The Case of the Dodging Domino

Perry Mason's client in this episode is David Hedison a college professor and sometime songwriter who is being blackmailed for a melody that James Forrest wrote. Other than writing a nice tune, Forrest has very little else to recommend him insofar as character is concerned. And when he winds up dead a good circumstantial case gets Hedison arrested and indicted for murder. And of course Hamilton Burger once again thinks he has an airtight case.

This was a Halloween episode on the Perry Mason series and the clue to unmasking the real culprit is the testimony of bungalow manager Lloyd Corrigan who swears that only Hedison could have done the deed. Some trick or treating children are the real clue to unmasking the culprit. And being the wonderful character Forrest was there are plenty who would love to have seen him dead.

You have to like the way Raymond Burr 'unmasks' the real killer.

A community of showbiz types live in a bungalow "village" on the beach. Many sport beards and Hawaiian shirts. How can they afford their lifestyle? How can they drink whisky for breakfast, dinner, lunch and tea? Why do they never pass out?

It's all about a song one of them wrote - or two of them. Or three of them, or... We never get to hear the song in its entirety, so we can't judge the magical qualities the whole cast ascribe to it. It saved a show, it's going to save a career and make everybody LOTS of money.

The song, or its backing, frequently backs the dialogue - and drowns it. When the music isn't playing, we get the booming surf from the crashing waves on the beach. There's a rather elderly beach bum with a transistor radio. But at least we get to see a young, and stunning, Ellen Burstyn dancing through the surf.

This one kind of runs hot and cold sometimes, but all-in-all is pretty entertaining. Ellen Burstyn in an early role, and Eddie Firestone as a hairy, bearded beatnik type. Most of the fireworks here, however, occur in court -- once again Hamilton Burger is left aghast by Perry's courtroom antics. Not stellar, but worthwhile nonetheless.

Realistic, well-written, wonderful plot-lines, intriguing.....all adjectives that do not apply to any PM episode. Ridiculous, poorly directed, awful dialogue, laughable.... THESE fit.

This one has another snickerfest of a conclusion / confession scene with the line "It wasn't Satan. It was a fool's mask.". Just too much! I did give it one extra star for the inclusion of Rusty Stevens as one of the costumed children. He was saved from having to recite any insipid lines from these writers, but it was interesting to see a post- Leave it to Beaver job from him.

One of the kids in the Costume scene at the trial's end is none other than Robert "Rusty" Stevens-alias Larry Mondello of "Leave it to Beaver".