The Case of the Hateful Hero

I often knock these down for a lack of verisimilitude. This has a couple of weak elements, but with the exception of some time issues in the case, it works. There are enough bad guys to go around. There are guys previously thought to be good who have pass muster in the court. We have a subplot of a company sale which would feather the nests of some of the partners. We have what seems like an open and shut case since two principles have stolen money in their homes. We have the tension between Andy Anderson and his just promoted cousin. It's a good deal of fun.

The great character actress Jeanette Nolan replete with German accent highlights the Perry Mason episode. Raymond Burr's client here is Dick Davalos playing rookie patrolman James Anderson cousin of series regular Weslay Lau.

A rather wild and unrealistic plot drags Davalos into a jackpot whereby he stands accused of the murder of a night watchman and former LAPD officer. He's further accused of being part of a robbery of the same factory in which Nolan's son who is Wesley Lau's best friend on the force and training officer for Davalos is killed.

The most unrealistic thing about this story is Raymond Burr asking for and getting Nolan's cooperation in apprehending the real perpetrator. Again Perry Mason defends no guilty clients, but Nolan thinks Davalos culpable in her son's murder. A bit much to ask and get in this episode one of the lesser ones in this long series.

I kinda liked this one. Jeanette Nolan plays her part well. The rest of the cast perform at an equal level. Direction is not heavy-handed. Red herrings are galore, & the identity of the real killer is hidden well. The only downside to this one is the fact that Lt Anderson would never have been allowed to take part in the investigation of a relative. Once you get beyond that, it is very entertaining and suspenseful. The reaction of Leonard Stone at the denouement is a welcome change from the status quo. Good watch.

Jeanette Nolan makes this episode. Her acting is quite amazing. Her emotion when she's screaming and Perry is great. I like many of the Perry episodes enough to give a nine or ten, but this might well be my favorite.

I really enjoyed this particular episode as they showed a more human, compassionate side of the usually no nonsense, tough as nails, Lieutenant Andy Anderson. With all the hullabaloo over the great character actress, Jeanette Nolan, as a grieving mother of a young police officer, who dies in the line of duty, no one seems to have mentioned Mabel Albertson, who portrays Carrie Wilson, the head of Wilson Plastics. Of course, she is best known in her role as Darrin Stephen's mother, Phyllis, on Bewitched...Perry asks the court to grant a recess because she feels one of her sick headaches coming on and needs to lie down in his office!