The Case of the Melancholy Marksman

No doubt Erle Stanley Gardner and his cast of writers kept tabs on Hitchcock's tv show, even William Castle, who produced lots of dark mysteries. Case in point, Castle's lead writer, Robb White, wrote this whodunit. White's most distinguished work was THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, which inspired Hitch to produce PSYCHO. Small world, isn't it?

Mason Note; Listen to the ominous background music, which Hitch insisted on in all his productions, and surely White had a hand in this too.

Very entertaining backstabber. Paul Richards plays a desperate chap who wants to kill his nasty wife ( Mari Blanchard), BUT he just can't do it. Good for him, bad for him. He tosses the rifle and it gets into somebody else's hands. Do the math. This episode, interestingly, gets into forensics in order to clear Perry's client, a clever change of pace. The idea likely borrowed from DRAGNET.

Marvelous supporting cast, including Jeff Donnell (as Sylvia) and Ann Rutherford playing Ellen. Comedian Jesse White makes an appearance as Cecil. One goof though; according to notes the ballistics technician is wearing glasses with no glass? Watch carefully. Lots of possibilities here, could be camera angles and reflection, or a chance the actor did not wear glasses and real glasses would hurt his eyes. Last but not least, cheap props. Props usually win out.

Still 10 Stars. Recommended for us armchair lawyers. SEASON 5 EPISODE 24 CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2. Thanks always to METV for running these oldies twice daily.

...every single bit of it.

You have to realize the level of manipulation that this woman had been involved with.

Of course she is not going to give her husband "the vitamins" at home, he would not have taken them. The only way to get them into Ted Chase's digestive system would be to have the manipulated bartender (Jesse White of "Harvey") slip Ted a Radiation-Mickey.

There are also other things to consider, a person in a thunderstorm would not necessarily close the windows, especially if it were humid outside like it would be during any thunderstorm in Southern California. I sometimes keep my windows open during thunderstorms. There was also an argument about some glass enclosing a balcony, but that would be no issue considering the angle of the proposed sniper-scope use.

Everybody knew this woman was bad and everybody hated her guts, even the children with her ill. My god what a horrible person, the rottenest person of any Perry Mason episode, ever.

This episode includes Ann Rutherford, far away from the Oregon Trail and Andy Hardy. And there was kind of a Shelley Winters clone, but it was actually an actress name Jeff Donnell. And of course William Schallert, far away from "deep space station K-7", "Deep Space 9", and any Quadro-triticale or Tribbles or Bajoran musical gadgets.

Actually I consider this one of the most clever Perry Mason episodes of all time, because you really don't know what had happened until the very last minute, and for once we didn't have a screaming or crying confession in the witness booth. sometimes those are too much. But, this was the second time this kind of reveal had been used in a Perry Mason episode, where an injury was revealed like this. The first time was in S02E15, "TCOT Foot-loose Doll" and it is Barton McLane from treasure of the Sierra Madre who was Perry's victim that time.

Paul Richards is the client of Raymond Burr in this Perry Mason episode in which he plays a poor schnook of a socialite whose two timing scheming wife is taking away his company and whatever assets with her machinations. Of course with California being a community property state she'll do it anyway in a divorce. A couple of times Richards is shown on a rooftop ready to do her in with a sniper's rifle, but can't quite pull the trigger.

Someone does it to Mari Blanchard whom the writers make to be almost a caricature of a wicked Barbara Stanwyck part. Perhaps Stanwyck was the only actress who could have pulled off this particular wicked woman. There are sure any number of alternate theories and suspects for this woman.

What blows up William Talman's case is forensics. Burr challenges them quite successfully and in doing so unmasks the real killer on the stand.

Not the best of Mason episodes, but all right.

If you are looking for a feel-good show then pass on this episode. This involves a relationship that is uncomfortable even to the viewer.

It begins when a husband, Ted Chase, steals a rifle from a sporting goods store because he had thoughts of killing his wife. His wife, Irene Chase, is a vamp that seems to have a relationship with every other man in the cast.

As much as we want to feel remorse for the situation that Ted Chase is living- it turns sour when he has his wife in the cross-hairs of the rifle for killing. Even though Mr Chase does not pull the trigger, it will be hard to feel sorry for him as the show continues.

After Mr Chase cannot kill his wife, he throws the rifle down am air vent. Later on the radio, we learn that Irene Chase had been killed and the police is looking for Ted Chase.

Perry will have his hands full as he tries to defend an not-so-innocent man on charges of murder. But through the testimony of witnesses, it becomes apparent that someone wanted Ted Chase in serious trouble.

This is a crowded cast that at times is difficult to follow. Much time is seemed spent on stocks, stock bonds and stock certificates - so I was trying to keep those separate as we progress to the court hearing. But by the end of the show, anything with stocks was just a red herring.

Perhaps after many really good shows, this mystery seemed almost dull. But there is good courtroom activity that will please the most novice Mason fan and lead the case to an acceptable ending.