The Case of the Garrulous Go-Between

This episode has all the things that make 'Perry Mason' still interesting today as it was in the early 60's. Good storyline, good acting and characters that are believable today as they were so many years ago.

Also in this episode we get to see Sue Randall (who played Beaver Cleaver's elementary school teacher) with those big beautiful eyes and girl-next-door presents. She plays Amy Scott that is going to a fortune-teller, named Madame Zillia (Lori March), and trying to find information about her life. But little does Madame Zillia know- she is being recorded during all the sessions with Amy.

We also see that Amy has hired Paul Drake to find out the whereabouts of a man named Tommy Stiller (John Napiers). At the beginning we are not sure why she wants to find him but by the end of the show it becomes clear.

Anyway a neighbor ends up dead and Amy becomes the suspect. And with Paul's ties she is defended by Perry.

I was captivated by the acting in the episode. Lori March, that played Madame Zillia, did a good job of becoming the fortune-teller and making the viewer accept her in the part. She is mysterious and rigid when she has to be- but also produces a soft side that has the watcher connecting with her feeling.

Sue Randall, with a face that stops traffic, is beautiful and outgoing in this episode. And from her looks, the viewer knows that she could have never done something as wrong as what has been accused in Hamilton Burger's complainant. (Sad that Ms Randall died of lung cancer at the age of 49)

This is a good watch because there is something for everyone in this episode. - Note, this is the third episode in a row that Della is not seen. She still must be visiting her aunt.

I thought this was very well paced in the way the usual complications were introduced and resolved. The beautiful young innocent accused is seeing a fortune teller, but it is telegraphed early on that she has designs. What are they? Then the involvements of the several players, including the victim, are also revealed, step by step. Finally the big picture takes shape at the usual "preliminary hearing", and we are put on tenterhooks with the subpoena of the very attractive surprise witness. I have to say I was quite taken with Madame Zillia, and her part gave her full play. Also, one of the best red herrings ever, if that's not too much of a spoiler. I was surprised to see that Lori March, as Madame Zillia, has a very thin filmography, although this is the last of her five Perry Masons, which is certainly enough to make her familiar to a devotee. Finally I must mention that Paul Drake had a lot of interesting involvement in the case, particularly in one unusual scene, and then a memorable closing vignette with Perry. I have to say I felt quite engaged for the entire hour.

Where's Della? The same people have been together for so long, it might have been a good idea to infuse a little newness into the mix. These plots are so much the same. Once again, big business is involved. A young woman works to trick a clairvoyant for whom she blames her father's death and specifically suicide. Lots in the works. Once again, a fireplace poker is used.

Sue Randall portrays the "Garrulous Go-Between" out to find the truth about her father's suicide--which drives the plot--and finds herself the defendant in the the murder of someone she believes to the "sweetest, kindest, gentlemen." This is well-written episode were there doesn't appear to be any of shortness of time for all the motives to fall into place--where the surprise isn't a surprise at all, but the process of elimination of characters--and there's the appropriate amount of characters in this episode. Lori March--who looks much better as a witness than in psychic weeds--and that is a good thing for the viewers. Much of the episode is attempted to be filmed outside, with ample sounds of birds mixed in--as opposed to its sullen inside opening scenes.

This is a better-than-average offering from the later seasons. The acting is superb, the directing is more than adequate (a welcome change) and the plot isn't muddled, as some recently have been. The highlight of this episode are the three lovely competing actresses, Sue Randall, Merry Anders and Lori March. All three play their very different parts with flair, and the emotional courtroom confession is one of the better played roles in the series. There are enough suspects to keep the viewer guessing, and the side plots are good reinforcements of the plot and not distractions. I'll recommend this one.