The Case of the Misguided Model

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.

Mary Ann Mobley (former Miss America) plays a woman auditioning for a part for a soap company. The owner wants someone who is morally "pure" to sell her soap and Mary Ann appears to be just perfect.

However, she is being stalked by a former boyfriend and has her current boyfriend escort her home to her apartment. He hears a noise, enters the apartment, and is jumped by a man in the dark. They struggle and the current beau emerges unharmed but his adversary falls behind the couch. Mary Ann uses the pay phone in the hall to call the police and upon entering her apartment finds her stalker who is dead, lying behind the couch.

Her current beau moves the body to a nearby alley where police later find a wino standing over the body rummaging through the corpse's pockets. He is arrested for murder.

The beau goes to Perry and confesses so when the wino is brought up on charges, Perry knows he is innocent.

How the situation is solved is interesting. As for another reviewer, why Mary Ann's agent has a swimming head all the time is disclosed near the end. What had happened to him?

P.

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.

This is so ludicrous. Imagine what it would take to orchestrate the supposed killing of a man and having him mistaken for one already dead. Throw in an ex-boxer who is dumber than a box of rocks, going for help and then refusing it. Perry having to disobey attorney/client privilege. Then a shootout with police for which there is no punishment. Dumb 1960's television. Also, those pictures on the TV as Mary Ann Mobley tries to become Miss Snow Cone are pretty tame. Who is that guy? And her tantrum as she destroys the display of soap behind her. Taking one last shot to knock down the package she missed the first time. I guess I was too stupid to realized why Rudy was walking around in a daze, looking like he could die ay minute.

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.