The Case of the Wrathful Wraith

As a recent convert to perry mason, 3 seasons so far. I found this show to be so tedious that I fell asleep twice before powering through to the end.

Marian McCargo (aka Marian Moses) played Louise Selff, the client that Raymond Burr (Perry Mason) exonerated twice in this episode. She was the mother of William R. Moses, who played Ken Malansky in the Perry Mason TV movies and Cole Gioberti on Falcon Crest. She tested for the part of Maggie, Cole's mother, but they said she looked too old! Then she tried out for the part of Maggie's mother, but she was deemed too young! She did end up with another part on the show. She was the grandmother of Remington Elizabeth Moses, the daughter of William and his ex-wife Tracy. She was the former mother-in-law of Tracy Nelson, the daughter of Rick Nelson & Kristin Harmon (Mark Harmon's sister). Tracy's brothers are Matthew, Gunnar (aka the band Nelson), and Sam Nelson. Tracy is known for her roles on Square Pegs (Jennifer DeNuccio) and Sister Steve on Father Brown Mysteries.

The defendant is such a mess that even though she get off, she will fly off the rails if she sees a mouse. The plot is one of those where a guy is thought to be dead, his wife is charged, and he shows up alive later in the show. I have to agree with the person who talked about how unsympathetic her character was. Perry didn't want her institutionalized but treatment for mental illness wouldn't be a bad idea.

In this unique and entertaining story we get a situation that is as odd as any Mason show in the collection. An episode that was excellent to watch with a story that was fascinating to the very end.

The episode begins as Perry is defending Louise Selff for a charge of murder. She is accused of murdering her husband on a yacht and disposing the body in the ocean. With the body never found and the testimony all circumstantial, the Judge throws out the charge due to insufficient evidence.

After the court hearing Ms Selff is haunted by seeing visions of her dead husband and verbal contacts from the grave. People are now believing that Louise is going insane and now telling that she actually has seen her husband. But things go from strange to bizarre when her husband is found recently shot on the balcony of the Selff estate. With Louise in possession of the murder weapon she will again go to trial for the murder of her husband.

Perry will again defend Louise Selff in court for the second charge of murder. In court, Perry will tiptoe through testimony involving a contract that will prove to be the reason for all the problems. Louise Selff is not insane nor is she guilty. The true murderer will be exposed and Perry will exonerate his client for the second time in one episode. -- One of the better shows in the last season of the series.

Who else better to write this macabre story than the likes of Henry Farrell, who wrote two of the greatest movie chillers, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE and HUSH, HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE, both starring Bette Davis.

Henry did a fabulous job here, a story all about a woman called Louise (played by Marian McCargo) believed to have killed her husband --but there's no body? Next there's some EERIE seances, rumors that Louise is slowly going insane(!) and a situation where the supposed dead man comes back to life? A perfect puzzler for Perry Mason.

Fun stuff, and as I have noted before, the final season was one of the best because all story options were on the table. Somehow the more offbeat, it all clicked, and the acting always above par.

Marian McCargo, prior to her screen career, was a recognized national tennis champion who later married California state Rep Alfonzo Bell, and also helped him raise his sons. Yes, she does resemble actress Dina Merrill. Look for Don Dillaway, playing a reporter. Best known (to all us movie buffs) for playing a young soldier father (killed in battle) in the goofy Laurel and Hardy comedy, PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES (1932). Not to be missed.

Trying to figure this one out is worth it.

SEASON 9 EPISODE 9 remastered CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2. Released 2013.