In 1963, Perry Mason creator Earl Stanley Gardner was annoyed at both Raymond Burr (Perry Mason) and William Talman (Hamilton Burger) for publicly criticizing the declining quality of Perry Mason scripts. By 1965-66, Perry Mason, still in black and white, was up against NBC's Bonanza, which had been in color since it's debut in 1959, and which was #1 in the Nielsen ratings. The president of CBS, William Paley, commissioned a color episode of Perry Mason be filmed, so he could see what the show would look like in color, should it be renewed for a 10th (1966-67) season, the season all prime time shows went color. The color Perry Mason was likely filmed in September or October, 1965. There are no 1966 cars in it, as seen in later black and white episodes. CBS announced in November, 1965, that Perry Mason would not be renewed for a 10th season, but that all 30 episodes commissioned for season 9 would be filmed (black and white filming continued until March, 1966). The color episode, The Case Of The Twice Told Twist, was broadcast on CBS in color on February 27, 1966, about 2/3 of the way through season 9. The final nine episodes, leading up to the May, 1966 finale, were filmed in black and white. Barbara Hale (Della) discusses the color episode in an interview on the 50th Anniversary Perry Mason DVD release from 2008, where the episode is featured in very good color.
31 Reviews
Only Color Episode With Strong Guest Cast
DKosty12321 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
While the script on this one leaves something to be desired, when Victor Buono heads up a large guest cast, and it is the only color episode, it is hard to knock this final season episode.
This one starts with Perry & Della on a brief outing, and Mason's car is stripped and put up on blocks in less than 10 minutes. Can't say that happens all the time. Della Street (the late Barbara Hale) looks pretty good in color. Thank goodness Paul Drake does not get one of the tacky suits he had in some of the black and white shows.
The plot has to do with a teenage car stripping group being led by an evil adult stripping cars in San Francisco. Then, after Perrry drops the charges on one of the teens, a murder happens which makes things more serious for everybody. As usual there are several suspects.
While this is an average episode, the fact that unique things happen in this one make it worth a look. Too bad Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) was no longer available for this one as it would have been neat to have seen him in color. I am not sure if any of the regular cast is still alive but Collins and William Hopper were among the first cast members who died from thiis mother cast. Hopper only outlived his mother, Hedda by 4 years and died way too young.
This show was made the same era Buono was doing Wild Wild West and other television roles. He was a very popular guest star on several shows.
This one starts with Perry & Della on a brief outing, and Mason's car is stripped and put up on blocks in less than 10 minutes. Can't say that happens all the time. Della Street (the late Barbara Hale) looks pretty good in color. Thank goodness Paul Drake does not get one of the tacky suits he had in some of the black and white shows.
The plot has to do with a teenage car stripping group being led by an evil adult stripping cars in San Francisco. Then, after Perrry drops the charges on one of the teens, a murder happens which makes things more serious for everybody. As usual there are several suspects.
While this is an average episode, the fact that unique things happen in this one make it worth a look. Too bad Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) was no longer available for this one as it would have been neat to have seen him in color. I am not sure if any of the regular cast is still alive but Collins and William Hopper were among the first cast members who died from thiis mother cast. Hopper only outlived his mother, Hedda by 4 years and died way too young.
This show was made the same era Buono was doing Wild Wild West and other television roles. He was a very popular guest star on several shows.
A twist in glorious technicolor
bkoganbing4 May 2012
I'm thinking that Gail Patrick Jackson who produced the Perry Mason series must have thought let's give Erle Stanley Gardner's intrepid defense attorney the look of color. By 1966 CBS and ABC were converting to color which was previously the province only of NBC. It was not only a new look of color, but the whole tone of the episode was that of something that could have been from the Seventies, like Starsky&Hutch.
William Hopper as Paul Drake got in some action sequences as befit his role as Raymond Burr's personal private eye. The story was not so loosely based on Oliver Twist with Victor Buono running a ring of juvenile car thieves and being paid off in art objects for his collection. One of Buono's epicene villains and a good one, but not one you see in Perry Mason.
The villain really is Bill Sikes and if you remember Bill Sikes and Nancy meet a bad end in the Dickens novel. Here Scott Graham and Lisa Seagram also meet a bad end and it's the Oliver Twist character Kevin O'Neal that gets hung with the rap.
Burr, Hopper, and the ever present girl Friday Della Street save O'Neal's bacon. And in color too.
William Hopper as Paul Drake got in some action sequences as befit his role as Raymond Burr's personal private eye. The story was not so loosely based on Oliver Twist with Victor Buono running a ring of juvenile car thieves and being paid off in art objects for his collection. One of Buono's epicene villains and a good one, but not one you see in Perry Mason.
The villain really is Bill Sikes and if you remember Bill Sikes and Nancy meet a bad end in the Dickens novel. Here Scott Graham and Lisa Seagram also meet a bad end and it's the Oliver Twist character Kevin O'Neal that gets hung with the rap.
Burr, Hopper, and the ever present girl Friday Della Street save O'Neal's bacon. And in color too.
Plot very ordinary, but color photog...that's something else...
rixrex22 September 2009
A rather routine melodrama from the bountiful Perry Mason filmography, probably below average for the series, but still above average for most 60s programs.
