The Case of the Devious Delinquent

It's interesting how poor these episodes are when a "delinquent" is a character. First of all these guy look like they are in their thirties. The accused has done nothing to gain our sympathy. He has opportunities to get out of his situation but lets an extortionist call the tune. I thought I recognized the drunk. Speaking of delinquents--that guy was "Whitey" in many of the Bowery Boys features.

I don't think I ever cared less about a defendant than in this one. I was totally on the Uncle's side. That kid deserved everything he got and more.

As for "Timmy", I think this is what shows in the 50's to 60's thought young adults (he's out of high school, right?) sound like. That weird little kid talk.

Tim Balfour has returned to America from Italy after his parents died in an auto accident there. His grandfather (Otto Kruger) is bedridden from the aftermath of a heart attack. His uncle doesn't like or trust young Tim because of his slacker ways and his equally slacker friends.

Up to the present, the sum total of Tim's offences consists of him having a couple of moving violations and being chronically absentee from his skate job at the family business. But one night his delinquent buddies decide to rob a store and Tim, although he protests, winds up being the driver of the getaway car. He is told by one of his two associates that he'll need to get money so that "Chick" and his friend can hide out or else they'll say he was the ringleader in the robbery. The price rises to two thousand dollars. Tim can't go to a relative, so he asks the Balfour housekeeper for the money, lies about the severity of the trouble he is in, and even lets her steal the money from his grandfather for him. But Tim and Chick get into an argument when he goes to give the money to Chick, and Tim shoots at Chick and drives away leaving behind his gun. Later, Chick is found dead, shot to death as Tim feared, but shot in the back, while Tim shot when Chick was facing him. Tim is arrested for murder and Balfour company attorney Perry Mason is on the case.

Complicating factors include Tim's grandfather wanting to give TIm a piece of his company in his will and TIm's uncle vowing he'll do anything to stop it. Also, where did that pesky accomplice of Chick's go to? He seems to disappear in thin air after he robs the store.

Lots of people seem to really hate hate hate the defendant in this case. I admit it's hard to feel sorry for him when he is so sorry for himself, and that Johnny Washbrook's performance as Tim Balfour is hardly subtle, but then it's not hammy either. I looked up Mr. Washbrook's acting credits, and it looks like he was primarily a child actor who aged out of such parts by age 20, the year after this episode.

Also note that Billy Benedict is playing a drunk old man who may or may not have been run over by Tim. Benedict has acting credits that go back to the 1930s and was in the Monogram Bowery Boys films. He is only 46 when he made this, but looks much older.

The biggest crime of this episode is that Perry Mason and Paul Drake don't show up until it is more than half over, and Della even later.

The first half reminds me of the older 60's soap operas, all overwrought dialog and acting. The kind that Carol Burnett used to parody in their Canoga Falls potboiler.

Then there is the suspect/victim du jour, who does just about everything wrong that he can.

The episode does pick up once Parry and Paul are on the scene, with Perry tricking a confession out of the real killer, outside the courtroom, even. It is worth adding a star to the rating of an otherwise poor outing.

Robb White, who wrote legendary HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL for producer William Castle, always found work on tv, often writing for this show. The later episodes often had a 77 SUNSET STRIP feel, a clever move to attract a younger audience.

Perry has a street kid for a client, an orphan, now being raised by his grandfather (Otto Kruger), who isn't his biggest fan. Sure enough, Tim (Johnny Washbrook) hooks up with the wrong crowd, forced to drive the getaway car in a robbery. His "pal" Chick (David Winters) needs some cash -- knowing that Mr. Balfour (Kruger) is well healed -- threatening blackmail. Yes, there's a fight, Chick is shot and Tim is in deep.

Interestingly, Robb White added a very slick angle, a favorite among mystery writers. Works like a charm. The question of where the fatal bullet entered. It's discovered Chick was shot twice, the second bullet fired into his back, while Tim shot Chick face to face. You have to admit, it cut down the list of suspects due to the fact there's only one correct answer, also most any "reputable" killer would proudly admit they shot their victim while facing them.

***Without giving too much away, only a fink would shoot someone in the back. Who would ever want to admit that? Crossing the proverbial line of criminal conduct. Up to Perry to find the rat fink. Yes, Robb White had to add that wee touch of dark humor, he was so famous for.

Great to see veteran actor Otto Kruger again, a favorite of producers, also Barton MacLane, famous for so many gangster flicks. Washbrook is best known for MY FRIEND FLICKA. Virginia Christine returns to the series, always a choice actress to appear on the witness stand. TV buffs will recognize Frances Rafferty, who co-starred on DECEMBER BRIDE. Billy Benedict, from the BOWERY BOYS, plays an old man, although he was much younger with pre-mature gray hair. All us kids loved him.

SEASON 7 EPISODE 10 remastered CBS dvd box set. For ultimate fans, all nine seasons are in one impressive box set. Thanks METV for running these whodunits twice daily.