The Case of the Midnight Howler

The best part of this show was the Motorola T1251B Quik-Call encoder in the radio station control room. It would've had no practical application in a broadcast station, but I guess the director figured it would look high-tech in 1965.

The offbeat title had to have been endorsed with a smile by author Erle Stanley Gardner, famous for developing the most unique mystery titles ever for Perry Mason.

A clever little story, later re-used on some cop shows, like MANNIX. Daniel J. Travanti plays an obnoxious LA radio talk show host whose claim to fame is calling people he dislikes and picking a fight with them -- LIVE on the air.

His next conquest is wealthy businessman Kevin Steele, who happens to own the radio station he's working at. You have to admit, Travanti's character is one daring guy.

By the way, Perry just happens to be listening to the show, shots ring out and Steele is killed on the air. An amazing way to die, and even more amazing is the fact Perry just happens to bump into the man's ex-wife, Holly ( played by Myrna Fahey), in the area of the crime. Needless to say, Perry believes she's innocent due to the fact lots of folks would have loved to kill this guy even sooner.

I agree with the last reviewer, both Fahey and Travanti make the most of their roles, thanks to some fine directing (as usual) by Jesse Hibbs. If you're a cop show fan, Myrna Fahey appeared in several episodes of 77 SUNSET STRIP and HAWAIIAN EYE, a popular actress at the time. Also look for veteran actor Alan Baxter as Sellers. Soap opera star Lee Patterson (ONE LIFE TO LIVE) plays Dan Thorne, an acquaintance of Holly's who gave her a gun.

What a dandy case for Hamilton Burger.

Written by Robert E. Kent, known for dozens of classic films, like DIARY OF A MADMAN, starring Vincent Price.

SEASON 9 EPISODE 16 remastered CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2. 4 dvd set. Released 2013. Thanks to METV for running these whodunits twice daily.

This was an odd premise for a 'Perry Mason' episode as we get a murder that is unfamiliar as any in the entire collection. Perhaps if the writer had made more of the characters likable- it may have went over better. But since that did not happen we get a scenario for murder that was strange and difficult to understand as we have seen in sometime.

An obnoxious radio DJ named Barney Austin, that ends his program with 'goodnight and unpleasant dreams', calls his boss, Kevin Steele, on the air. During the conversation Kevin (which is never seen) is shot. And guess what?- just so happens that Perry Mason is listening to the station.

There is many people to choose from in this mystery. Since nearly everyone in the cast hated Kevin Steele's guts, practically everyone is a suspect. But since Kevin's ex-wife, Holly Andrew, was seen near the crime seen by none other than Perry Mason -she will be charged. And she asks Perry to defend her even though Perry will be called as a witness for the state.

The ending for a novice person will be difficult to follow. And even when it is explained there will be more questions than answers.

Not one of the better scripts. For the regular person it will be difficult to understand the basis behind the electronics that will provide the true murderer, thus making the show more complex than needed. Even though the guilty party was obvious from the start- when in court they relied on poor evidence to draw a weak confession. The actors performance was the only bright spot in this weaker mystery. Not one of the better shows.

A film that delivered very capable performances all around. Myrna Fahey, in particular, was very believable as a plucky murder suspect. I liked the filming on locations and the close-ups of the principals in unusual poses. Observe in particular, the interview by the police Lt. Of the primary suspect and her responses to the questions put to her. Mason is in the scene and seems quite impressed with her resilience. I was impressed by this scene and how it was filmed. The script was intelligent and drew the viewer into the suspense. The courtroom scenes had fine performances, as usual. By the principals with Burger and Perry making good digs at one another with some humor. The usual surprise ending. If you guessed right, you were just lucky!

My rule of thumb for Perry Mason episodes holds true once again in this show. If I can figure out who the murderer is, the writers didn't do a good job.

We never see the deceased who was a rich guy who apparently enjoyed his reputation as a hard case. Among other things he owns a radio station where Daniel J. Travanti, the future Captain Furillo of Hill Street Blues is an early shock jock. He takes a call from the victim and the murder is played out over the air.

By sheer luck however, the victim's former wife Myrna Fahey ran into Perry Mason as she was leaving the deceased's house. Raymond Burr gets called as a prosecution witness to establish time and place, but he also agrees to be her defense lawyer.

And of course there are a host of alternative suspects, but I think anyone who watches both this show and mysteries in general will see this one coming for a mile.