This episode gets knocked for its use of color, with such statements as: looks like it was colorized, the crew didn't have experience with color, etc. However, I disagree. I find it's use of color above average for TV of the period.
If one were to look at other color programs from the 1960s, one will see that, in general, colors were rather bright, use of contrast or shadows was not great, and there was not much concern over subtlety of shading. This was in particular due to the color TV sets of the time that lacked the significant details and color variations of film, and of what we see with modern TV. This was true until finally in the early 70s some thought was given to increase contrast and color variation in TV sets, as was done with black matrix and trinitron screens.
The idea of color on TV then was to show it bright and brightly lit, and to prompt sales of color sets, quite different from film production. Take a look at the original Star Trek for an example. In fact, for those like myself who can remember this period, TV and Film were entirely two different worlds, and they rarely met except when somebody was able to make the jump from TV to film. It's not like that today.
In regards to this episode, I'd suggest that in fact it used more shading than was common to other color programs of the time, and was actually a better example of good use of color in a medium that lacked such. To the one who thinks it looks colorized, I'd think that was more a product of your own bias that Perry Mason ought to be B&W and not in color, as you know the colorized films ought to be.
To the one who feels the crew lacked experience, well, that's just a big laugh for me because the one thing the Perry Mason crew did not lack was cinematography experience. That's like telling a veteran artist doing a charcoal that he or she probably can't do the same in color, basically an ignorant comment.
This episode gets knocked for its use of color, with such statements as: looks like it was colorized, the crew didn't have experience with color, etc. However, I disagree. I find it's use of color above average for TV of the period.
If one were to look at other color programs from the 1960s, one will see that, in general, colors were rather bright, use of contrast or shadows was not great, and there was not much concern over subtlety of shading. This was in particular due to the color TV sets of the time that lacked the significant details and color variations of film, and of what we see with modern TV. This was true until finally in the early 70s some thought was given to increase contrast and color variation in TV sets, as was done with black matrix and trinitron screens.
The idea of color on TV then was to show it bright and brightly lit, and to prompt sales of color sets, quite different from film production. Take a look at the original Star Trek for an example. In fact, for those like myself who can remember this period, TV and Film were entirely two different worlds, and they rarely met except when somebody was able to make the jump from TV to film. It's not like that today.
In regards to this episode, I'd suggest that in fact it used more shading than was common to other color programs of the time, and was actually a better example of good use of color in a medium that lacked such. To the one who thinks it looks colorized, I'd think that was more a product of your own bias that Perry Mason ought to be B&W and not in color, as you know the colorized films ought to be.
To the one who feels the crew lacked experience, well, that's just a big laugh for me because the one thing the Perry Mason crew did not lack was cinematography experience. That's like telling a veteran artist doing a charcoal that he or she probably can't do the same in color, basically an ignorant comment.
Color Episode
darbski16 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
*SPOILERS* possible. The deal with this episode, is that it's recorded in color. I'll admit, it was interesting to see how things looked as filmed.
I always have thought that the courtroom itself lacked something, as far as visual presentation; this episode gives a good look at it, and I gotta say, I liked it. The judges' bench (desk) looks really cool. Unfortunately, all my fears about Perry's office have come home to roost in this one.
And here I think is the SPOILER.
Because it is a new format, why in the dickens didn't they take the opportunity to bring the office decor more into line with his stature and achievement? Miss Hale is beautiful, as usual, (although her hair colorist went just a little light), the wardrobe department did very well, and the actresses looked beautiful.
The episode itself, well read the other reviews; they dissect it very neatly. Vic Buono is his usual self, and he takes a lot of the weight off the shoulders of the writers; he's a great villain (I wonder if they ever came up with anything to charge him with)? Now, it resumes my effort to finish my Perry collection through Amazon. I wonder if this episode is available for individual purchase??
I always have thought that the courtroom itself lacked something, as far as visual presentation; this episode gives a good look at it, and I gotta say, I liked it. The judges' bench (desk) looks really cool. Unfortunately, all my fears about Perry's office have come home to roost in this one.
And here I think is the SPOILER.
Because it is a new format, why in the dickens didn't they take the opportunity to bring the office decor more into line with his stature and achievement? Miss Hale is beautiful, as usual, (although her hair colorist went just a little light), the wardrobe department did very well, and the actresses looked beautiful.
The episode itself, well read the other reviews; they dissect it very neatly. Vic Buono is his usual self, and he takes a lot of the weight off the shoulders of the writers; he's a great villain (I wonder if they ever came up with anything to charge him with)? Now, it resumes my effort to finish my Perry collection through Amazon. I wonder if this episode is available for individual purchase??
Not a bad episode at all
tforbes-21 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
What strikes me most about this episode is how we get to see Los Angeles as more crime ridden than we would have in prior years. By 1965, car stripping was becoming an issue in this city, and the Watts riots had taken place. This is clear at the very start when Perry Mason has his own car stripped at the Angel's Flight Railway in downtown.
With a heaping help of influence from Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist," we are treated to a very interesting, and VERY action packed episode. It is very watchable, and watching the great Victor Buono is a real treat, as always.
This episode would not be the reason for the show's cancellation. What killed it was its terrible time slot, Sunday at 9 a.m., directly opposite No. 1 rated "Bonanza." Had it been renewed for a 10th season, this episode gives us a good glimpse into what might have been, a color series with more action. And I think the show could have carried on through at least to 1968.
