| | | | 
Product Description:
The Case of the Fraudulent Photo Airdate February 7, 1959 and The Case of the Terrified Typist Airdate June 21, 1958 |  | | | |
Average Rating : 
Rating : - Courtroom Murder Mysteries
The "Perry Mason" novels were a form of mystery stories where the detective is a lawyer and the solution occurs in a courtroom. A real life court trial is not as dramatic. Erle Stanley Gardner often educated his readers with new technology or medical-legal facts, and often warned of swindles. The TV stories are simplified and changed versions from the original novel; many were created for TV. Some may criticize the tactics of Perry Mason but they represent life before the modern legal rules of the 1960s ("habeas corpus"). The prices and automobiles date these stories, so too the monetary figures. They record the styles and culture of the 1950s. The wealth of character actors enriches these stories; their emotions are portrayed by their facial expressions. [Does anyone recognize the view from Perry Mason's office window?]
"The Case of the Fraudulent Foto" begins when a man enters a hotel to meet the secretary of a town official. District Attorney Harris wants evidence of corruption. But is this a trick to take a scandalous photo of the DA? Will it stop his investigation? D.A. Harris meets with a powerful industrialist and political boss of Waring County and is shown that photo. What will the D.A. do? He runs into Perry Mason and asks for his advice. Who is behind this political dirty trick that tries to prevent the exposure of political corruption that led to a sub-standard building? When Perry goes to visit town official Marshall Scott he finds a murder victim. D.A. Harris' fingerprints are on a blunt object that fits the head wound! Paul Drake begins his investigation into the case. A building inspector is afraid to testify because of fear of reprisal. Will the trial of Harris reveal a frame-up? Will some witness reveal a fact that leads to the truth about this mystery? It ends by explaining the tactics of a political boss. [This story exposes political corruption that was seldom mentioned in the "Perry Mason" novels. Does it remind you of "The Calendar Girl"? Does DA Harris resemble Senator Estes Kefauver?]
"The Case of the Terrified Typist" begins when the owners of a jewelry firm go to lunch. Later a woman enters to search for papers. A visitor catches her, but she escapes and finds refuge in Perry Mason's office (they expected a temporary typist). The police search of the building does not find her. Later a body is dumped off a pier. A witness called the police. Paul Drake tracks that typist from the jacket left behind. She is the wife of Senator Taylor. There are some hidden facts in this story about stolen jewels. Will the defendant give the name of the married woman he was with as his alibi? What do Dwayne Jefferson's letters say? The jury finds Perry's client guilty and do not recommend mercy! But Perry found a witness for Jefferson's alibi. There is a surprise ending that is shocking but allows Perry to not lose his case.
Read more ... | |
