The Case of the Perjured Parrot

This episode may have been the funniest Perry Mason, but it was hard to take it seriously. First of all we have Uncle Joe from Petticoat Junction sort of conducting an inquest but not doing too good of a job. We then have good ole Mr. Wilson from Dennis The Menace trying to be a crime expert who ended up being just as inept as Mr. Wilson was at dealing with Dennis. The whole story was crazy and Mel Blanc topped it off as the voice of a parrot that didn't move his mouth half the time. I'll say this, it was entertaining.

There is almost too much plot in this episode, with too little thought involved. To explain much more would spoil it, which would be a shame because it's still an enjoyable episode in spite of itself.

For openers, good lord there is so much about this story that doesn't make any sense. To take just one example, why Sabin's secretary would devote what must have been months to train a parrot to deliver a half dozen lines in English, when he was ultimately prepared to confess to forging those checks anyway, boggles the mind. Although I suppose he could have gone in business as a parrot trainer at that point.

Others have pointed out the truly awful acting of Pamela Branch, who delivers the worst line readings I can remember in the entire "Perry Mason" series. Not that the lines themselves distinguish themselves in this episode.

On the plus side, Edgar Buchanan's brusque yet charming demeanor is a delight. And as convoluted and silly as the story is, the episode is never dull.

One of the more folksy episodes. So many great talents melded together.

Absolutely charming :)

Perry Mason moves out of the mean streets of Los Angeles into rural Logan City to defend client Jody Lawrence on a charge of murder. This was a very well constructed Perry Mason episode in which definitely things are not as they seem at first glance.

The victim here was a millionaire who was not beloved at all including by his wife who originally brings Raymond Burr into the case because her husband suspected her daughter of forging checks. That turns out not to be the case,but in the process Burr gains a client in Ms. Lawrence who maybe the victim's bigamist second wife.

The key to the case is a parrot who is nervously talking and mimicking words he might have heard during the course of the murder. Remember however, parrots have to be carefully taught.

The venue where Perry Mason practices his craft is an informal coroner's inquest, presided over informally by Edgar Buchanan. Joseph Kearns plays a rather officious criminologist who sheriff Frank Ferguson brought in to help with investigation. Burr devastates Kearns on the stand.

Many people had many reasons for wanting the victim dead. I think you'll be a bit surprised at who the perpetrator is.

Edgar Buchanan is great in these types of roles that he plays, and this is no exception. But the real star of the show is the parrot, who runs away with it. A really good, different episode and again - the parrot runs away with it. The parrot FTW!