Whatever the case, this is one interesting watch!!!
With a heaping help of influence from Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist," we are treated to a very interesting, and VERY action packed episode. It is very watchable, and watching the great Victor Buono is a real treat, as always.
This episode would not be the reason for the show's cancellation. What killed it was its terrible time slot, Sunday at 9 a.m., directly opposite No. 1 rated "Bonanza." Had it been renewed for a 10th season, this episode gives us a good glimpse into what might have been, a color series with more action. And I think the show could have carried on through at least to 1968.
Whatever the case, this is one interesting watch!!!
In color it looks like a Batman episode.
tpriddy-119 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
In color! The Case of the Twice Told Twist looks like a Batman episode, complete with arch-villain Victor Buono.
Perry Mason loses its noir inspirations, looking very different in color. Della is just as charming.
SPOILER: Perry drives a powder blue Lincoln.
Perry Mason loses its noir inspirations, looking very different in color. Della is just as charming.
SPOILER: Perry drives a powder blue Lincoln.
It IS rather like a Batman episode, or Star Trek even.
XweAponX17 December 2018
It's a shame that there were not more colour episodes or there was never a tenth season.
I really don't see the basis of any complaints for this, this was 1960s television, mid 1966 as a matter of fact. It actually looks a lot like Star Trek as well as Batman. And as such, it shows a remarkable teaser for something that should have been that CBS neglected to give us: a full 10th season of color Perry Mason episodes. This could've also been the precise focal point where Perry Mason transitioned from 1950s film noir television to mid 60s psychedelic color TV.
I finally found a good color print of this and the Soundtrack had been enhanced for surroundsound, so it's actually pretty wonderful. The DVD set I had only had this episode in black-and-white which was completely disappointing as I have always seen this particular episode in my daily Perry Mason binges in absolute full color. They used to show two solid hours of Perry Mason on San Diego XETV channel 6 in the early 90s and while I was recovering from an illness for a few months Perry Mason was my only solace. Even my father liked it and he would sit with me and watch it and we both enjoyed this particular episode very much we would point out things about it laugh about it etc. The appearance of "King Tut" (Victor Bono) gives it a connection to Batman, but the parent company CBS is more strictly connected to Star Trek today than 20th Century Fox was back in the 60s- which used to use all of the sets from Irwin Allen shows for all of their science fiction shows including Time Tunnel, Batman, Voyage to the bottom of the Sea, and Lost in Space.
But the very production crew for Perry Mason is more related to Star Trek in the fact that several people who worked on Perry Mason ended up working for the Star Trek franchise either during the original run or later during the Next Generation and Voyager, which included the script supervisor Cosmo Genovese, who they even named a character for in a second season voyager episode, "Non-Sequitur": "Cosimo". Who was a very Perry Mason-ish alien who was looking after Harry Kim, he had the same kind mannerisms that Perry Mason showed to his clients.
The story is not an Erle Stanley Gardner episode and as such doesn't match up to some of the classics, but it does however have a modern upbeat look and feel including the background music, and the vehicles being used are very upbeat for the year that this was made. Especially the Ford van being used which was the Ford version of the Dodge A100 compact cab that used to be seen delivering and retrieving all of Batman's accessories during that show. In this Perry Mason episode, it is used as a mobile Chop Shop.
I very much would have loved to see more color episodes but alas, this is the only one. Perhaps somebody who is creative with computer video can colourise some other episodes, for personal use, of course.
I really don't see the basis of any complaints for this, this was 1960s television, mid 1966 as a matter of fact. It actually looks a lot like Star Trek as well as Batman. And as such, it shows a remarkable teaser for something that should have been that CBS neglected to give us: a full 10th season of color Perry Mason episodes. This could've also been the precise focal point where Perry Mason transitioned from 1950s film noir television to mid 60s psychedelic color TV.
I finally found a good color print of this and the Soundtrack had been enhanced for surroundsound, so it's actually pretty wonderful. The DVD set I had only had this episode in black-and-white which was completely disappointing as I have always seen this particular episode in my daily Perry Mason binges in absolute full color. They used to show two solid hours of Perry Mason on San Diego XETV channel 6 in the early 90s and while I was recovering from an illness for a few months Perry Mason was my only solace. Even my father liked it and he would sit with me and watch it and we both enjoyed this particular episode very much we would point out things about it laugh about it etc. The appearance of "King Tut" (Victor Bono) gives it a connection to Batman, but the parent company CBS is more strictly connected to Star Trek today than 20th Century Fox was back in the 60s- which used to use all of the sets from Irwin Allen shows for all of their science fiction shows including Time Tunnel, Batman, Voyage to the bottom of the Sea, and Lost in Space.
But the very production crew for Perry Mason is more related to Star Trek in the fact that several people who worked on Perry Mason ended up working for the Star Trek franchise either during the original run or later during the Next Generation and Voyager, which included the script supervisor Cosmo Genovese, who they even named a character for in a second season voyager episode, "Non-Sequitur": "Cosimo". Who was a very Perry Mason-ish alien who was looking after Harry Kim, he had the same kind mannerisms that Perry Mason showed to his clients.
