Perry Mason The Case of the Frightened Fisherman (1957–1966) Online

This episode did not have the flash and suspense other shows offered but it did do a good job of getting the viewer involved and interested in the outcome of the mystery. And when Perry does some fishing of his on in the courtroom, the viewer knows that he is hot on the trail of the true murderer.

The plot centers around this small chemist company, ran by Randolph James and Hans Lang, developing a new antibiotic drug that will be worth millions upon distribution and a drug company, led by Hudson Bradshaw, wanting to buy the vaccine and and put the chemist company out of business.

Bradshaw comes up with this plan to buy shares of the chemist company from Randolph James's wife. Seems Ms Natalie James is sick of being married to Randolph and she wants to sell her stock and move to Hawaii or any place away from Randolph. But when she learns that her shares could be worth twice what she is asking, she raises the stakes and tells Bradshaw they she wants much more money.

While Randolph is out doing some night beach fishing someone takes his vehicle. The vehicle is involved in a hit-and-run killing Natalie James. Upon finishing his fishing, Randolph returns to his vehicle (which has been returned) and is stopped by police. The evidence points to Randolph James killing his wife for the shares of the company and murder warrants are issued. Perry will defend Randolph in court.

Even though there is nothing flashy in this script, the show has moments of enlightenment. Perry ask a simple question to a witness on the stand about fishing and you can tell that the walls of deception begin to fall. Nice story and good watch.

Note- No Della in this episode. She will also be missing the next three shows as well. In this show there is no explanation as to her absents but the next episode Perry advises that she is visiting her aunt.

Big eyed Connie Cezan returns to the series as Mason's receptionist Gertie after a three year absence, in this case pinch hitting a bit for Della Street. It's not explained why Della isn't around, but Cezan does a fine job in her stead.

The scientific team of Bradshaw and James looks like they are about to make a breakthrough with a vaccine that could earn them millions. Only Natalie James (Marian Collier) threatens to sell her controlling share in the company while thinking about running away to Hawaii with surfer hunk Andy Wilcoe (William Smith). When Natalie is killed by a hit and run driver evidence points to her husband Randolph James (Lee Fair) as her killer.

Smith is always good at playing arrogant,cold womanizing creeps and he is in the zone here. Barlett Robinson does an interesting character as the "fishin' physicist" (okay, he's a chemist, but that's not as much fun to write as "fishin' physicist") and Ilse Taurin as his daughter is easy on the eyes.

The setting is the Malibu beach colony and we get to see Perry demonstrate his fish as well as legal expertise. However, the reveal of how the murder was committed raises some questions. Without giving away the murderer, this person steals/borrows James' car while he's fishing, then gets the victim to drink a lot, insisting they stay for another round. However, not knowing when James will come back to his car, that seems fairly risky. If he comes back and finds his car gone, the jig is up. Better to get it over and done with quickly--the victim after all does not have to be plastered for the plan to work...which it doesn't anyway, thanks to Perry!

***SPOILERS*** I sure would've hated to see them bang up a sweet Woody station wagon just to run run down a cheating, lying, double-crossing, good-looking snake like Natalie James; so it's good that they didn't show any damage. The story about the Woody being damaged and then fixed the next day is pure "Twilight Zone" bull, though. Nobody can get an old car fixed that fast; then or now.

So, at the risk of sounding presumptuous and preposterous (I just love those words) I'm gonna say that I suspected Helen as soon as I saw how reluctant she was to "loan" her diamond pin to Natalie. I wasn't sure about the hat part, until Perry brought it out in court. Another thing about Woodies, is that Surfers would, and still do, use a roof luggage rack to hold (down) their boards. NOT inside the wagon, where it would be difficult to tie down. I'll bet that a bunch of Surfers noticed this when the episode first came out, but there was NO IMDb back then, was there?

I'll also bet that they had to run a bunch of Surfers, and bunnies off the beach when they shot those scenes. Night or day; show me a Surfer, I'll show you a party. I speak from experience. Which brings up another question: WHERE were the surf bunnies? I mean, this is Southern California, isn't it??? A beach without SurferGirls must be in Iowa.

All that said, Mala Powers (Helen Bradshaw) is looking sultry hot, as a person who HAD to dispose of an extortionist. She rightly explained why in her confession, and also, her anger at Devlin for messing up her plan. In doing so. Of course, she eliminated any chance for mercy. See, she was quite willing to hang a frame on Perry's client, and let him face San Quentin.

One other small thing. The last scene is just dumb. Paul has been fishing with Perry a number of times, so his statement "I'm not a fisherman" rings hollow. There's no reason for it, either. and the reason for keeping an eye on other fishermen? NOT because you wonder what they caught, but to make sure your lines don't get tangled. I was gonna say, just like this plot, but I decided not to at the last minute.

Good thing that Lee Farr has Perry Mason on retainer for his business, he'll sure need him as a defense attorney. He's not only accused of running down his cheating wife Marian Collier, but Connie Gilchrist saw him do it and their station wagon has been identified as the murder weapon.

In addition to looking to sell her stock in her husband's company right out from under him which is his motive for murder, Collier has been doing dirt to a lot of folks. Even her dumb boyfriend William Smith is catching on to her as well.

The plot had one individual all staked out as the perpetrator, but at the last second was neatly turned around to another. Still another person destroyed evidence. A phony witness was also dug up and that gilding of the lily is what led to Raymond Burr unmasking the killer. And the perpetrator had plenty of reason to kill Collier.

Nicely plotted with a neat switch.

I have enjoyed most every episode I can think of that I have seen courtesy of MeTV that I would never have otherwise been able to. Only exceptions were if I missed part or if the plot got too convoluted.

This episode is smooth, clean, and thoroughly enjoyable. As is often the case, the killer is sympathetic, in this case more sympathetic than the hateful but beautiful "victim", or other of the episode's characters, including the killer's own ruthless businessman husband who would never have forgiven her affair, thus forcing the murder of an insatiable blackmailer. True, the killer would have let an innocent person take the fall (they had the death penalty back then, as we often hear mention of "the gas chamber") so that eases the conclusion in this case.