The Case of the Rolling Bones

The principal actors are fine, but other reviewers have written about them, so I'll just talk about two the comprimarios (bit-parts).

Richard Gaines, the character-actor playing the judge (Judge Treadwell) who grants Perry's Writ of Habeas Corpus and orders that Daniel Reed be released from the psych-ward, does a fantastic job in his small role. His intense, prickly irritation with the doctor who committed Reed, when Perry points out that the judge himself has one of the signs which the doctor cited as part of his basis for committing Reed, is a treat. Just a few minutes of screen-time, but the few minutes are super-entertaining, and a great demonstration on how to play bit-parts.

And Alan Lee, the unhealthy-looking actor with the breathy voice who plays the sleazy private detective Kemp, does excellent work portraying the unscrupulous creep.

Perry's client is 71 year old Daniel Reed, a man with some money coveted by his nephew Willard Scott. The nephew's first ploy is to get uncle Daniel deeclared senile. This leads to a humorous habeas corpus proceeding involving arcus senilus, Judge Treadwell, and Dr. Norris. A long-ago partner of Reed's, Maury Lewis, shows up, ends up dead, and Daniel is charged. Perry makes two Berger witnesses (Kowalski and Tragg) look like fools. There is a bug in Perry's office, that is initially bad for Perry, but then used by Perry. Throughout season one, there were assertions of unethical behavior. In this finale to season one, Perry makes clear to Paul that he does NOT suspect Berger and the matter gets cleared up in the epilog. How Paul could have missed the bug is implausible, but Paul did not do well in Baffling Bug either. This plot is simple; few characters and few real suspects. The value is more in how Perry casually destroys opposing witnesses and plays the bug. A light end to season one.

Daniel Reed is an old man who has just given $20,000 away to some stranger.

His nephew and his wife wants him declared incompetent and have him locked in an asylum.

An old love of Reed contacts Perry Mason who applies for a writ of habeas corpus. Only for Reed to escape and is then charged with murder.

Now Perry has to defend Reed for murder. The dead man had past links with Reed that might have resulted in murder.

This is a nice story of lost love, passion, greed and murder. Reed does not come across as senile or incompetent. There is a shady private eye who was double crossed and seemingly wants to help Perry Mason.

There is a suspicion of disreputable conduct from Hamilton Burger as Perry thinks his office is bugged.

It is another case let down by a sudden confession in the courtroom.

While these episodes focus on jurisprudence for the most part, they also have a sense of humor. Burger is deadly serious but Tragg is more of a big picture guy. Here a man is put in an asylum on the word of a couple of sleazy relatives who stand to gain from getting rid of him. But his history eventually comes into play after he escapes from the facility. I really enjoyed this one and I'm sure that there are many more to come.

The only civil right guaranteed in the body of the Constitution and not in the Bill of Rights is the subject of this Perry Mason story. Raymond Burr's client is Edgar Stehli whose nephew Arthur Space has put him in an asylum. On behalf of Stehli's girlfriend Kitty Kelly, Burr gets him released on a habeas corpus writ. But that is short lived as Stehli is arrested for the murder of King Calder.

Again fascinating because Stehli thought he had killed Calder thirty years ago in Fairbanks, Alaska. But Calder was bak and trying a little blackmail.

Intruding himself in on this case is the very oily ex-private eye Alan Lee who just makes your skin crawl. He's busy peddling information to both Perry Mason and Lt.Tragg. His is the performance you won't forget.

Figure out who has the most to gain by Stehli's plight and you will know who the murderer is.