The story is not an Erle Stanley Gardner episode and as such doesn't match up to some of the classics, but it does however have a modern upbeat look and feel including the background music, and the vehicles being used are very upbeat for the year that this was made. Especially the Ford van being used which was the Ford version of the Dodge A100 compact cab that used to be seen delivering and retrieving all of Batman's accessories during that show. In this Perry Mason episode, it is used as a mobile Chop Shop.
I very much would have loved to see more color episodes but alas, this is the only one. Perhaps somebody who is creative with computer video can colourise some other episodes, for personal use, of course.
What? *These* nice boys?
conono4 May 2012
Recidivism or rehabilitation? The whitest, most clean-cut bunch of hoodlums L.A. has ever seen attacks Perry's Lincoln Continental for parts rather than just steal the thing (and car theft was easy in those days!). Perry won't press charges because, well, the boy is only 17, and cute besides (irony alert, Raymond Burr).
Considerable comic relief is provided by Victor Buono as the evil henchman Huggins (rotund and in a bathrobe) managing the 'clean-cut' boy gang. "How many pairs of bucket seats can you use?" he coos to his fetching Mexican fence, and pronounces "penchant" in the manner francais. Good thing the gang goes to an expensive prep school so they can understand things like that. Oh for the days when petty criminals wore jackets & neckties...
The exceptionally vivid color, the jazzy score and the silly 'Oliver Twist' theme separate this from most PM episodes. It's definitely not one of the strong, tight Perry Mason plots (see the early seasons for those), but it's fun and scenic.
Considerable comic relief is provided by Victor Buono as the evil henchman Huggins (rotund and in a bathrobe) managing the 'clean-cut' boy gang. "How many pairs of bucket seats can you use?" he coos to his fetching Mexican fence, and pronounces "penchant" in the manner francais. Good thing the gang goes to an expensive prep school so they can understand things like that. Oh for the days when petty criminals wore jackets & neckties...
The exceptionally vivid color, the jazzy score and the silly 'Oliver Twist' theme separate this from most PM episodes. It's definitely not one of the strong, tight Perry Mason plots (see the early seasons for those), but it's fun and scenic.
SNATCHING PERRY MASON'S HUBCAPS? HOW DARE THEY!
tcchelsey26 October 2023
Ernest Frankel wrote this entertaining story, who handled 17 episodes for the series and then went onto I SPY. In the 70s he produced the brief NEW PERRY MASON series.
What's so interesting here is that it begins more like a cop show (shades of IRONSIDE?) that sees Perry's new Lincoln stripped for its parts. Of course, there's a murder thrown into the mix and that's what brings Perry into the case.
Behind the whole operation is noneother than smooth Victor Buono, playing Ben Huggins, who runs a very prosperous stolen car parts business on the sly, recruiting young hoods who want to grow up someday and be exactly like him? You have to admit, he's an inspiring individual, and has the bucks to hypnotize any one of these fools with stars in their eyes.
You have to admit, the 60s styles cars were pretty sleek. What's the old cliche; "don't steal the hubcaps, steal the car!"
Two things to note. Although it begins more like an episode from DRAGNET, there's a very good trial sequence and it's in color. Color tv sets were extraordinarily expensive in the mid 60s, so most audiences probably saw it in black and white. Also they were not perfected. That said, I agree with reviewers it may have been an "experiment" by CBS to see how future episodes would look had there been a 10th season. The restored and remastered color is quite good and you truly see all the main characters from a different vantage point. Very clever indeed.
There is an error that has been circulating for years. Some tv historians have said the very last episode was filmed in color, tagging this as the final episode. That is incorrect. Depending on rerun packages and how they were re-released to tv, this episode may have been inserted as the last episode, but it actually isn't. Also the episode number represents that.
A neat footnote is that Victor Buono's sinister character portrayal may have lead to him being cast as a classic BATMAN villain around the same time. He was a one of a kind actor who amazed producers and casting directors alike.
Another curious story floating around claims Buono was hired on because he actually was bigger in size than Raymond Burr, who had noticably put on weight. It was all about color, but since when does color hide weight?
You be the judge.
Recommended. 10 STARS.
SEASON 6 EPISODE 21 remastered dvd box set.
What's so interesting here is that it begins more like a cop show (shades of IRONSIDE?) that sees Perry's new Lincoln stripped for its parts. Of course, there's a murder thrown into the mix and that's what brings Perry into the case.
Behind the whole operation is noneother than smooth Victor Buono, playing Ben Huggins, who runs a very prosperous stolen car parts business on the sly, recruiting young hoods who want to grow up someday and be exactly like him? You have to admit, he's an inspiring individual, and has the bucks to hypnotize any one of these fools with stars in their eyes.
You have to admit, the 60s styles cars were pretty sleek. What's the old cliche; "don't steal the hubcaps, steal the car!"
Two things to note. Although it begins more like an episode from DRAGNET, there's a very good trial sequence and it's in color. Color tv sets were extraordinarily expensive in the mid 60s, so most audiences probably saw it in black and white. Also they were not perfected. That said, I agree with reviewers it may have been an "experiment" by CBS to see how future episodes would look had there been a 10th season. The restored and remastered color is quite good and you truly see all the main characters from a different vantage point. Very clever indeed.
