton could have pulled it off. I've seen her in some movie that she was marvelous in (BABY!! THAT"S IT!) But her character was completely different from Edith and she was great!! SO i think she coulda played Jessica, but i think Angela personifies Jessica.
BTW: I'm new here.. HI!!

~Lizz~

Jean would try to be like Edith but as much as I love her on All in the Family Angela is, has, and always will be JBF!!

I only watched it because I like Angela Lansbury. So....it depends, some people might have liked it more, some less.

Originally posted by Vera Wang
I only watched it because I like Angela Lansbury. So....it depends, some people might have liked it more, some less.

*applauds* yes. YAY Angela Lansbury!

When Angela took the part she was fairly unknown. A few movies, some stage but not a well known household name. I thought she was wonderful in the movie Death On the Nile.

Originally posted by vze3t9q9
When Angela took the part she was fairly unknown. A few movies, some stage but not a well known household name. I thought she was wonderful in the movie Death On the Nile.


If you thought "Death on the Nile" was good---YOU NEED to get The Manchurian Candidate. There's a re-make with Meryl Streep in the Lansbury role coming out on the 30th, but you REALLY should see the original, as NO ONE can do Mrs. Iselin as Angela Lansbury does Mrs. Iselin. That movie is so creepy that by the end of the movie YOU want to kill someone.

Of course, she also does really great in emotional movies---The Shell Seekers(one of my favorites), Green Journey, Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris, and The Blackwater Lightship are all good examples. I also happen to like her movie musicals. While Bedknobs and Broomsticks isn't my favorite (I'm more partial to Jerry Herman's, Mrs. Santa Claus), it is great fun to watch! And, you obviously can't forget Beauty and the Beast and Anastasia! I loved those movies before I even know who Angela Lansbury was.


And, if you wanna talk stage--Sweeney Todd is definitely MY favorite of her stage works. Mame she got a better reputation for, but I'm quite a fan of the morbid and ridiculous, so I'm a Sweeney Todd gal. And Prettybelle. Prettybelle is the sickest musical I've heard in my life. But, it's Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, so you know it's good (again, maybe not as great as Sondheim, but good, nonetheless--sort of echoes of "Don't Rain on My Parade" show up in "How Could I Know?"). Anyone Can Whistle is also a gem of a musical (Again, it's Sondheim!!!) to get to listen to/own. However, putting Styne (YAY) and Sondheim (bigger YAY!) together is always success---this particular time in the form of Gypsy. Which is also marvelous! I have yet to hear "Dear World," (YAY Jerry Herman!) but I'm counting on it someday. I'm heard/sung/seen music from it before, so I sort of have been introduced to it, but it's totally different seeing/hearing Angela do it.

Okay, so, I'm gonna stop rambling, now.:)