THE CASE OF THE JEALOUS JOKESTER is the very last of the Perry Mason TV movies and was made after the death of star Raymond Burr. Fellow old-timer Hal Halbrook stepped into the protagonist role after Burr's death, playing a rancher lawyer with an interest in helping the wrongfully accused.
The mystery this time around involves the murder of an acerbic TV star with all the trappings of the Hollywood industry surrounding her. Suspects include her philandering husband, her shady agent, and put-upon co-stars. This film follows the usual format of featuring the set up in the first half followed by a string of interviews with the main suspects while William R. Moses does his action man stuff. The finale is the court case itself.
Generally THE CASE OF THE JEALOUS JOKESTER is a likable production, directed with an eye on an easy pace by Vincent McEveety who had plenty of experience having directed the revamped Columbo episodes. Some of the supporting actors give shrill and overstated performances but others are fine and overall this was a nice end for the series.
The mystery this time around involves the murder of an acerbic TV star with all the trappings of the Hollywood industry surrounding her. Suspects include her philandering husband, her shady agent, and put-upon co-stars. This film follows the usual format of featuring the set up in the first half followed by a string of interviews with the main suspects while William R. Moses does his action man stuff. The finale is the court case itself.
Generally THE CASE OF THE JEALOUS JOKESTER is a likable production, directed with an eye on an easy pace by Vincent McEveety who had plenty of experience having directed the revamped Columbo episodes. Some of the supporting actors give shrill and overstated performances but others are fine and overall this was a nice end for the series.