There is an error that has been circulating for years. Some tv historians have said the very last episode was filmed in color, tagging this as the final episode. That is incorrect. Depending on rerun packages and how they were re-released to tv, this episode may have been inserted as the last episode, but it actually isn't. Also the episode number represents that.
A neat footnote is that Victor Buono's sinister character portrayal may have lead to him being cast as a classic BATMAN villain around the same time. He was a one of a kind actor who amazed producers and casting directors alike.
Another curious story floating around claims Buono was hired on because he actually was bigger in size than Raymond Burr, who had noticably put on weight. It was all about color, but since when does color hide weight?
You be the judge.
Recommended. 10 STARS.
SEASON 6 EPISODE 21 remastered dvd box set.
agree: disappointing script but compelling color
sbgardne17 May 2021
I learned of this episode last year, and have been watching for it since. The color production is the gift the doesn't stop giving. It's utter eye-candy for every moment: you can't stop absorbing the fabrics, the hair and makeup, Burger, the closeups, the backgrounds, the greenish interior courtroom, Perry's Lincoln, the courthouse... and on and on.
But the familiar tale of "Twice-Told Twist" sustains flat notes. An important character is unfortunately distracting: with piercing blue eyes and helmet hair, her wandering accent brings to mind Natasha from "The Bullwinkle Show" more than a Mexican woman running the family-named business. And Lennie comes back from Parris Island with as much hair as ever...? Sir! No, sir!
But it's Perry Mason. In color! Can't wait to watch it again.
But the familiar tale of "Twice-Told Twist" sustains flat notes. An important character is unfortunately distracting: with piercing blue eyes and helmet hair, her wandering accent brings to mind Natasha from "The Bullwinkle Show" more than a Mexican woman running the family-named business. And Lennie comes back from Parris Island with as much hair as ever...? Sir! No, sir!
But it's Perry Mason. In color! Can't wait to watch it again.
🌟BEAUTIFUL EVERYTHING🌟
dwcacct13 October 2022
While many younger viewers can't stand B&W, I LUV being able to see the WONDERFUL colors & wardrobe from a different time & space.
Someone else mentioned Ford providing so MANY vehicles it made them obviously a Sponsor of THIS EPISODE? My little Brother was born the Year this episode airedSentimental to see almost 60yrs later. Producers probably appreciated the $$$ it took to make THIS Early IRONSIDE feeling here as well.
I purchased the 50th Anniversary release before seeing this color episode. I was ALREADY AWARE of the diff in set colors & decor for lighting purposes as other reviewers mentioned other Networks ALREADY filming🎥 in color... With SO MUCH SAID about Oliver Twist I almost expected to see the"rough character" Mr Burr played previously w/his English Accent straight out of Dickens.
Someone else mentioned Ford providing so MANY vehicles it made them obviously a Sponsor of THIS EPISODE? My little Brother was born the Year this episode airedSentimental to see almost 60yrs later. Producers probably appreciated the $$$ it took to make THIS Early IRONSIDE feeling here as well.
I purchased the 50th Anniversary release before seeing this color episode. I was ALREADY AWARE of the diff in set colors & decor for lighting purposes as other reviewers mentioned other Networks ALREADY filming🎥 in color... With SO MUCH SAID about Oliver Twist I almost expected to see the"rough character" Mr Burr played previously w/his English Accent straight out of Dickens.
In Living Color
jameselliot-115 September 2020
Yes, that was the NBC voice over with the peacock. I did enjoy the bright, vivid color in this one shot episode. What I thought about watching it was the photography. Over the years, Mason had a lot of location shooting. This show seemed nearly 100% studio bound. What is also very noticeable is the constant use (or overuse) of many very tight close-ups and few master shots and medium shots of people together. When people are having a conversation, the use of close-ups got me wondering if the actors were shot saying their lines solo at different times and it was all put together by the editors later. This may have been due to the lighting setups for color.
Color eh, script worse
rhole230 August 2007
This is perhaps the worst episode of Perry Mason I've seen. The color seems to have gone to the actors heads. The acting is bad, the script has way too much pontificating, the story is preposterous. It's just a mess.
The color photography is bad - the first time I saw it I thought it had been colorized. The photographic direction seems to be poor as well. The same techniques that usually work in the black-and-white episodes certainly don't work in this episode, but looks tacky.
For true fans, you gotta see it. Hopefully you can enjoy it for what it is - it may be bad, but it's Perry Mason.
The color photography is bad - the first time I saw it I thought it had been colorized. The photographic direction seems to be poor as well. The same techniques that usually work in the black-and-white episodes certainly don't work in this episode, but looks tacky.
For true fans, you gotta see it. Hopefully you can enjoy it for what it is - it may be bad, but it's Perry Mason.
.. .the Wide, Wide World of Perry..
gclarkbloom3 July 2022
....two notable items regarding this episode....
1. ....all the networks were gradually converting their series to color production; and this was kind of a swan song salute to the long- running series by CBS....
2. ...the role of Lennie Beale, the young car stripper gang member who elicits Perry's reformist zeal is played by Ryan O'Neal's kid brother, Kevin.,.
1. ....all the networks were gradually converting their series to color production; and this was kind of a swan song salute to the long- running series by CBS....
2. ...the role of Lennie Beale, the young car stripper gang member who elicits Perry's reformist zeal is played by Ryan O'Neal's kid brother, Kevin.,.
