The Case of the Arrogant Arsonist

I think my rating of six is a bit generous, but only because a few of the performances are on point. The writing and directing, however, is a complete dumpster fire.

The plot is confusing from the beginning, and the lengths the killer goes to in perpetration of his scheme is too much of a stretch to be believable. The TV reporter (one of the eventual victims) is simply a caricature here.

The defendant (Tom Tully) is allowed to be an over-the-top annoyance, making for little pity for his situation. There were a few plot devices used here that stretched the boundaries of belief, and the final solution left much to be desired. This one is just smoke & ashes...

Pushy and mouthy talk show host Frank Aletter who has it in for former Fire Chief Tom Tully whom he held responsible for not saving his house. Now there's been an arson fire and it's at a warehouse that Tully owns and he's said on the air that Tully torched his own place. That wins him a slander suit for which Tully has retained Perry Mason. Oh, incidentally the night watchman was killed in the arson.

But then Tully gets arrested when Aletter is found at the bottom of a canyon in Tully's car and dead before it hit the bottom. That's when Tom Tully really needs Raymond Burr.

One of the shortest courtroom sequences in the history is in this area, where Raymond Burr puts on no defense at the hearing and the judge orders Tully bound over for trial. To William Talman's befuddlement, but Burr has it in mind to get the real culprit to implicate himself outside the courtroom.

That involves the real killer briefly holding Perry Mason hostage and then fleeing another waterfront warehouse. The Perry Mason Show gets a bit of unexpected action not in the courtroom.

A darn good old fashion mystery coupled with some excellent on location work. Surprisingly, no big stars here (and even Barbara Hale isn't in this episode), nevertheless the cast does an admirable job.

Veteran actor Tom Tully (co-star of LINEUP) plays Carey York, a tough as nails retired fire chief who happens to own a warehouse. Unfortunately, someone is out to get him, kills his building manager and then torches the place. Could this all be payback for something York did to someone? To make matters worse, troublemaking tv reporter Tommy Towne (Frank Aletter) accuses York of rigging the fire to collect the insurance. And what a rat.

In an interesting switch, York hires Perry to sue Towne for slander -- that is until Towne's body is planted in his car. You have to admit, the killer is one fiendish character, and with a warped sense of humor. In a way, he was playing catch me if you can, due to the fact by this time York would no longer be a suspect. He would never put a body in his own car. A nod to writer Samuel Newman for delivering a top notch mystery. Story consultant for the show for many years, with good reason.

Filling in for Della is reliable Gertie (Connie Cezan), yes more on the comical side. Connie, in fact, often appeared with the Three Stooges. Two veteran actors are cast; Russell Thorson (Farrell), a radio star in the 30s and 40s, and Byron Morrow playing Captain Hillman.

Some keen on location scenes filmed at Los Angeles Harbor at San Pedro, enhancing the finale. Great idea for a showdown, replete with LOTS of water.

SEASON 7 EPISODE 21 remastered CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2. For devout fans, the entire series is in a deluxe box set. 72 discs. Released 2020. Worth the price.

I personally enjoyed this episode. In 1965 I worked for Spectrol Electronics, a POTENTIOMETER manufacturer in San Gabriel, CA. And wire winding machines were of great importance in manufacturing these items. And "pots" are used everywhere. This plot really interested me and found it true record of this item. The acting and script was outstanding. The actors are all very experienced and always give outstanding performances.

And I have enjoyed this one for many years.

This is a true jumble. I felt for the old watchman who was being blackmailed but the whole thing with the TV reporter seemed sort of off the rails. That retired firefighter was apparently to be admired, but he was also a big time nuisance. Not one of Perry's better episode.