The Case of the Garrulous Go-Between

Raise your hand if you can spot all the Warner Brothers/ABC TV stars here. With the cancellation of 77 SUNSET STRIP and HAWAIIAN EYE, producers eagerly wanted to cast some of these folks, including director Irving J. Moore.

One bizarro episode, and Moore works his magic, just like he did on 77SS. WB alum Sue Randall (also from LEAVE IT TO BEAVER) plays Amy Scott. She's got her suspicions about fortune teller Madame Zillia (Lori March in a camp role), suspected con artist. Or is she? March hams it up, dressed in black with a crystal ball(!), forcasting doom for those around Amy. Her kindly landlord, Mr. Bundy (Jacques Aubuchon, a poor man's Sidney Greenstreet), has a theatrical connection to the fortune teller and is promptly murdered. Dead men tell no tales...

Now the little problem; there's a time lapse as to when Amy saw Bundy dead. Perry stares her down when he also learns Amy's father was financially ruined by Madame Zillia. Who to believe, what to believe? Putting this prime mystery together is absolute fun, the courtroom re-construction and reveal well worth the wait.

Anthony Eisley, star of HAWAIIAN EYE, looking dashing as ever, has an interesting role, also landing on the witness stand. March should have been nominated for an Emmy, a wonderful dramatic actress, who appeared in a string of soaps; SECRET STORM, AS THE WORLD TURNS, later TEXAS.

Best Scene; Paul pretending he's sleeping in someone else's bed?

SEASON 7 EPISODE 22 remastered CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2. The entire series is in a mega box. Released 2022. Thanks METV for running these oldies twice daily.

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.

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.

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.

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.