User Reviews

A courtroom drama distinguished by outstanding performances and interesting plot developments. A bit dated by modern standards but no less enjoyable for being clearly of its time and place.

Jack Lord is intense in his role as a prosecutor assigned to a case where he has a clear conflict of interest. He's prosecuting a woman for murder with whom he once had an affair that ended badly. He believes she must be guilty-or has he convinced himself of her guilt because he's never forgiven her? Characters beautifully portrayed by seasoned actors-Sheree North and Dana Wynter particularly shine. Pat O'Brien as a well seasoned attorney adds gravitas and guidance to young Jack Lord. While the story isn't entirely original, it holds audience attention by virtue of excellent great pacing with some plot surprises. 8/10 stars.

Jack Lord stars in this undistinguished Chrysler Theatre segment, an old-fashioned courtroom drama with one, unjustified twist at the end that comes too late to wake up a tired viewer. That tired viewer was me.

Any Perry Mason episode contains more suspense, brain-teasing mystery and interesting details than this one-off. For starters, its central theme is ruined immediately by casting Lord as assistant district attorney Perez, of Mexican ancestry. Prejudice against him is front and center, making him an anti-hero, prosecuting divine Dana Wynter (always cool as a cucumber, however dramatic the situation can be) because racial differences vetoed their potential romance way back in high school. Casting reminded me of having Charlton Heston as the Mexican-heritage cop in Welles' "Touch of Evil". WIth Fernando Lamas and Ricardo Montalban in Hollywood, both projects could have opted for a less WASP-y hero.

With little evidence to prove Dana's a murderer one's sympathies are with her, not our hero Lord. He looks like he's stepped onto the set from a "Hawaii Five-O" shoot, in a role that doesn't tax his acting abilities (except for one extreme overacting scene where he badgers witness Wynter).

Most of the acting is low-key, with little drama or emotion. The twist ending was satisfying only in that it ended the dull show, as it was not a convincing solution to the plot's mystery by a long shot.

I was a little afraid of this court room scheme, as I usually am. For instance, I will never see any PERRY MASON épisodes or movies. Not for me, folks. But this story is not boring at all, with solid performances, with a Dana Wynter and Jack Lord both convincing and the final touch, at the end, is nearly a twist one, as we could see in AH PRESENTS épisodes. And don't forget Pat O'Brien as the DA Jack Lord' friend.

I won't repeat the plot line already told above. The key is the line between the DA and the female accused Wynter.

A bittersweet ending indeed, but that leaves you a good taste, unexpected feeling for this kind of story.