The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll

Another so-so script, not bad, not good, maybe a bit above average. Some of the characters here are a bit stereotyped, but then again, that's Hollywood for you. A politician with ulterior motives, a couple of sleazy, incompetent private detectives, a woman with a secret and another with amnesia. Preposterous..? Maybe. But in this case, similarly to the previous one, it all hinges on one performance. I know I've said it before, but give the credit for this one all to Ruta Lee. She is definitely the cream of the crop in this outing. Funny how a good performer can brighten up the dullest story. This story isn't that bad, but Ruta makes it more than watchable.

This is a very well-made episode,in the technical sense. The camera-work (cinematography?) is very well-done,the musical score is comically dramatic,without overdoing it. The wardrobe,and the sets are all top-notch. However,on the other hand...The story,the plot,was somewhat convoluted and confusing to me,I must admit. Some of it seems rather farfetched,but that's television for you! With a few grains of salt and a willingness to be entertained you will at least get several honest chuckles out of it!

...the defendant looked familiar. Well, her acting was familiar first then her face.

She did a very good and believable job. Her crying was the most believable I've seen in the series yet.

So of course, I had to see where I had seen her from.

She plays one of the brides (Ruth) in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"! A classic and beloved musical. She was one of the more prominent brides in the film. So my memory of her is very vivid.

I'm happy I got to see her in something else. Now that I've gotten reacquainted with her work I'm hoping to come across some of her other screen work.

Also, Bray playing the private detective was pretty familiar too. I recognized him from a few westerns. Then I learned hell be in two other Perry Mason episodes. I'm looking forward to that. Will he be the victim again or maybe the perpetrator this time?

This was an OK episode. It involves the confusing identities of three young women. It also includes a couple of relatively incompetent private detectives. And an ice pick. This is decently paced and somewhat gripping. Unfortunately for me, I knew who the killer was almost instantly.

There is a lot of things in this episode that does not make sense. I know we have to take some things with a grain of salt just for TV sake but this episode was full of items that was so strange even for a condensed one hour show.

The episode begins with Millie Crest receiving a phone call from her fiancé saying that he just stole some money from the firm where both of the work and it is going to look like she was an accomplice. Instead of calling the police or a lawyer, she gets into her car and drives away. Later she picks up a woman, Fern Driscoll, that was having car trouble. Fern is a troubled woman that decides to pull a gun on Millie to steal her car but the action causes Millie to loose control of the car and drive off a cliff killing Fern.

With Fern dead, Millie takes on her identity. Little does Millie know but she will find more trouble assuming the identity of Fern than keeping her own name. When she is visited by a sleazy investigator it will lead to a situation involving a Senator, some letters and an ice pick. When the investigator is killed with the ice pick it will lead to Millie confessing about her true name but this has no bearing on a murder warrant issued by Hamilton Burger's office.

But as the episode continues we find an odd twist to this mystery. People are not exactly whom they seem nor are people telling the exact truth. With the true murderer rather easy to spot the episode ends with the bailiff having to restrain someone from leaving the courtroom. Then we get a confession that is a constant of any Perry Mason episode. Even with some odd events in this episode it was still a worthy watch.