The Case of the Woeful Widower

As stated by other reviewers, this is a re-write of the Case of the Fiery Fingers from season one, which was not one of my favorites to begin with. In this version, the writers added in more characters and subplots which simply muddied the story and made it even more implausible. It was a nice change of pace to see a different actor for a change, in this case Jerry Van Dyke ("Burford" from his brother's show and the goofy coordinator on "Coach"). Overall, there's nothing much to get excited over here, it's about as milquetoast as the title character. A common theme for the later seasons, a poorly done rewrite...

Some of the paradigm that govern Perry Mason stories if they're not broken they get twisted a bit in this episode.

Raymond Burr gets two clients to defend in this story. The stepsister of the future victim Nancy Gates asks for his services to help housekeeper Joan Banks who has been accused of theft. Later on it's Gates who becomes the client when she's arrested for poisoning her stepsister.

We never see the murder victim only hear her voice as she asks for this and that from her bedroom.

There's a nice performance from Jerry Van Dyke as an intrusive in-law. William Talman's examination of him on the witness stand is devastating.

You'll have to watch to see how the paradigm is twisted.

This episode is a re do of ESG's Case of the Fiery Fingers and a poor one it is. Confusing,excess characters, a plot that as a slight semblance to the original and even Perry lacks any real interest in the plot and plight of the characters. lThe missing ingredient was the beautiful Barbara Hale. According to the Perry Mason Case Book her absence was due to unexpected surgery thus missing 4 episodes. As small as her part it was a vital one without it the 4 episodes definitely seem lacking. She brought out the best in Raymond Burr.when she is not around it shows.

A man is being dominated by a wife who has become an invalid after a car accident. He is a Casper Milquetoast and manages to pull sympathy from everyone when he speaks of his misfortunes. He has been involved with other women, but..... This is a pretty typical episode. Perry manages to get one of the characters out of trouble at the beginning, but she is incredibly unlikeable.

The housekeeper calls the wayward husband of Elizabeth (we never see her) Lothario. Interesting word & good description of this wandering husband. I enjoyed this episode though twisted.

Della had 4 children so I wondered if she was on Maternity leave. What happened to Detective Trag- Ray Collins?

Had to replay the end several times. Hard to believe the husband didn't suspect the housekeeper. Did the writer want us to think the shallow husband thought he was just "lucky" to keep inheriting money from wives? Housekeeper, in a twisted way, thought she could keep her job & her boss.

Perry Mason is a convincing attorney. The actor, Raymond Burr, delivers his lines with such brilliance that one would think he was a real attorney.