The Case of the Singular Double

Fun episode with lots of location shoots in old Los Angeles.

"Lockheed Air Terminal" is still operational today (2024) as Hollywood Burbank Airport, and still looks largely the same - minus the '50s cars and the phone booth so important to this episode's plot. If you like to visit old Perry Mason film locations, hurry up! This classic terminal is slated to be demolished in 2026.

***TO AVOID SPOILERS STOP READING NOW*** ***SPOILER:*** Several reviews here incorrectly state that the episode fails to explain how the body gets into Perry's client's car. That is actually explained by Perry in the final scene: The real killer and his conspirator (Marjorie Ralston) went to a car belonging to Perry's client (Lucy) to plant evidence to throw suspicion on Lucy for stealing $60,000. Once there, the killer killed Marjorie and put her body in the back of Lucy's car, to throw suspicion on Lucy for the murder as well.

With a big, old 1940s car like Lucy had, it seems plausible she wouldn't notice the petite secretary's body in the back seat.

I liked this one because in addition to the usual murder case, there is an underbelly of corruption, bribery, and graft. The opening scene of a young woman, reaching the end of her rope, delivering a suitcase, supposedly full of cash to an unlocked vehicle, is very well done. The Mason show often was built on these rich people peddling influence and throwing money around. Invariably, there is someone victimized by this who has no way out. I wasn't aware that Carol Post, Wilbur's long suffering wife from "Mr. Ed" was the blonde who gets caught up in this. I remember her thinking her husband was nuts (and rightfully so since he was routinely talking to a horse).

This episode features the drop-dead gorgeous Connie Hines in the role of Mason's client, about three months before she became famous as Carol Post on "Mr. Ed." So we get to see her a lot.

The end.

This episode of Perry Mason took us into the realm of politics, bribery, and corruption and basically saying that's how things get done if someone has a big interest. Raymond Burr's client here is Connie Hines later of the Mister Ed show who tries a real dumb play when the bribe money she was supposed to deliver winds up missing.

It turns out some other woman whose relationship to the various characters in this film I can't reveal or else it would completely spoil the show for a future viewer. But she steals the money and she winds up dead. And Hines figures that she should pose as her own cousin and identify the dead woman as herself. This after retaining Burr to find out about the missing money.

At one point during the hearing which in the Mason shows and I assume in California at the time takes the place of a grand jury here. They decide whether to bind over for trial. Anyway during the course of the examination of one witness, he gets caught in a really clumsy lie about his time of arrival in Los Angeles. I'm surprised that the writer's let that one go.

Highlight of the episode however was the unmasking of the real killer when the ADA Harry Townes put the wife of one of the suspects on the stand. Andrea King basically cleared everyone, but the murderer. After that it was the inevitable confession.

Some holes in this story prevent it from being top drawer Mason. Still the fans of the series will like it.

Several scenes were shot at the edge of the San Pedro Harbor.