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Reviews
Crooked House (2017)
Netflix Mistake
If someone told you that the most interesting part of this "film" was the opening scene--would it matter? Simply basing your viewership on the "Agatha Christie" name is not a safe signal of quality. Not good viewing if you are at all tired, and looking for subject matter to "pique" your interest--it's not in "Crooked House," where the mansion is the "star" and actors remain mostly stationary in its rooms during the filming. This review contains no spoiler--as I went to bed at about the 100 minute mark. Sorry.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Ugly Duckling (1964)
Sargent Brice speaks with Perry
This episode merits watching--as every character introduced winds up either connected (testifying), or with motive to murder Harry Trilling--a man we learn has only the acumen to sell major appliances, much less, figure out what to do with his troubled niece. I remember on Second City TV, where the station manager sat in a wheelchair so he could earn respect--that's Harry Trilling--and I believe it could have been a last minute decision to put him in the wheelchair--to have him look somewhat sympathetic--otherwise this character couldn't have made it through the second scene. Anne Whitfield has a gorgeous makeover--and someone that in earlier episode was hot--Constance Towers--is somehow convinced to wear a hair wrap--clearly, not the best look for her. Watch it once--enjoy it.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Tandem Target (1964)
The Annual Car-Crash Death Episode
The case initially unfolds about a paranoid Sumner getting police protection through his stepdaughter's boyfriend, a folk singer, really?, on a motorcycle, that carries it on a motorcycle?--and I still can't believe he'd have any motive, but he sits in the defendant's spot, when the judge asks "Mr. Mason, do you plan to present a defense," and Perry uncovers the unscrupulous business practices in the dental fillings business. Dan Seymour is his reliable self, but I still do not believe they went through the elaborate scheme to have Phil Ober play both Sumner (the evil twin) and Adrian, the twin with a conscience, and nothing comes from it? I can't believe this was done by the producer to save money on actors. Enjoy it, if you enjoy Paul Carr's folksinging. The episode "runs out of gas" at the finish line as we work through the last plots of season 7.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Antic Angel (1964)
Good Perfomances Overcomes Issues of Believability
While another Perry Mason with some complicated assumptions and some very low probabilities, such as women changing seat assignments on a plane from Chicago to St. Louis would have such consequence, or that a man would recognize his wife he believed to be dead for 6 months with a different hair color--you'll be fine. Watch this episode because of the great performances of Richard Erdman, Michael Ansara, and Peter Breck--each playing a personality so opposite of that which they're known best, they keep you interested--and if you're recording these episodes, you'd might watch it again.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Woeful Widower (1964)
You thought New Orleans was an adult funhouse--but the action was really in Susanville.
The point of the review is get someone either to watch the episode, or not watch the episode--and I'd watch this because the unusual plots twists which have you suspecting all roles having motives to kill Elizabeth Bain, with only her voice appearing. More could be written, but not with revealing a spoiler. At one time, you too would empathize with the "Woeful Widower," until you realize that the character was written to have had sex with at least four women described in this episode.
Watch, and the re-watch to enjoy what the producers accomplished.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Arrogant Arsonist (1964)
How did the fire accellerants get into Carey York's car again?
Most of the blame in this one should go on the producer. We have some stock fire-fighting footage, an empathetic scene of the responsibilities of the LA County Fire Department, an excuse to show some Hollywood fire scene equipment, and in the end--only one person remaining in episode to be the killer--other than Gertie. Telling anymore of the plot would be a spoiler, but, perhaps appropriate to lauch a complicated scheme to "smoke-out" a double-murdering "Arrogant Arsonist", but watch it once, to say to you did. Watch it for only to see perfectly square forehead wrinkles on the acting chief--it's probably these wrinkles which earned him the role.