The Case of the Misguided Model

Fern Bronwyn is more deeply tied to the murder than we are lead to believe when Paul talks with her in Seattle. The very opening of the episode, right before Duke and Sharon enter her apartment Fern is seen either closing or trying to open Sharon's door. She then disappears and Duke and Sharon appear in the hallway approaching Sharon's apartment. Her appearance near the end of the episode at the studio and later at the cabin isn't really explained. Paul got the pictures from Fern that upset Sharon, but why Fern travelled to LA is a mystery.

The 'regulars' of the Perry Mason cast are great as usual - nothing out of the ordinary. However, this episode exposes a different side of the noted lawyer than to what we are usually exposed - vulnerability.

An innocent-appearing young woman, trying for her breakthrough job into acting by being a spokesperson for a soap company, seemingly becomes the victim of a botched burglary at her apartment. Fortuitously she has been accompanied home by a friend - an ex-boxer. As he enters her apartment he's attacked by an unknown assailant as the door closes and locks behind him. Because of his quick wits and fighting abilities he quickly overpowers the attacker and opens the door to let in the young woman, only to find it seems the attacker has been killed by his blows.

The ex-boxer has had dealings with Perry Mason before (in a contract dispute with a previous employer), so, of course, he calls him and reveals all, admitting to killing the victim. Unfortunately he further assisted by removing the body from the apartment to prevent tarnishing the career goals of the young actress. To complicate matters further, a transient finds the body dumped in an alley and, thinking it was just a passed-out drunk, he begins to take a watch and wallet only to be discovered by the police and ultimately is charged with the murder.

Many more plot twists ensue, with the man who thinks he caused the death on-the-run from the police. Predictably, Perry Mason figures out the matter and brings the episode to a successful conclusion with the true murderer being identified immediately before the end...but only after several plot twists and a cliffhanging scene posing the threat of death to Mr. Mason.

Featured in this episode are noted and highly-respected actors Paul Lukather (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0525566/?ref_=tt_cl_t7), Mary Ann Mobley (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0595039/?ref_=tt_cl_t6), and veteran character actor James Griffith (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0341526/?ref_=tt_cl_t11).

Only 4 more episodes of the Perry Mason series were aired after this - it was season 9 and CBS no longer felt it was financially feasible to continue the program...too bad. Raymond Burr and the rest of the cast had held down Earl Stanley Gardner's 'fort' admirably and could have continued had the network continued to have faith.

Why is Rudy Blair, the model's talent agent, constantly looking like he has a splitting migraine and is about to die? Is that ever explained?

Perry has a client that tells him under the 'attorney-client confidentiality privilege' that he killed a man. Now another man has been charged with the murder and Perry is in a pinch between a client and an officer of the court.

It beginning when a young model named Sharon Carmody (Mary Ann Mobley) is being threatened by a man named Art Grover. Sharon asks a young boxer named Duke Maronek to escort her home. When they get to her apartment, Duke opens the door and before he can turn the lights on he gets hit in the face. Duke fights back with Sharon outside calling the police. When the fight is over, the lights are turned on and Art Grover lays on the floor apparently dead from Duke's fist. Since Sharon is up for a spokesperson for 'White Snow' cleaning product she wants no scandal. She asks Duke to take the body outside before the police arrive. Duke does as Sharon asks and flees. Later the police arrive where Grover's body was dumped and they arrest a bum, that is robbing the body, for the murder.

Duke is scared and goes to Perry and reveals the story. He wants to make sure that Perry will not reveal the story to anyone. But when Perry learns that the bum is going to be charged with murder, he does everything in his power to try to get Duke to confess. Perry is torn between his client and making sure justice is protected.

With some help from Paul Drake and his little visit to Seattle, things are not as cut and dry as they seem. And with Duke refusing to be taken alive it will be a dangerous situation for police and Perry alike.

This was a different look at a lawyer's life as he tries hard to take the correct and ethical path. Very impressive episode with a entertaining mystery that keeps the viewer interested in the entire show. With the acting being top-notch this episode was a pleasure to watch.

The worst, the most ludicrous, the corniest, the stupidest episode of any series of any genre I have EVER seen in my long life. This is a total embarrassment. From the ridiculous start, this episode progressed, careening downhill at the most alarming acceleration of total inanity one could ever wish to witness. Enough said.