Only Color Episode
alnonamus30 July 2021
The only color episode was probably due to the introduction of the 1965 Ford Mustang called the 19641/2. Ford Motor supplied the cars for the show at that time. The premise of the show was teenage car thieves working for a chop-shop.
Everyone in the episode was driving the Beautiful Mustang. Mustangs of every color were in many scenes, Especially inside the chop-shop.
I guess the Ford marketing was a little too subtle.
Everyone in the episode was driving the Beautiful Mustang. Mustangs of every color were in many scenes, Especially inside the chop-shop.
I guess the Ford marketing was a little too subtle.
Get em Jody get the fink!
sol121811 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** First and last of the 271 episodes of the "Perry Mason Hour" that was shot in color that takes away most of the effects from the far more superior black & white episodes of the show. Even Perry, Raymond Burr, at the beginning of the episode "Case of the Twice Told Twist" looks confused and somewhat disoriented like he had just mistakenly walked into the womens washroom and is trying to find a way to get out of it before being recognized by some one, a women,that's in it!
The story itself is a bit hard to take with these clean cut and collegiate looking teenagers being involved in car stripping in order to pay for their, I guess, collage tuition. Perry becomes a victim of the boys' crimes by getting his car stripped of everything but the kitchen sink but is very sympathetic of the young man 17 year old Lennie Beale, Kevin O'Neal, who was caught trying to pawn off Perry's camera the was stolen from out of his car.
Feeling that Lennie if convicted will lose his chance to vote get a passport or even a civil service job like in the US Post Office or city Parks Department if convicted Perry decides to drop the charges against him and give Lennie a new start in life. It's then when Perry made a deal with the D.A's office in trying to get Lennie to agree to rat out his fellow car strippers in order for him to get full immunity that things goes south! It's then when Lennie's girlfriend stripper Robin Spring, Lisa Seagram, does the ratting out for him and end up being murdered by her boyfriend and Lennie's boss in the car stripping racket Bill Sikes, Scott Graham. This was after the cops raided the home where Lennie and his gang of car strippers and now house breakers were in with Lennie getting winged,shot in the arm, while fleeing the scene.
Finding Robin dead at the strip joint's dressing room that she works in Lennie bleeding from his gun shot wound heads to Sikes' place where he's later found passed out cold with Sikes dead of stab wounds. On trial for Sikes' murder we get to see the real "Boss of Bosses" of the car stripping ring Ben "Fat Man" Huggins,Victor Buono, who claims that he's only a collector of Mexican Art and has nothing at all to do with the boys,those that are stripping cars, and the now deceased Bill Sikes.
***SPOILERS*** It's that admission by "Fat Man" Huggins that lead Perry to send his private investigator Paul Drake, William Hooper, south of the border to Mexico to check things out in what the fat guy was really into besides stuffing his face with Mexican food and car trunk with Mexican trinkets. And what he finds is enough to not only convict the "Fat Man" of running the car stripping racket in L.A but the person who in fact murdered Bill Sikes! And it wasn't for money or getting a car dealership from Toyota but it was only, isn't that enough to kill someone, for love or love alone!
The Perry Mason episode ends to the relief of everyone in it with Lennie Beale cleaning up his act and joining the US Marine Corps where he ended up finishing boot camp at Parris Island and, like they say of those who can make the grade as a US Marine, becoming one of the few good men. That's just in time for him to be sent to "Nam", South Vietnam, and with that be able to participate in the 1968 Viet-Cong & North Vietnamese Army's massive Chinese New Years Tet Offensive!
The story itself is a bit hard to take with these clean cut and collegiate looking teenagers being involved in car stripping in order to pay for their, I guess, collage tuition. Perry becomes a victim of the boys' crimes by getting his car stripped of everything but the kitchen sink but is very sympathetic of the young man 17 year old Lennie Beale, Kevin O'Neal, who was caught trying to pawn off Perry's camera the was stolen from out of his car.
Feeling that Lennie if convicted will lose his chance to vote get a passport or even a civil service job like in the US Post Office or city Parks Department if convicted Perry decides to drop the charges against him and give Lennie a new start in life. It's then when Perry made a deal with the D.A's office in trying to get Lennie to agree to rat out his fellow car strippers in order for him to get full immunity that things goes south! It's then when Lennie's girlfriend stripper Robin Spring, Lisa Seagram, does the ratting out for him and end up being murdered by her boyfriend and Lennie's boss in the car stripping racket Bill Sikes, Scott Graham. This was after the cops raided the home where Lennie and his gang of car strippers and now house breakers were in with Lennie getting winged,shot in the arm, while fleeing the scene.
Finding Robin dead at the strip joint's dressing room that she works in Lennie bleeding from his gun shot wound heads to Sikes' place where he's later found passed out cold with Sikes dead of stab wounds. On trial for Sikes' murder we get to see the real "Boss of Bosses" of the car stripping ring Ben "Fat Man" Huggins,Victor Buono, who claims that he's only a collector of Mexican Art and has nothing at all to do with the boys,those that are stripping cars, and the now deceased Bill Sikes.
