The Case of the Antic Angel

When it came to trickery and deception, it would make sense Robert C. Dennis was the author, having spent many years writing for Hitchcock's tv show. More over, Hitch loved married couples who played deadly games, if not one on the other. Wouldn't be surprised if this story began as an outline for his show. It is sooooo deceitful.

Peter Breck (known for the BIG VALLEY) plays a recovering alcoholic, and right there you know Dennis is going to set this guy up.

Although his wife "reportedly" died in an airplane crash a year earlier, he happens to spot her getting into a cab very much alive.

It isn't long before he receives a call from a woman who sounds much like his wife, instructing him to meet her at a bar -- where else?

Sherwood (Breck) follows through, only to find a dead woman in his car. Yes, he stands accused of the murder, however more intriguing is how his wife switched identities with another woman and lived a new life. Gets you thinking she had "assistance," and the cunning individual who pulled the strings in this complex yarn is the real killer. The coutroom reveal makes for one captivating story, again all the credit going to Robert C. Dennis.

The cast is fabulous, supporting Breck is George Tobias (as Sidney) and Richard Erdman playing Harry, Crawford's sponsor to keep him clean and sober? Michael Ansara guest stars. Best to keep an eye on everyone here. Cathleen Cordell plays Maggie, the sister of Crawford's wife. Cordell gained fame in the late 70s playing Pat Nixon in the mini series BLIND AMBITION. Former Dead End Kid Billy Halop has a small role. You'd spot him a mile away, and why the casting folks got him on board.

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This is an interesting case for Perry making it an interesting episode for the viewer. We follow Perry along the path of switch identity, bank theft and murder all in one episode.

The episode starts out with William Sherwood (played by Peter Breck who the following year would be Nick Barkley in the series 'The Big Valley') who is a recovering alcoholic. He believes he sees his dead wife getting into a cab outside a hotel. Unable to catch the cab he falls back into the world of drinking since he is sure he saw his dead wife.

At his work, his boss Sidney Falconer (played by George Tobias who would go on to be Abner Kravitz in 'Bewitched') receives a phone call wanting William to meet a girl at a bar outside of town. William, thinking it maybe his dead wife, goes to the bar and again starts drinking. When no one shows up he goes outside and finds his wife in a car. Only problem- is now she is really dead. And William makes the sad mistake of not calling the police. So a warrant is issued for William and Perry is let to sort out all the problems.

Like I said this is just the start of the episode. It take a few strange turns until we get one of those courtroom confessions that only Perry seems to be able to extract.

Good watchable episode with many suspects who could of had a motive.

While another Perry Mason with some complicated assumptions and some very low probabilities, such as women changing seat assignments on a plane from Chicago to St. Louis would have such consequence, or that a man would recognize his wife he believed to be dead for 6 months with a different hair color--you'll be fine. Watch this episode because of the great performances of Richard Erdman, Michael Ansara, and Peter Breck--each playing a personality so opposite of that which they're known best, they keep you interested--and if you're recording these episodes, you'd might watch it again.

What a surprise Janet Dey must have gotten when a woman named Lynne Bowman agreed to swap identities with her after listening to her sad tale of woe about her alcoholic husband Peter Breck. Then the real Bowman is killed in a plane crash after taking off from Chicago. Dey continues the deception and lives her life as Bowman.

So imagine her surprise when she is spotted by Breck who is now in Los Angeles starting his life over again a member of Alcoholics Anonymous with sponsor Richard Erdman. But that's nothing compared to the shock Breck gets seeing Dey as Bowman getting into a car with date Michael Ansara. Breck falls to pieces and also falls off the wagon.

Breck's new business partner George Tobias is the one who is having Perry Mason check into his partner after Breck gets drunk so Raymond Burr is available afterward as Breck's attorney.

This was an interesting tale I will say. But all I will say further is that there is unseen puppetmaster guiding all these events who is really responsible for quite a lot. That's your murderer.