The Case of the Capricious Corpse

This is one of the novel based cases for Perry. As a result, things get mighty complicated. It sometimes does not help watching these on METV because there are sometimes scenes getting cut to fit in extra commercials. Most of these run 52 minutes without commercials so when they get cut there are times the scenes missing are important in the plot development. (Not always)

Rather than going into the plot, I always seem to find a lot of interesting people in the guest casts. What surprised me with this one is that some of these folks did a lot of soap opera work. Another surprise was there were no name guests this time, all of them were people who did supporting roles most of their careers.

Regardless, this is one of the few that Lt. Tragg and Lt. Anderson both appear in. Tragg was such a good character I actually miss him in the later seasons but understand his health went downhill and Ray Collins just could do these anymore. The show really kept quiet about cast things like health. Earlier in this series William Talman (Burger) was actually fired from the show for a few episodes. He had major health issues the last couple of seasons (Lung Cancer from smoking) too.

This was an episode where the writers got a little too clever by a half. Maybe it couldn't be helped because Perry Mason's client Jan Shepard was busy trying to put one over on Raymond Burr while he's trying to get her off. It was all for the kids however, she and Lee Farr were trying to save a kid's foundation, the pride and joy of their employer the dying Carleton Gage who sent for Burr to change his will.

But Gage slips into a coma before Perry Mason arrives and later John Morley his second heir is found dead. What to do, but try and jiggle with the times of death so that Morley's wife and Shepard's sister is the beneficiary. I won't go into the details but it's what puts Shepard in the jackpot for murder.

I mean Farr and Shepard should have realized there was a murder afoot when Morley is found dead. Anyone with half a brain would have.

Not my favorite Mason at all.

A foundation which helps disabled children is in danger when the man who founded it has a stroke and dies. The problem is a will that will end up sending the foundation reeling. So this young couple takes matters into their own hands. They aren't the murderers of one of the heirs, but the young woman is blamed. The problem for me is that they do all kinds of things that would be interfering with the case. So what happens to them? This is the reason for my lower rating.

I agree, a complicated story for its own good, however clever, it makes for a powerful courtroom showdown. The twist -- the fate of a worthy cause hangs in the balance for a change of pace.

Dying millionaire Carleton Cage, who operates a foundation for disabled youths and orphans, is about to re-write his will, aware his son-in-law Ernest and nephew plan to sell the property as soon as he dies. The catch is Ernest is killed, found by Nick Blake (Lee Farr) one of the curators of the foundation. He and his partner Joane (Jan Shepard) concoct a scheme to make it look like Ernest died in car accident, and Joane winds up getting accused of murder. The best laid plans of mice and men, right?

One of those tricky stories where a staged car wreck -- the car rolling off a cliff --- is the hightlight for all us thrill seekers, perhaps something even Erle Stanley Gardner himself wanted added to the script.

It makes for an exciting twist, you have to admit. Nevertheless, two innocent people get themselves in deep (too deep) trouble for an honorable cause.

Other suspects with motives? Most definitely.

Jan Shepard, who passed in 2025, appeared regularly on tv, often in GUNSMOKE and the VIRGINIAN, Lee Farr was co-star in the DETECTIVES, opposite Robert Taylor.

Written by Jonathan Latimer, a favorite writer of Gardner's, who wrote over 30 stories for the show. Famous for film classics like THE GLASS KEY and THE BIG CLOCK.

SEASON 6 episode 2 remastered CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2. Thanks to METV for running these solid gold mysteries twice daily.

The opening scenes were not, as noted on the orphanage sign, in Palos Verdes. The filming was done at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, formerly known as The "Lucky" Baldwin estate. Made very famous for the opening of the TV series "Fantasy Island". "Ze plane. Ze plane." The Arboretum is still used as a filming site today (2019).