***SPOILERS*** It's that admission by "Fat Man" Huggins that lead Perry to send his private investigator Paul Drake, William Hooper, south of the border to Mexico to check things out in what the fat guy was really into besides stuffing his face with Mexican food and car trunk with Mexican trinkets. And what he finds is enough to not only convict the "Fat Man" of running the car stripping racket in L.A but the person who in fact murdered Bill Sikes! And it wasn't for money or getting a car dealership from Toyota but it was only, isn't that enough to kill someone, for love or love alone!
The Perry Mason episode ends to the relief of everyone in it with Lennie Beale cleaning up his act and joining the US Marine Corps where he ended up finishing boot camp at Parris Island and, like they say of those who can make the grade as a US Marine, becoming one of the few good men. That's just in time for him to be sent to "Nam", South Vietnam, and with that be able to participate in the 1968 Viet-Cong & North Vietnamese Army's massive Chinese New Years Tet Offensive!
If only there had been a Season 10
a-alexander11917 May 2021
It truly was an enjoyable visual experience to view PM in color. But for the life of me I'll never understand why they chose to only produce this one color episode. The script was average but the visual effects were quite remarkable for 1966. I have to agree with other reviewers the depth of color scenes brought back memories of Batman and Star Trek.. which isn't a bad thing. I'd like to know the real reason there was no Season 10 but that may never be known. One item of interest.. this lone color episode offered the entire production crew an opportunity to appear on camera.
Fair Episode, but Thank God the only one in color
joenic-2927913 October 2022
Had Perry Mason been picked up for another season, it would have been in color as all CBS programming went to color. It is actually interesting Perry Mason was not in color for its final season, since almost every other program went to color that year. A little history, NBC was the only color network until the mid-1960s.
I am a fan of the Perry Mason series. I've every episode, probably each one multiple times. I always felt, especially in the early seasons the show had a film noir aspect to it. While the show became more polished and lost some of that noir quality, the black and white gives it much character. Gunsmoke, Andy Griffith, Wagon Train, and other showsl seemed to lose something when they went to color. Perry Mason was made for b&w.
I am sure many will disagree, but this is one man's opinion.
The plot, guest cast, etc isn't horrible, but I'm happy it is the only one in color.
I am a fan of the Perry Mason series. I've every episode, probably each one multiple times. I always felt, especially in the early seasons the show had a film noir aspect to it. While the show became more polished and lost some of that noir quality, the black and white gives it much character. Gunsmoke, Andy Griffith, Wagon Train, and other showsl seemed to lose something when they went to color. Perry Mason was made for b&w.
I am sure many will disagree, but this is one man's opinion.
The plot, guest cast, etc isn't horrible, but I'm happy it is the only one in color.
A Twist on Oliver Twist
jgarnant17 May 2021
Exposure to English literature unlocks the key to this episode with multiple parallel facts with the well-known Dickens novel Oliver Twist. The episode name, plot flow (young men trained/guided by old thieves). Fagin, beard and all, is Victor Buono, Bill Sykes is Bill Sykes (!)... and will left the viewer find the rest. The 2 mint 1966 Mustangs obviously have no parallel.
The concept had possibilities-- but oh, that awful color!
AnnieLola27 October 2023
Firstly, Perry Mason simply doesn't work in color, and especially not those bright crisp sunny tones, where something muted and shadowy would have been closer to the mark. But the mark is still black and white!
This has a certain novelty value as a somewhat cheesy updated Oliver Twist, but can't exactly be called compelling. Victor Buono, of course, has the requisite panache for a modern Fagin, and that helps to hold the thing together-- somewhat. As an attempt at making Perry Mason a NOW show it was ill-advised. Guess they had to try.
I couldn't quite make sense out of casting Lisa Pera, a blonde blue-eyed Russian, as the shady Senorita. What, they couldn't find any real Latina actresses in LA? She did a decent job, but I wasn't quite convinced-- and boy, those blue eyes really popped! Sure, there are blue-eyed Mexicans-- but with that too- obvious black wig and dark foundation it was glaringly plain that this was an ethnic makeover.
Overall, the Twice-Told Twist made it clear that the show had outlived its era. In October the word went out: "CBS may bring back Perry Mason in color, and with a new star in the role. The network is holding discussions with Gail Patrick Jackson, producer of the original series. Raymond Burr says he has other things to occupy him and won't be available to make the new films." So Burr had had it with playing Perry. Have to wonder who was being considered to step into the role -- not that the fans would accept any replacement--, maybe another solid dramatic actor, not too much younger, or hey! A complete switch to a really NOW hip Mason with a snappy mod wardrobe and a new miniskirted Della Street. The mind boggles.
This has a certain novelty value as a somewhat cheesy updated Oliver Twist, but can't exactly be called compelling. Victor Buono, of course, has the requisite panache for a modern Fagin, and that helps to hold the thing together-- somewhat. As an attempt at making Perry Mason a NOW show it was ill-advised. Guess they had to try.
I couldn't quite make sense out of casting Lisa Pera, a blonde blue-eyed Russian, as the shady Senorita. What, they couldn't find any real Latina actresses in LA? She did a decent job, but I wasn't quite convinced-- and boy, those blue eyes really popped! Sure, there are blue-eyed Mexicans-- but with that too- obvious black wig and dark foundation it was glaringly plain that this was an ethnic makeover.
