The Case of the Floating Stones

As a fan of "Perry Mason" I watched many shows during the 60's and repeats in the 80's. I was thrilled to see this episode because I could not remember ever seeing this title. After seeing the episode I can now understand why it is forgettable.

It started out well with diamonds being taking from an older Asian gentleman and so the show begins. However donating nearly the entire show to the diamonds- the murder has very little to do with the diamonds.

From Hong Kong to San Francisco we get poor performances out of nearly everyone in the cast. Not only is the story confusing but the cast seems to be lost on how this is all going to come together. But have no fear. The writers sum it all up in 20 seconds when a court spectator makes a confession that is as sad and even more confusing than what the diamonds have to do with the story.

Anyway as much as I love "Perry Mason" this is one that you can pass on. From the plot to the guest actors this is a mess. And the only thing missing from the Asian stereotype is the line "We need more Calgon".

I'm going to have to agree with most of the other comments on this one. Amateurishly acted, poorly directed and confusing pretty much describe this one to a "T". While Irene Tsu provides a decent level of eye candy, the rest of the cast (which we know can do better) are just a letdown. Walter Brooke does a satisfactory job as the San Francisco DA, but it's just not enough to keep this cruise ship afloat. The courtroom confession, as has been already noted, is terribly done, but that's not a foreign circumstance for the series. Perhaps this one should have sunk like Tyrell's fake box of diamonds...

Perry Mason came a cropper in this episode with young Irene Tsu as a client. Originally this episode starts in Hong Kong where Tsu comes to claim a legacy from her grandfather Richard Loo recently deceased. What should be there, isn't there, a cache of diamonds, but Tsu gets reason to believe they're on ship being smuggled by Jerry Oddo.

Once in San Francisco the diamonds seemingly vanish and Oddo winds up dead with a knife in his back. Tsu is arrested and good thing she's already retained Raymond Burr.

I think the writers had some trouble deciding eventually who would be the guilty party. A last minute courtroom confession really came out of left field from the perpetrator. It may have even caught Burr unawares.

Not the best from season seven.

I was just as surprised as other viewers as this episode was about stolen diamonds that lead to a murder, however, the diamonds were never recovered once Perry Mason just calls a witness who as usual makes a full confession. One of the few stories where even the happy 40 seconds at the end does not leave us with understanding how the case was solved since the items at the heart of the show are not recovered by the totally innocent defendant.

This is a really dull episode. Because it starts in Hong Kong there is an endless sea voyage back to California. During that time a nervous smuggler engages a con man to get some diamonds into the country. But that guy is stabbed in the back, literally, and a tiresome court case ensues. Don't bother with this one.