The Case of the Deadly Debt

I'll admit that I read a few of the other reviews, and agree that this was one of those "overwritten" epics -- far too much confusion and subplots to keep the story flowing in a linear fashion. I think the writers were just getting tired, and perhaps thought the more diversions that they could create would keep the audience interested -- in this case it didn't work. The silver lining on this cloud was the performance of Joe De Santis -- no matter the character he is cast to portray, he does it flawlessly with a style all his own. Although the rest of the cast was more than adequate, in this case the writing was the letdown...

Emile Meyer arrives in Los Angeles on a train and when he stops to call one of his sons he suddenly collapses and dies of a heart attack. As it turns out it was a natural death, but it set in motion the whole plot of this case with the homicide of gangster Gregory Morton. Meyer had two sons LAPD sergeant Robert Quarry and jazz pianist Chris Robinson who works in one of Morton's clubs. Perry Mason gets into this because he'd help bail the piano player out a previous brush with the law. But it's the cop he winds up defending in court.

Of course Quarry didn't do it, but the writers did kind of pull a perpetrator way out of left field with a real long shot of a motive. I agree that this episode was not one of the best of the Perry Mason series.

Until you watch this episode you will not understand exactly what I am talking about --but this episode had too many surprise moments. It appear as if the writers were desperate in trying to sell their story. And this has been the case for the last few shows. Perhaps the ratings were slipping and they thought by adding extra sub-plots it would keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. All that was really accomplished was a story complex and unreal.

The episode begins with Ed Talbert (Emile Meyer) making a surprise trip to see his youngest son Carl Talbert (Chris Robinson). While he calls and asked to be picked up from the train station, the older Ed Talbert, dies from a heart condition.

Both sons, Carl, and older brother and police sergeant Danny Talbert (Robert Quarry) are baffled as to why their sick father would come to LA without telling anyone. He also cleaned out the bank account and safety deposit box.

But as the story continues we are meet with many strange facts about the Talbert clan. - Carl works for a mobster type character named Louis Parker (Joe De Santis)- Danny, the police dude, is working a case involving Louis Parker- another mobster guy named Steve Radom (Gregory Morton) has a promissory note from the dead older Mr Talbert- and there is some skeletons in the closet of the Talberts' that are indeed germane to the story. So much going on that it is difficult to keep things separated and continuing with the ideas of the story.

And if you want more strange goings on- Danny gets into a scuffle with Steve Radom- Danny drops his service revolver on the floor - later shots ring out- and Perry sees Danny running from the scene- and later, after getting caught, says he was chasing someone. It is just a little too much. they could have wrote four episodes with these strange events taking place all over the TV screen.

Perry ends up defending Danny in court. And at the end of the show, we have another lame confession as they hurry the show to the 52 minute mark.

I will say that the actors, in this episode, did a good job. They were believable which always helps the view of a show. Joe De Santis, as the mobster, was a perfect cast. And the great Shelia Bromley was excellent as Ms Talbert.

All the actors did their part in making this show good- it was the writing that failed. Middle of the pack for me.

Finally after watching Perry Mason reruns on MeTV for the last eight years and barely missing an episode, I finally saw one I'd never seen before. It's always in my top 3 favorite shows, new or old. Admittedly I like the ones from the 50s best. In fact it wasn't until the episodes released in the 64 and 65 seasons did they begin getting corny and hard to watch, but I do, and tonight's was excellent.

The cast is perfect for every roll the actors play, but it's Raymond Burr that makes the show what it is. I wish I could be just like him, I keep trying, maybe one day I will be. LOL!

Two brothers are at each other's throats. One is hard driven police officer and the other a younger guy, a musician, who is working at a club owned by a mobster. In addition to a continuing set of confrontations and blame, the death of the father further divides them. The cop becomes the defendant in this story and Perry must wade through a quagmire of not so nice suspects. It is a decent episode but like one person said, overwritten.