The Case of the Envious Editor

When a magazine, that is now headed by a young go-getter Donald Fetcher, changes the publication from a regular informational read to a skin and women rag. This does not sit well with Edmond Aitken who's family started the magazine company many years ago.

Fletcher has a history of photographing women in a young vulnerable state and then later using the pictures as blackmail to get things he wants. When Fletcher ends up dead Edmond Aitken's wife, Alyce, is seen running from the apartment. It appears that Fletcher may have been blackmailing Alyce Aitken to get full control of the magazine. Or at least that is how Lt Tragg and the police see the homicide.

Perry will defend Ms Aiken in court for the charge of murder but his work will be difficult. There is a lot of evidence that points to Alyce's guilt, Perry will have to cross-examine many witnesses in order to get to the bottom of this mystery.

From an excellent performance from Paul Lambert that played a poet in this episode, to H M Wynant portrayal of the assistant DA- this show was interesting throughout. From a disappointing previous episode, this show returned the program to the great series we all know. Good Watch.

A new editor tries taking hitherto family-type periodicals into a sexy new direction. Naturally, he's knocked off. Perry has to do his usual routine of taking the case of the innocent and try to find the guilty.

"Perry Mason" was a showcase of rising stars who never rose. Sometimes one sees a young actor (circa the early 1960s) and wonder why you've never heard of them . . . But not that often.

This time, fatured corpse James Coburn, before he hit the big time, has "star material" written all over him. He does an excellent job as the sleazeball and when he's on he seems to raise the level of acting from the others.

It should be a lesson, looking at the difference of taking on someone good as a show's centerpiece and taking on someone "good enough." The worst problem in this show is that Coburn's stay was too brief.

When a once popular magazine starts declining in popularity, James Coburn comes in and intends to turn it into a racy Playboy like mag. Of course, the standard bearers are nonplussed, but he has figures to back him up. He is a playboy type and has nothing but disdain for what is good journalism. Of course, he is going to be killed. But who did it? There are several suspects including women. This one is well done and fun.