Perry Mason (TV Series) The Case of the Reluctant Model (1963) User Reviews

Everyone is a suspect in this episode

[kfo9494 · 8/10 · 17 October 2012]

Hold on to your hats in this mystery as we get one of those stories where everyone of the guest cast was a suspect in this show. It will not be until Perry assembles the entire cast that one person is still standing in the suspect area that we know the true murderer.

Maxine Lindsey is a young art student that attends an unveiling of Gauguin painting aboard a yacht owned by the millionaire, Otto Olney. Colin Durant, a teacher of Maxine, tells her that the painting is a fake. When Maxine spreads the word, Otto is not amused.

When a young artist named Goring Gilbert advises that he did paint a Gauguin painting it becomes apparent that something is afoot. Not too much longer Colin Durant is found dead in Maxine's apartment and evidence points to Maxine as being the murderer. Perry will defend Maxine in court against charges from Hamilton Burger's office.

It will be away from the courtroom as Perry asks Hamilton Burger to attend a meeting aboard the yacht. There Perry will quiz each cast member until only one is left standing. A different ending from the norm but held the viewers interest till the very end. Good show.

Note- Nice to see Ray Collins back after an extending absents.

The case of the Complicated Script

[zsenorsock · 9/10 · 16 May 2008]

This one's very complicated, so keep your scorecards handy when you watch it. Colin Durant (John Dall at his slimiest best) brings a beautiful young art student Maxine Lindsey (Erin O'Donnell, in perhaps the best role in her short career) to the showing of a Gogan painting on board a yacht owned by Otto Olney (radio Perry Mason John Larkin). Durant tells Maxine the painting is an obvious fake and encourages her to tell others. When she does, Olney wants to go after her and Durant for slander. The case gets more complicated when Olney fires Mason, Durant turns up dead and the existence of multiple fakes turn up.

The script is very good, though one wonders how both Paul and Lt. Anderson managed to beat Maxine down to the Mexican border (and later Paul mentions his men have been searching one character's apartment despite not having ANY legal authority to do so). John Larkin looks far more comfortable playing the rich art investor than he did in his previous Mason appearance, Dall is strong, and the greatly underrated Robert Brown almost steals the show as painter Goring Gilbert. Why Brown didn't become more of a star (okay, he did "Here Come the Brides") is beyond me. He has a lot of charisma.

Great Episode!

[joeygear1-411-295070 · 9/10 · 19 March 2024]

Great episode and this is only a minor spoiler but I laughed out loud at the final scene when Della shows Perry the bill that Hamilton Burger had sent for 20 cents. I had actually thought about that when Perry had asked Hamilton for two dimes earlier in the episode, as Hamilton gave him a funny look.

I also found out some trivia when I looked up Joanna Moore who played Grace Olney as I knew I had seen her on the Andy Griffith show but I never knew she was the mother of Tatum O'Neal. Apparently she had a lot of personal and professional ups and downs after her and Ryan O'Neal got divorced. Sad to hear as I thought she was a great actress!

Anyway, I mainly wanted to note the part about the bill for 20 cents but had to add the rest to make the 600 word minimum. LOL.