Michael Leopard | Through the Shattered Lens

Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) and Ken Malansky (William R. Moses) are in Las Vegas for a boxing match but you know how it is when you’re the world’s most famous defense attorney. Perry can’t even go to Nevada without getting drawn into a court case. This time, David Benson (John Posey) is accused of shooting a blackmailer named Richard Stuart (Robert Culp). David’s teenage daughter, Melanie (Jenny Lewis), convinces Perry to take the case. She also tries to investigate on her own. It turns out that Richard Stuart was blackmailing several people. The suspects include Robert Vaughn, Jere Burns, Ken Kercheval, and Kevin Tighe.

I went back and forth on this entry. The best thing about this movie were the other suspects, who were all flamboyant Las Vegas characters. However, Melanie was sometimes annoying, even though it was understandable that she would be upset about her father being accused of murder. But I do think it was interesting to see how Perry related to Melanie. There’s a really sad subtext to the movie because Perry’s entire life is about his work. His friends are other attorneys. He doesn’t seem to have a family. While defending David, Perry became a surrogate father for Melanie but, at the end of the movie, Perry was once again alone.

In the end, The Case of the Desperate Daughter won me over. It was entertaining to see Perry in a different setting and dealing with characters who were more memorable than the usual cast of suspects. Even Perry Mason needed an occasional change of scenery.

Welcome to Late Night Retro Television Reviews, a feature where we review some of our favorite and least favorite shows of the past! On Thursdays, I will be reviewing Highway to Heaven, which aired on NBC from 1984 to 1989. The entire show is currently streaming on Tubi and several other services!

This week, Mark is abandoned in the park.

Episode 4.13 “A Mother’s Love”

(Dir by Michael Landon, originally aired on January 6th, 1988)

It’s time for Jonathan and Mark to start a new assignment! This week, Jonathan gets to be a teacher (again!) and Mark gets to be …. homeless.

Seriously, Mark is dropped off in the park and told to live there. Eventually, Jonathan shows up and gives Mark a tent and some cooking supplies. That was nice of him but still, you have to wonder why Mark always seems to get assignments that are designed to aggravate him. “Thanks for giving up your independence to work with my angel,” the show’s version of God seems to be saying, “Now, here …. go live in the park.”

Also living in the park are four brothers whose mother has recently died. They’re living in a van and are trying to not get sent to foster care. Fortunately, there’s a teacher at Jonathan’s new school who regrets that she never had a family. Guess who is going to end up adopting four kids!

This was pretty much the epitome of Highway to Heaven, sweet-natured, sentimental, shamelessly manipulative, and so earnest that it worked even when it shouldn’t have. That said, I hope Jonathan will put a good word in for Mark. The guy deserves at least one easy week!