The Case of the Angry Mourner

This is an enjoyable episode with one notable, tragic exception. That would be Sylvia Field, who plays the defendant, Belle Adrian. Of all Mason's defendants this is the one I dearly wanted to get the gas chamber. Belle Adrian is simply the stupidest, least charismatic client Mason has ever had. Most of them are only briefly featured in the first act, then serve as potted plants the rest of the show. Belle, played with simpering vacuousness by Field, is featured throughout, usually to undermine her own case through utter imbecility.

It's a shame because the plot itself is quite interesting, if somewhat convoluted, with plenty of recognizable character actors turning in excellent performances.

This episode starts out as we see Mark Cushing (Eric Sinclair), an avid water-skier, showing some home-made movies to the lovely Carla Adrian (Barbara Eden). Mark must of broken his leg recently cause he has a cast on nearly up to his hip. Seems Mark is a play-boy and as the hour gets late he wants some loving. But Carla wants nothing of it. Mark gets somewhat physical and the wheelchair bound guy rips her shirt and Carla fights back with a witch-slap to the side of the head.

The next scenes is of a girl screaming, a shot and Belle Adrian (Sylvia Field), Carla's mother, being seen inside of Mark Cushing's house. When the police arrive Mark is dead in the wheelchair and no one is present to receive Sheriff Elmore's knock on the door.

Perry happens to be in Bear Valley, where all this action is afoot, and Belle goes over for some advise. Problem is through a series of strange events Belle is arrest for murder and goes before a local court to answer the charges with perry right behind her.

This episode has a complicated story-line. However, through the good acting of the guest cast you feel like you are right at Bear Valley watching this trial. Sylvia Field, as the mother, does another great job making you feel for her situation. Paul Fix, as DA Hale, is great taking the place of Hamilton Burger outside the county of LA. Jamie Forster, as the presiding Judge, does a better job than any 'Perry Mason' judge when he is more interested in the truth than ruling of objections. Barbara Eden was great to look at- but had little to do with the show after the first five minutes. What a waste of a beautiful girl.

Anyway the story was interesting and mystery played well by the cast. And with Perry getting very upset at his client- it makes for a good watch.

Note- during the first scene with Mark in the wheelchair- look how big that fireplace is. You could put a small tree in that thing and not have to chain saw any limbs.

Another case that takes place in a rural courtroom. It involves a playboy who lives in a woodland home, who is in a cast, and who is shot and killed. A man and his wife, in bed at the time, use binoculars to see what happened. During the hearing a woman is called as a witness and some weird protocols take place. By the way, a very young Barbara Eden appears in this episode.

Perry Mason is on vacation in the country but it is interrupted as Belle Adrian has been accused of murder.

The episode begins with Mark Cushing. He has an injury to his leg and is in a wheelchair showing his water skiing movies to Carla Adrian (Barbara Eden). He makes a play for her but Carla has none of it.

When the neighbours hear a scream and spot Carla's mum Belle in the house the police are called. They find Cushing dead.

I regarded the evidence against Carla as flimsy but Perry Mason seems to be rather rough with her. She did appear to be rather a blank slate.

It turns out that Cushing was a cad, a womaniser and there were no shortage of female admirers.

Perry thinks one of these female admirers may know more about the killing. Only to find that a witness has bought her own lawyer to court.

It was nice to see some other sheriff and DA get into the act in this case.

Perry Mason again uses cunning to divert the focus from his own client. He also handily figures out who the murderer is.

Most of the 57- 61 Perry Mason's are really the best, good writing etc. In this the defendant is so worried about her daughter's reputation she implicated herself As the murderer. The actress was also Mrs Wilson in Dennis the menace, but she does this part so neurotically , it upsets the viewers. It's not one of the best but it's a decent story and the Court process is interesting Perry and Della drive a beautiful black 57 Cadillac Convertible in this. I read in Perry Mason trivia that when he drove a Cadillac, GM was one of the sponsors that night