The Case of the Sausalito Sunrise

There were lot of twists and turns in this one. We had a couple overzealous cops who had such tunnel vision they couldn't move forward. Both Paul and Perry are out investigating and facing danger. Paul on the road with a semi and Perry facing a gun. Still, it is never clear who did it and the result was quite satisfactory.

In this unique episode, Paul Drake truly shines. He has no less then five scenes in which he is the main player with his many talents as a P. I. and as a character are on display. William Hopper shows a full range of character and emotions as he goes undercover, carries a gun and even gets handcuffed.

As well, this is one of the most complex and exciting episodes of the entire series. There are art thefts, kidnap attempts, truck hijackings, a car chase, two murders (one a month before the start), two disappearing clients, and an openly angry Perry Mason.

An exceptional episode for the final season.

The other reviews touch all the main points to discuss: this is an episode with a lot of action and in which Paul Drake takes a surprising role. Although how and when Perry realized that 'his' case and that Paul's work for the trucking company were related, I'm not sure.

However, I didn't get to watch this episode on DVD or 'in full' via some other method. I watched it on TV, and it's likely that a minute was snipped here and a scene cut here to fit it in the TV schedule. Therefore I might have missed a scene that deals with pertinent facts of the case.

So my question is this: if only Paul and the trucking company owner knew what route Paul would be driving, who tipped off the hijackers? It was mentioned prominently that nobody knew the route--certainly not the stolen art ring-leader--so the question remains... who was it??

BTW, Della looked lovely in that first scene at the art gallery. Very chic with the upswept hair.

Here we go again -- another re-write from season one. But in this case, despite knowing from the very beginning how it would all play out, it was still a very watchable episode. The episode it's based on (The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink) is my favorite of the series, so I'll admit my bias right off.

That said, I think the writers did a good job of changing the aspects of the case to keep it interesting, despite knowing how the basic plot would run its course.

There was good chemistry in the scenes with Richard Anderson and Mark Tapscott -- with the former being obviously emotionally involved while the latter remained more emotionally detached (yet with the same perceived goal) -- and for good reason.

I also liked the similarities to scenes from the film "Bullitt", one of my favorite movies. Bravo.

I agree with the last reviewer, this is high adventure and legman Paul Drake shines, or rather William Hopper. This may be Hopper's best performance, and it's about time, because he was a very good actor in his own right.

Again, the story is a winner, thanks to series writer Ernest Frankel, possibly taking a cue from 77 SUNSET STRIP. It has that feel. Paul goes undercover as a truck driver, joining a company that has been hit by a series of hijackings. Lots of action, centering around some major thefts, including a famous painting called "Sunrise in Sausalito."

The painting turns up in an art museum run by Francis Clune (Daniel Murphy). A cop on the case is killed and Clune is the likely suspect, including his assistant Bobbi Dane, played by lovely Francine York.

Adding more to the mystery, Bobbi disappears and it turns the case upside down. While Drake is pursuing the hi-jackers, Perry defends Clune, which leads to a terrific courtroom showdown. If you're a movie buff, Murphy was great in this role because he was a natural at playing suspicious-looking characters in the first place. Also nice to see Francine York, a staple in many tv shows, including DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

Great supporting cast, many familiar faces like heavy Peter Mamakos as Deering, Allan Melvin as Bert and Stanley Clements (from the BOWERY BOYS) as Floyd. Veteran actor Kenneth MacDonald returns as the judge, perhaps one of the best actors to fill the role, sounding and looking like a seasoned judge. Surprisingly, MacDonald gained fame chasing the Three Stooges in many of their comedies.

A labor of love by director Jesse Hibbs, working overtime with Drake's truck being chased by a car late at night. Look out for the cliff!

Best of SEASON 9, the final season. Remastered CBS dvd box set, Volumes 1 and 2.