The Case of the Dead Ringer

So sad, but true. Considering the incredibly fun dual role Raymond Burr gets himself into here, you would think the producers would have given this a color sendoff. 10 Stars.

This story is a camp classic, and even if you are NOT a PERRY MASON fan, you will get a chuckle or two out of the proceedings. Certainly not meant to be funny, but it has that over the top feel that will keep you entertained. A lot of credit goes to director Arthur Marks, who skillfully crafted many episodes and got a winning performance from Raymond Burr.

One important thing to illustrate. Burr was so closely identified with the role of Perry Mason, you really didn't see him as anybody else. This outstanding episode shows off his talents, and after many years, since he began his career playing nasty villains. He was scary back in the day, much in the tradition of Laird Cregar, even Lon Chaney. Theoretically, Burr could have also become a horror movie star.

A very ingenious story, and it's a surprise it did not come about sooner. The defendants of a lost case (thanks to Perry), attempt to turn the tables on the famous lawyer by finding a scowling, boozing seaman, called Grimes, who is the spitting image of Mason! Note the curious name, as in Grimey? With a little makeup and suitable clothes, they dress him to look exactly like Perry, now accused of bribing a witness? That throws the whole case out the window, and watch what happens NEXT.

Raymond Burr as no-account Grimes is the whole show. This is one rare situation where the storyline takes a back seat, it's ALL about the acting.

Applause to writer Jackson Gillis, who like Arthur Marks, brought the very best of Perry Mason for years. Without too much surprise, Jackson went on to write several top episodes for COLUMBO and, of course, was a hero to us kids because he wrote for SUPERMAN.

Beautiful Indus Arthur plays Barbara, and in a very good role here. Indus was a busy movie and tv actress, though her career was cut short due to ill health and death at an early age. Cult actress Arlene Martel plays Sandra, who not too long after this episode would become famous as T'Ping, the Volcan princess in STAR TREK. Arlene appeared at dozens of STAR TREK and nostalgia tv conventions for the rest of her life. She had quite a career.

Don't miss this. From SEASON 9 EPISODE 26 remastered CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2.

... but in fact it was very well done and an unusual showcase for Raymond Burr's versatile acting talent as he breaks out of his attorney persona.

The son of a man being sued over the theft of intellectual property from a now deceased boss decides to frame Perry for bribery by getting his look alike, a sailor on a fishing boat (Burr in a double role as Mr. Grimes), to dress up and imitate Perry and have him very publicly toss a witness in the case an envelope with ten thousand dollars in it along with instructions as to how to answer any questions put to her on the stand. The witness breaks down on the stand and testifies of his bribery attempt, and she has the ten thousand dollars to prove it. This undermining of Perry's credibility causes the rare occasion of Mason losing a case. But now he could be indicted for suborning perjury, so he must get to the bottom of what happened.

When I say that Grimes is a Perry Mason look-alike, that is a very loose description. Grimes is aptly named as he doesn't look like he's bathed in a month of Sundays and has a cockney accent and a very rough way about him.

An interesting factoid - One of the supporting players in this episode is Henry Beckman who you may remember, if you are old enough , played old salt Captain Clancey on Here Come the Brides from 1968 to 1970. His portrayal is so close to that of Raymond Burr's rendition of Grimes in this episode that I have to wonder if he used that performance as an inspiration for his own in that TV series.

All I will say about this is, I'm a Brit, and I admit that there are American actors who can pull off British accents, not many, but some. So, why do American actors who definitely CANNOT do British accents insist on trying to do the impossible? Raymond Burr's British accent made my teeth ache.

In an unforgettable Perry Mason production, Mr. Raymond Burr gives what is nothing less than the performance of a lifetime. A dual role is always challenging but this is an actor who meets it with all the power and art of his craft. This is simply an unforgettable viewing experience and an hour of incredible acting that should be a monument to a truly fine actor and one that demonstrates his range and skill. This, indeed, is one for the ages and will stand for all time as Mr. Raymond Burr's lasting legacy as an actor.

This is a great last season episode of Perry Mason and has been well reviewed and recounted by users. HOWEVER, I must say that it has NOTHING to do with robots, androids, a faked moon landing or the space race. Ignore big sky's rubbish. Frankly, I don't understand why IMDb would allow something so silly to be posted here! Have some respect!