Perry Mason (TV Series) The Case of the Woeful Widower (1964) User Reviews

A Name with no Street

[BigSkyMax · 8/10 · 1 January 2017]

Last of four episodes without Barbara Hale as Della Street. Why was she gone? Where did she go? That's irrelevant, incompetent and immaterial. Plus I haven't found out yet.

A couple of intriguing look-alike character actors in this one. The scary housemaid Nellie Conway is played by the multi-named Joan Banks (Lovejoy). She plays it like a haunted Virginia Christie, who later boldly proclaimed herself the Folgers Coffee Lady I.

I yearn tragically across the decades for the stunning Ann(a Lee) Carroll, playing Georgiana Douglas. She's a belle ringer for Arlene Martel. These women are so beautiful they can only exist in Hollywood.

I like this episode. I don't mind that they picked the ubiquitous Harry Townes to play Newton Bain, a middle-aged Lothario. Most Perry Mason episodes involve old geezers lusting after ladies young enough to be their granddaughters. That was the way they played it back then. Good thing that doesn't happen nowadays.

And lay off Jerry van Dyke. I think any final laugh-with-a-fade-out benefits with 59 percent more banjo.

Twisted, but not broke

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 11 February 2020]

Some of the paradigm that govern Perry Mason stories if they're not broken they get twisted a bit in this episode.

Raymond Burr gets two clients to defend in this story. The stepsister of the future victim Nancy Gates asks for his services to help housekeeper Joan Banks who has been accused of theft. Later on it's Gates who becomes the client when she's arrested for poisoning her stepsister.

We never see the murder victim only hear her voice as she asks for this and that from her bedroom.

There's a nice performance from Jerry Van Dyke as an intrusive in-law. William Talman's examination of him on the witness stand is devastating.

You'll have to watch to see how the paradigm is twisted.

Good Points

[darbski · 8/10 · 17 January 2018]

***SPOILERS*** The first thing I'm gonna mention is that frequently when I watch these great shows, I take notes on what I see. Now, I knew I'd reviewed this episode, and yet, when I checked, it turns out that I hadn't contributed it. Most likely true. What I probably did was take notes and THINK about the episode, but never actually write in to IMDb. Naturally, you're curious as to why. Come on, admit it; ya REALLY want to know, don't you?? Okay, fine. So, I'll tell ya already!! It's because it was just not interesting enough to take the time, that's why.

After all, the "poor sick wife, cheating husband, framed housekeeper"? Hadn't that one been done before? Yup. Another plot with jewelry? Yup. So the plot differs, in some important ways, the first one at least had a sympathetic client. The rat poison problem? Ain't buyin' it. Nope. Mary was supposed to be there to keep Elizabeth company and look after her; NOT to clean the house. Yeah, kiddies, even then, waaaay back in history they had cleaning companies that would come in and give your house a real good going over, professionally. Yeah, including any vermin problems. Altering the will? I mean her sister is dying and she remembers to have her put a period at the end of a crucial sentence? I don't think so. When my own sister was dying, I neglected to have her sign an important document which cost thousands in retirement funds. You just don't think of those things at those times. She should have had Perry there.

Anyway, at the end of it all, Perry didn't necessarily prove that Nellie did it. He just provided two really great alternate theories of the crime. Of course, Andy witnessed his accusations, and Nellie's (almost) confession, too. He'll have to give that testimony to Burger. They didn't actually say, but I'll bet there was a real serious battle in Probate Court concerning that period. As usual, a coil of snakes surround Perry's client.

I agree completely with zsenorsock about Harry Townes. His acting ability, which is as usual, top drawer; cannot get a person with a working brain cell to believe Joyce Meadows as "Carol Moray" would go for him. Unless, of course, there's money involved. Yeah, that's it, MONEY. I also agree with BigSkyMax about Anna Caroll looking like Arlene Martel, both are serious foxes. It was also mentioned, and by myself, also, that this show is famous for having incredibly beautiful young women paired with older male dorky dingbats. I'm gonna go just so far with this one; an 8.

You thought New Orleans was an adult funhouse--but the action was really in Susanville.

[bstassen · 8/10 · 3 March 2021]

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.

Lothario - in the final scene

[ptandhasetti · 9/10 · 26 March 2023]

The housekeeper calls the wayward husband of Elizabeth (we never see her) Lothario. Interesting word & good description of this wandering husband. I enjoyed this episode though twisted.

