The Case of the Sulky Girl

Season 1, Episode 5, Aired
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Episode Summary

Fran Celane feels her uncle, Edward Norton, is too restrictive as the executor of her father's spendthrift trust. He also wants her to wait 18 months until her 25th birthday before she gets married. Arthur Crinston, Edward Norton's attorney, arrives to meet with Mr. Norton but is told to return at 11pm. When he returns, they meet for a few minutes and as he is leaving, Mr. Norton asks him to take his secretary, Donald Graves, to pick up some papers. As they drive away, Mr. Graves looks back at the house and sees someone attack Edward Norton. They return to find Edward Norton dead and Rodney Gleason, Fran's fiance, is identified as the assailant. Rodney Gleason is accused of the murder.moreless
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  • A definite winner and a good example of the series overall, slightly over-scripted but with the main characters all having something meaningful to do.

    8.3
    "Great"
    By Mac-Ale, Aug 22, 2008 Report Abuse
    It seems like the secret husband of a rich heiress has decided to murder the controlling uncle denying her rightful inheritence.

    Most of the ingredients are here, a good half hour of set up and dialog, scenes shifting all over the place. One note, the paintings of the accused artist are absolutely awful - call to the prop department. It is interesting how Mason is drawn into the case, not at all having to do with murder or opposing the DAs' office steamrolling to justice - but rather, as a potential probate lawyer.

    Of course, then the episode shifts to the courtroom. As usual, some clues seem fairly obvious from what the viewer has seen, but then Mason always has an even grander scheme up his sleeve - and all demand the attention of the audience. Unlike some lame meandering exposition of an emotional teen from "One Tree Hill", this series really asks the audience to pay some attention.

    And so Mason nails his man, who had seemed to be a little too alert in his observations. Perry puts all the pieces together, finds the real murderer with ease and forces his usual confession (actually confessions, here). Another classic case given the rules of the genre. As usual, I generally will always excuse "Perry Mason" from ridiculous legal flaws on the "grounds of compelling drama".moreless

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  • Courtroom pyrotechnics

    8.9
    "Great"
    By jamoon2006, Jan 24, 2008 Report Abuse
    It doesn't look good for Perry's client when three witnesses see him apparently kill his wife's domineering uncle, and even worse when it appears he was the only one in the house at the time. But Perry Mason sees through the picture perfect story and roots out the real culprit in a scene that elicits a confession from the gallery.

    The wrap-up of "TCOT Sulky Girl" is quintessential "Perry Mason" - Mason's thundering cross-examination and knack for the theatrical nails a murderer, and in this case, his accomplice as well. The method Mason uses to trap the guilty in this episode is particularly clever, and it also helps to explain the flaw in the seemingly perfect eyewitness account of the murder.

    It's also a change of pace, as Burger appears to be winning the case for the better part of the trial. Mason appears to be sleepwalking through this one until he brings out the big guns for the conclusion. Another change of pace is Tragg being depicted as slightly better than a bumbler - he catches on to Paul Drake's surveillance and casually threatens to revoke his PI's license. I love Tragg's line as Paul leaves, "Maybe I can recommend a good lawyer for you?" It's always nice to see that Mason's perpetual adversaries weren't boobs...they just got outplayed.moreless

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  • Notes

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    • William Schallert would return in TCOT Misguided Missile and TCOT Melancholy Marksman. Schallert is best known for his role as Martin Lane on The Patty Duke Show. Edit
    • This episode features on of the best courtroom denouements of the series as Mason exposes both the murderer and his accomplice. Edit
    • Lillian Bronson, who plays Clara Mayfield in this episode, would later appear as a female judge in the show's regular rotating panel of judges. Edit

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