The Case of the Fraudulent Foto

Even though this is a nice episode about political corruption and personal gain, the story did not play well on the screen. The viewer has to keep up with all the witnesses and characters as Perry makes his way through the case. By the time we get to the actual courtroom proceedings the story seemed confused by all the minor characters and testimony that has already been given.

The corruption involves the bribery of the building of Northport General Hospital. During the construction of the hospital shortcuts were taken on the materials which lead to bribes being given to overlook the problems. Now Brander Harris, a District Attorney from Waring County, is set to have a Grand Jury hearing into the bribes during the construction of the hospital. However someone is trying to discredit Harris by setting up a scandalous photo with the young DA and beautiful woman. Harris goes to Perry to help him uncover who was behind the picture.

But Perry will soon be defending Harris in court on murder when one of the main players of the hospital problem ends up dead and the evidence points to Harris as the murderer. Perry will have to navigate not only through the criminal court system but also conduct a Grand Jury investigation into the corruption of the hospital.

When we get to the end of the episode all of the interest of the show had withered. Perhaps if they had stuck with the murder instead of going on so long with the Grand Jury then the show may have been more entertaining. The story was not bad, it was the side show of all the characters and their actions that brought this show down.

Dodgy businessmen, flunky journalists, crooked politicos. Nothing is new.

Brander Harris, a District Attorney from Waring County is investigating the corruption involved in the construction of a hospital. Bribes were paid, shortcuts were made the hospital did not meet safety standards.

Only Harris himself falls victim to a honeytrap sting. A photo with an attractive lady which finds itself in the desk of a journalist.

When one of the men involved, fixer Marshall Scott is found dead. Harris is arrested for murder.

Perry Mason finds himself defending a DA. As Harris is now out of action, Mason also acts as the prosecuting attorney in the Waring County corruption investigation.

A solid story but it gets a bit too confusing here and there with the various characters. At least there were a lot of suspects but it was not always clear as to how they were precisely involved.

Perry Mason goes to the other side and becomes both a prosecutor and an attorney for a prosecutor, a small county District Attorney played by Hugh Marlowe who has convened a Grand Jury in his town to investigate kickbacks and fixes in the construction trade.

But those same forces are out to get Marlowe before he gets them. He's accused of the murder of his prime target a prime political fixer in the state. Of course this guy had a bunch of other people who would like to have done him in including his own wife.

In order to get Marlowe to turn himself in, Raymond Burr has to go to Marlowe's county seat and conduct the Grand Jury probe. He gets evidence implicating his own client which naturally makes things even tougher than usual.

William Hopper's Drake Detective Agency comes in mighty handy in the gumshoe department here.

Decent enough episode the first of many that Hugh Marlowe did for the Perry Mason Show.

I always liked Hugh Marlowe and his deep baritone voice. Here he is an honest man who puts truth ahead of self interest. He gets caught in a contracting scheme and puts his safety on the line. Good epiisode.