Della had 4 children so I wondered if she was on Maternity leave. What happened to Detective Trag- Ray Collins?

Had to replay the end several times. Hard to believe the husband didn't suspect the housekeeper. Did the writer want us to think the shallow husband thought he was just "lucky" to keep inheriting money from wives? Housekeeper, in a twisted way, thought she could keep her job & her boss.

Perry Mason is a convincing attorney. The actor, Raymond Burr, delivers his lines with such brilliance that one would think he was a real attorney.

Started out strong but faded in the middle

[kfo9494 · 6/10 · 24 October 2011]

This episode looks so promising when the show started. We have a invalid women that was in some kind of automobile accident- and a housekeeper that looks like she could have been cast in 'Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte'. The poor invalid women will not let her husband come into her room making one thinks that perhaps the husband may have had something to do with the accident. Instead the housekeeper believes the husband is trying to poison his wife and takes some pills to Perry that the husband gave her to be giving to the invalid women.

That is how the episode starts off- and I am on the edge of my seat. Then enter Jerry Van Dyke. Sorry but I cannot take him in a serious acting part. He was good in the part and the acting was fine- but the entire show I was seeing him playing the banjo and fumbling around the stage. I know this is bad of me but the show seemed to fall when he entered the scene. It was nothing that Jerry did- it was the story took a turn away from what we were lead to believe was going to happen.

The story does come back around to the invalid women but it take a little time. Meantime we take a trip with Perry and Paul to New Orleans. We know it was New Orleans because they had a street sign that said 'Canal Street' and we are introduced to a person that as a terrible southern accent.

After getting back to LA the story returns -and again is interesting. I liked the episode but felt the middle part of the story was long and had little to do with the ending. It is still watchable.

note- fourth episode in a row without Della. Must still be visiting her aunt.

The Case of the Unlikely Playboy

[zsenorsock · 7/10 · 9 June 2008]

Della is still off visiting a sick aunt or some such excuse, leaving Perry, Paul and his receptionist Gertie (Connie Cezan) to try and figure out this complicated murder story which has Perry defending Georgiana Douglas (Anne Lee Carroll) for the murder of her wealthy sister.

What I found most interesting about this one is seeing Jerry Van Dyke in an early role as the accused's brother and Nancy Gates as his irritated wife. Van Dyke went on to a good career in comedy while Gates started out as the young Marjorie in "The Great Gildersleeve" movies.

The worst bit of casting though is the victim's womanizing lady's man husband, Newton Bain, played by Harry Townes. Shady accountant, yes. Crooked lawyer I'd buy too. But playboy? Not buying it for a minute. You keep thinking something else is going on and they are lying about him being a playboy. But alas, it is what it is. Bad casting.

Wrong Playboy

[DKosty123 · 7/10 · 25 June 2020]

This one starts fast as Perry gets a client accused of stealing. After Perry gets her off we get into the main plot which involves Perry getting on a flight to Canal Street in New Orleans and then taking the red eye back to LA. Della is not here due to an illness.

The script is based on the original novel and it is the only Van Dyke episode. I would have cast Jerry as the playboy as it would have made this more fun. The guy cast as the playboy is the most boring one I have ever seen. Instread Jerry is cast in his usual role, a braggart who turns out to be a dunce and a red herring dragged across the trail to the murderer.

While some of the mystery is perhaps too obvious here, this one is okay but without Della or Tragg, this one is a bit of a drag. The script is better than the cast here.

TCOT Missimg Street

[hilpzub · 1/10 · 29 January 2019]

This episode is a re do of ESG's Case of the Fiery Fingers and a poor one it is. Confusing,excess characters, a plot that as a slight semblance to the original and even Perry lacks any real interest in the plot and plight of the characters. lThe missing ingredient was the beautiful Barbara Hale. According to the Perry Mason Case Book her absence was due to unexpected surgery thus missing 4 episodes. As small as her part it was a vital one without it the 4 episodes definitely seem lacking. She brought out the best in Raymond Burr.when she is not around it shows.

Not Many Admirable Characters

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 12 February 2022]

A man is being dominated by a wife who has become an invalid after a car accident. He is a Casper Milquetoast and manages to pull sympathy from everyone when he speaks of his misfortunes. He has been involved with other women, but..... This is a pretty typical episode. Perry manages to get one of the characters out of trouble at the beginning, but she is incredibly unlikeable.