The Case of the Positive Negative

When you think that the writers have done every plot two or three times and there is nowhere left to go, you get a episode like this one and remember how great this series was to the TV world. This is a great mystery with fine twists and turns that make the viewer glad to watch.

A respected former General named Roger Brandon has been picked by the Governor to head a law enforcement committee against a man named George Emory that controls illegal operations in the town of San Carlos. With General Brandon leading the operation the other men on the committee will be Stanley Overton, Frank Cummings and Perry Mason. The committee will be made with people that want to put a stop to Emory's rule in the small town.

But when someone takes pictures of General Brandon's wife in a hotel room, they will try to blackmail Brandon into not taking the job. With General Brandon thinking Emory was behind the pictures, he goes to visit him. Emory denies taking the pictures or having the negatives. Right after General leaves his house, George Emory is killed. The murder weapon just so happens to be a gun belonging to the General.

With Perry defending the General in court, it will be the grainy pictures that will bring the case to a close. But the true murderer will be someone that you least expect. Someone that is not who they seem to be. Great story.

This episode was pretty interesting. My guess as the killer was Mayor Stoner from the Andy Griffith Show. Of course he was too obvious with his snarling voice and gritting teeth. The case against the General was not very strong and Burger seemed less than enthusiastic about the outcome of the trial.

Love the title, direct from the Erle Stanley Gardner book of catchy tag lines.

See this for Oscar nominee Brian Donlevy, an unforgettable actor (BEAU GESTE), in one of his final roles before retiring. Appropriately enough, he plays a distinguished general who is named to an anti-crime committee amid lots of publicity. Then comes a little tidbit concerning his wife -- photographed with one of his colleagues in a not too flattering situation. Good Grief.

All roads lead to slickster mobster Ted de Corsia (Emory), obviously it's "pay off" time for the general, who does confront him, while he's alive. Not long after the general leaves, Emory is murdered, you can guess the rest and Perry has his work cut out for him.

Simple story, however, very entertaining and applause for Donlevy, turning on the dramatics. Following this episode he co-starred with several western veterans in ARIZONA BUSHBACKERS. The debit is Ted de Corsia didn't have more screen time, dean of bad guys, fondly remembered for THE ENFORCER opposite Humphrey Bogart. Simon Scott (Stacy) guest stars.

Written by Robert E. Kent, author of several cult films, DIARY OF A MADMAN (Vincent Price) at the top of the list.

SEASON 9 EPISODE 28 remastered CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2. Thanks to METV for running these whodunits twice daily.

I just couldn't get all excited about this one. Nothing wrong with it; just nothing new. It's the usual men's club, flexing their muscles. Yes, there was political corruption being addressed, but that's only part of the plot. When that picture of the General's wife is found, she appears terrified in the picture. There is nothing incriminating about it. She looks half asleep (which she is). The weekly series probably had run out of steam with too much pressure on the writers.

Classic film villain Brian Donlevy guest stars in this Perry Mason episode and he's Raymond Burr's client. Donlevy plays a retired army general who is now getting involved in civic affairs for the small town of San Carlos. The town recently separated itself from Los Angeles and is now in the grip of racketeer Ted DeCorsia.

Donlevy has been offered an appointment by the Governor of California to head a Kefauver like committee to get rid of the rackets in San Carlos. Raymond Burr is on the committee himself along with Donlevy, Simon Scott, and Parley Baer. But DeCorsia who owns the town newspaper has gotten some compromising pictures with Donlevy's wife Bettye Ackerman and aide John Anthony Hayes. Later on DeCorsia winds up shot to death with a pistol belonging to Donlevy and Donlevy is charged with the crime.

As you can see there's no shortage of suspects. Once again Raymond Burr demolishes William Talman's carefully constructed case. I have to admit the outcome did throw me, I had the real murderer wrong.

As I suspect other viewers will also.