The Case of the Corresponding Corpse

A man who failed to make his flight finds that his plane crashed and uses it to defraud he insurance company so his wife will benefit. This is one of those cases where a loyal, loving soul pays a price for her commitment to this guy when he decides to face the music. The complications bring in some pretenders, including a blackmailer from the insurance company. I rather enjoyed this first offering of the Second Season.

Some things seem different 1 Paul's knock. But Della has to go to the door to let him in 2 significant music played to emphasize moments of stress or enlightenment 3 since when does Paul present a bill?

Feels like a new writer or director.

George Beaumont is a businessman who faked his own death after the plane he was meant to be on crashed into the Atlantic Ocean several years earlier.

His wife got the life insurance money and is doing well with the business. She also has a new man in her life.

George has been living in crummy digs and become a painter. He has also started a relationship with Ruth Whittaker.

Everything is now at risk. An insurance investigator called Harry Folsom has found out the truth about George and threatens blackmail.

George is in no mood to pay and plans to tell the truth. He even attempts to contact Perry Mason.

Later George is found dead and Ruth is arrested for his murder. She paid Folsom $7000 in blackmail and later found out that George was planning to get back with his wife.

I liked how Folsom said he could make the problem go away for a few thousand dollars and Ruth just ups and tells him she could raise 6 or 7 thousand dollars. No attempt at negotiation.

Then she must have been livid when George planned to get back with his wife. Just how solid was her relationship with George?

The courtroom scenes were the saving grace of this story. Especially how Mason embarasses Folsom on the stand. Later the trick with the knitting needles.

What makes this episode great is a tight story line, nothing crazy or outlandish. There is an extortion element, a love desire, and fked death ll neatly wrapped together.

Camp title for the second season opener, and an outstanding mystery. The only episode Don Brinkley wrote. Missed opportunity. Don was instrumental in many cop shows in a long career, later creating TRAPPER JOHN.

Ross Elliot plays George Beaumont who fakes his own death in a plane crash -- he supposedly was a passenger. Very clever. The insurance money goes to his wife, but there's a third party. Enter slick investigator Vaughn Taylor (as Harry), playing a blackmailer who wants a slice of the pie --until George turns up dead a SECOND time?

Beautifully done and well acted. Joan Camden, who appeared in three series episodes, plays Perry's client, Ruth. Future soap opera star Jeanne Cooper plays Laura, an actress who could handle a wide range of roles.

Taylor definitely has fun with his part as you will see. He guested on many classic tv shows, generally brooding or bitter old gents with a bone to pick with someone.

Note, a groundbreaking episode, featuring a female judge for a change of pace. Not clear if Don Brinkley wrote it that way, but the casting people are to be congratulated.

Brinkley may have been inspired from a classic ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS episode called "Don't Come back Alive," where the wife was the phony victim instead of the husband.

SEASON 2 EPISODE 1 remastered CBS/Universal box set. Vol. 1 and 2. 4 dvds. Released 2007.