The Case of the Angry Dead Man

A title that only author Erle Stanley Gardner could love. In a way, Gardner borrowed from Alfred Hitchcock's tv show, when it came to strange little titles. They probably kept in touch, safe bet.

It's a familiar story, then again, there's a bit of that Hitch dark comedy too. Les Tremayne plays Nesbitt, the owner of a mining company who hasn't long to live. His mining company ain't doing too well either. By slipping off a boat, making everyone think he drowned, he pretends to stay good and dead so his wife, Eve (Gloria Talbott) will get the insurance money, which includes a double indemnity clause.

Then it happens. Nesbitt's company strikes gold! Eve stands to become even wealthier -- except his partner (Edward Binns) has a piece of paper dissolving the business. Really? Since Nesbitt is dead, Binns gets the gold.

Might be a good idea for the old man to "return" from the dead, however, he really gets killed this time. What a tangled web.

Did we say Hitchcock-like?

Beautifully written by Michael Morris, who ironically became the dean of sitcoms, notably BEWITCHED. A hero to all us kids.

A good writer is a good writer, whether its drama or comedy.

What a cast of familiar faces; Carol Ohmart (known for the HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL) plays Jenny. Poker face James Milhollin (who we love) plays Ben. Frank Ferguson plays a professor and Naomi Stevens is cast as Fanny. One of the final appearances of comedian Wally Brown (BROWN AND CARNEY, who were a lot like ABBOTT & COSTELLO), who passed suddenly. He is missed to this day.

See this just for the ending. Filmed at beautiful Malibou Lake at Agoura Hills, about 35 miles west of Hollywood.

SEASON 4 EPISODE 18 remastered CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2. Great present for any mystery buff.

In need of Perry Mason's representation in this episode is Gloria Talbott who is recently widowed and not seeing any money from her late husband's dissolving of the partnership he had with Edward Binns. They had a mining development partnership which had been going through some lean years.

But two things develop, first the company makes a rich strike and husband Les Tremayne suddenly shows up alive again. He had been reported drowned, but a body was never found. That also held up payment on a life insurance policy. But Tremayne doesn't stay alive long. When he's killed the police arrest Talbott.

Raymond Burr has to deal with a couple of issues here, one is perjured testimony by a witness that is putting Talbott in the jackpot she's in. Another is the jealousy of her stepson who is around her age. Talbott was a trophy wife for Tremayne and that's got his son from the first marriage bent out of shape.

The stepson is played by Karl Held who would join the cast soon playing another defendant who gets off and then interns at Mason law office for a season. Held being added to the cast was an attempt to get some younger viewers for Perry Mason.

You'll not figure this one out so readily.

This is a bit convoluted because it is based on a serious discovery and a decision made in haste. Once we forgive that we again have a greedy business guy who has fallen on hard times, taking advantage. We again have a beautiful client who ends up being charged with murder. Interestingly the smug Lieutenant Tragg isn't in this one. The plot works and there isn't the usual emoting that occurs in many episodes.

This could have been an episode where the courtroom testimony could hinder the shows connection to the viewer. Whenever we have someone called to the witness stand to testify on handwriting signatures that include documents and checks, it can get boring real fast. But in this show they find a way to keep the mystery interesting and the viewer entertained - and the testimony will produce a gallery confession that will lead to charges being dropped on Perry's client.

The episode begins as Willard Nesbitt, a part owner of a investment and mining company, has been reported drowned while on a local boating outing. The truth is that Mr Nesbitt had survived but due to his poor health and the double indemnity insurance feels better for his wife's financial situation and goes off to live the last few months of his life away from the grind of work.

However a few days later, after discovering gold in a parcel of land, his partner, Loyd Castle, has a document that claims Nesbitt dissolved the partnership for $10,000 and that is all the money that Eva Nesbitt (Willard's wife) is entitled. And Eva goes to see Perry to make sure that she will be paid something from the company.

Well it only takes a few more days when Willard, living outside of town, reads where the company hit gold and realized that his wife is being shafted. But the next day he is really found dead from a gunshot wound and all the evidence points to Eva as the shooter. Perry will defend her in court for the charges brought by Hamilton Burger's office.

A good mystery with many suspects. With a good cast and a good mystery- it makes the episode a good watch for viewers.

Very bad direction as usual for this director. Guest actors were so-so.