The Case of the Laughing Lady

I must agree with the reviews I've read. The only thing I'd add would be that I'm just a little disappointed the the great John Dall wasn't given more screen time. He was always so good at being the slimy, slick, creepy guy that you HAD to know was slithering around in the background with ill intent. He had that smooth voice that went right with the parts he usually got, but on Mason, he was at his seediest.

As the ninth season get underway the writers are doing their best to come up with different plots for each weeks mystery. And in this episode they run the regulars of murder, blackmail and then introduce something new- known as distinct sound evidence. It is with this new twist that we get this episode's storyline.

The episode starts off with Carla Chaney (Jean Hale) in the women's wing of the county jail being held for the death of Gerald Havens. We do learn that the charges are not groundless since she was at the scene of the murder, she did touch the knife that killed Gerald and she was caught by police running from the area with Gerald's blood on her dress. So even to the most novice viewer, she is highly suspect.

Anyway the inmates are watching TV and see an news report about the opening of Devore Gallery owned by Leona Devore (Constance Towers). During the broadcast there is an annoying laugh away from the camera. And to Carla that was the laugh she heard when she found Gerald stabbed to death.

Since Carla has been in trouble with the law all her life, no one believes her story. That is until a judge friend ask Perry to look into the matter. We get to see a softer side of Perry when he agrees to take this case knowing full well that his fee cannot possible be paid by Carla.

The rest of the show is Perry and Paul dealing with that annoying laugh and trying to find out where and who made that sound. It also goes into the dealing of Leona's gallery and the people that work behind the scenes. And with a little luck and a lot of investigating, Perry hopes to find the true murderer.

The only problem I had in the entire show was that they spent very little time with the interesting characters in this episode. There was some top-notch actors in this episode. Instead more time is given to the business dealing of the gallery and which book Della is to check out of the library.

But as usual, when Perry finds who made that laugh the episode fulfills its purpose of entertainment. Maybe not the best mystery but one that is different. Looking forward to the next case.

Note- Richard Anderson is slowly introduced as Lt Dumm (the new Lt Tragg). He only has a bit part for this first show.

A hard and bitter Jean Hale locked up in LA County Jail for a murder she didn't commit while watching television sees the woman she thinks did the crime and hears the same maniacal laughter she heard that night. After getting out of solitary from the riot she started, Hale finds she has a new attorney in the person of Perry Mason. That should tell you right away she didn't do it.

The whole thing in this episode is identifying that same rather unique laugh and during the course of the investigation Raymond Burr and William Hopper run into Professor John Abbott who happens to be a speech pathologist. His expertise becomes invaluable.

The murderer and the laughter are identified. But wait till you see what the solution was. Rather intriguing for this episode of Perry Mason.

I thought this made for an intriguing mystery, with plenty of texture to the cast. The 'wrong side of the tracks' loser defendant really looked like a goner, with an open and shut case against her. Enter Perry Mason and new evidence was sure to follow..

Allison Hayes as "Cho Sin" was rather puzzling, though-- she was obviously supposed to be exotic, but were we to think she was really Chinese, or a Caucasian who liked to do up as Chinese? But then there's her resemblance to Constance Towers' Leona, who isn't supposed to be Asian.

Oh well, why worry? Perry's on the case. And with espionage technology, yet. Watch that cocktail olive! Who's really in charge here? Follow the money... Lots for the big guy to sort out.

Others have made good comments about the plot, so I want to focus on some other points. One of the reasons I enjoy this series so much, is that it is consistently classy. Take a good look at the big restaurant where Perry & Co. Meet Hamilton Burger and Steve Drum, the new police lieutenant. That restaurant set is very carefully done; it really looks like a high-end place. The series always paid special attention to having outstanding sets, mansions, outdoor scenes, you name it. Compared to other series of its period (the color Westerns excepted) PM just did all that better than other shows.

Another point: while Perry's client this time is not some sophisticated rich person (quite the opposite!) he does have to probe into a world full of rich people, and their hangers-on. So many of Perry's cases do involve wealthy individuals, who quite often turn out to be the villains!

One of the many nice things about this series: everybody is so well dressed, especially the ladies! This series had great style!

One minor but fun point: I recognized the judge in this episode. In a 1940's Charlie Chan film, he played a pyscho killer! It took me aback to see him on the bench!