Overall, the Twice-Told Twist made it clear that the show had outlived its era. In October the word went out: "CBS may bring back Perry Mason in color, and with a new star in the role. The network is holding discussions with Gail Patrick Jackson, producer of the original series. Raymond Burr says he has other things to occupy him and won't be available to make the new films." So Burr had had it with playing Perry. Have to wonder who was being considered to step into the role -- not that the fans would accept any replacement--, maybe another solid dramatic actor, not too much younger, or hey! A complete switch to a really NOW hip Mason with a snappy mod wardrobe and a new miniskirted Della Street. The mind boggles.
Black and white preferred
ldlinda27 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I've always loved Perry Mason. Black and white episodes were better. But I was curious to see it in color. It seemed to go to the 70's . Victor Buono as the villain,as he played quite well, looked too ' Batman'. But I did enjoy seeing Della Street in her best glamour style. Paul Drake had style too. And Perry was classic. Colorizing the episode showed L. A. at its best. Artwork. Stylish mansions. Glamour you don't see today. The old 'Hollywood Era' that's long gone.. Even seeing William Hopper in something other than his usual suit was interesting. Color did do justice in this episode. Bravo!!!
Color Me Bored
zsenorsock29 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
A tiresome Charles Dickens ripoff about a man Ben Huggins (Victor Bueno) running a gang of teenage thieves as a modern day Fagin, including a leader named Bill Sikes (Scott Graham). The episode begins with Perry and Della taking Angel's Flight, the famous LA funicular downhill to drop off some papers while a gang of boys strip his car. Later Perry decides not to prosecute 18 year old Lennie Beale (Kevin O'Neal) because he has some idea he'd be ruining the boy's life.
Beale's life gets ruined anyway as he's charged in a murder after a home burglary and Perry comes on to defend him. Another weak entry in the show's cannon of bad episodes that were done to appeal to a younger, "hipper" demographic. The acting seems pretty bad all around, the story annoying, and the only noteworthy thing about this is that its the only episode filmed in color.
Beale's life gets ruined anyway as he's charged in a murder after a home burglary and Perry comes on to defend him. Another weak entry in the show's cannon of bad episodes that were done to appeal to a younger, "hipper" demographic. The acting seems pretty bad all around, the story annoying, and the only noteworthy thing about this is that its the only episode filmed in color.
Stripping Cars or Strippers at "Femmes la Go-Go"
coolplanter7 October 2021
Great to see Perry in a blue shirt, drive a blue Lincoln ragtop, or have Paul in a dark blue sports coat. Color filming was the big star in this episode, and why I give it a high rating is because this was the only color episode--and that's it--it makes you appreciate this series in B & W. Victor Buono as mentor to high school boys will never have been larger--opposite the somewhat smaller appearing Perry--as I imagine the producers had given up having Burr lose some weight--so "we had better find some actors that can make him appear smaller." There is this scene where Victor sits down in the middle of couch--and you wonder how it gone done--or the couch was ever used again.
Sometimes the B&W makes you think the series was all made in the 50s--but I believe this episode brought the producers back to their senses--keep it the same so it can be success in syndication. Enjoyable viewing, if you can get past that Batman like dialog that make Perry into a super-human.
Sometimes the B&W makes you think the series was all made in the 50s--but I believe this episode brought the producers back to their senses--keep it the same so it can be success in syndication. Enjoyable viewing, if you can get past that Batman like dialog that make Perry into a super-human.
Perry Mason, made 1960s-"relevant" - YUCK
fjalexiii28 February 2016
Giving this one two extra stars just for Victor Buono. He once told Johnny Carson that Batman allowed him to do the one thing actors are taught not to do - OVERACT. I'm thankful Buono didn't over-emote here; I am less than thankful that the rest of the cast seemed to be "phoning it in." Even Burr's performance was wooden (I've sen Al Gore look more animated than this) and the attempts to be forgiving and understanding toward juvies really are laughable, 50 years later. Ray Collins would have had a field day with the kid Perry keeps forgiving. Perry Mason á la 1965 doesn't cut it. This series was based on film noir, and the B&W treatment just accentuated that as the years went by and more and more shows went to color. Film noir became passé, and regrettably so Perry Mason had to do so as well. I am grateful Burr had the good judgment to end the series when he did - close to the top and on his own terms - rather than soldier on as a caricature of his earlier shows.
Watching this episode in color made no sense to me the first time around - I was only ten, but I liked the show back then - until I saw Ironside on TV three years later. Burr's increasing body mass over the years looked better in color. (I gotta admit, though, Barbara Hale in real color was a BABE.) This almost looked like a hidden pilot for Ironside. The plot was straight from Dickens's Oliver Twist; Buono played it straight and delightfully despicable. Too bad the rest of the cast thought they were in an episode of Mod Squad.
Three stars for the storyline, two extra stars for the late, lamented Victor Buono.
Watching this episode in color made no sense to me the first time around - I was only ten, but I liked the show back then - until I saw Ironside on TV three years later. Burr's increasing body mass over the years looked better in color. (I gotta admit, though, Barbara Hale in real color was a BABE.) This almost looked like a hidden pilot for Ironside. The plot was straight from Dickens's Oliver Twist; Buono played it straight and delightfully despicable. Too bad the rest of the cast thought they were in an episode of Mod Squad.
Three stars for the storyline, two extra stars for the late, lamented Victor Buono.
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