Perry Mason is lecturing at a law school in Denver Colorado and finds himself defending one of the students, Ken Malansky (William R Moses), whom is accused of killing fellow law student Frank Wellman. The prosecution believes it has an open and shut case because the murder weapon was Malansky's own knife - it has his initials carved on the blade. Malansky also had a strong motive because Wellman, although regarded as one of the school's rising stars, was actually a cheat. He had former girlfriend Donna Lehman (Leslie Ackerman) do his exam papers for him and he raped Malansky's girlfriend Kimberley Macdonald (Karen Kopins). Mason has plenty of suspects who had as much reason for wanting Wellman dead as his client - not least Kimberley, her domineering and devoted brother Scott (John De Mita) and Donna Lehman whose own academic work suffered as a result of Wellman. Mason also faces a predicament of his own - Wellman's father, Frank Wellman Snr (Brian Keith) is a friend from his law school days and he thought the world of his son and whenever he got himself into trouble i.e. drunk driving and assault, Wellman Snr, being a wealthy businessman, kept him out of trouble by buying the victims off and keeping his son out of court. By accepting Malansky's case, Mason is putting a long standing friendship on the line.
One of the better Perry Mason revival movies, which saw the departure of William Katt's Paul Drake Jnr and the introduction of Mason's new right hand man, the young attorney Ken Malansky. The character's introduction into the series is handled well - Mason represents him at a murder trial and gets him off - well, how else? - and in between fighting to clear his name Malansky has to choose between two women vying for his attentions - fellow student Kimberley Macdonald and Amy Hastings (Alexandra Paul), a wealthy socialite who is also resourceful and determined to get the man she loves. Alexandra Paul is great in the part and in turning amateur detective - much to Ken's dismay - she actually uncovers a vital witness who helps Mason unmask the real murderer. But who is the right choice for Ken, Amy or Kimberley? No, I won't say how it turns out but will confine myself to say that it wasn't who I expected it to be. Brian Keith is also quite good as Frank Wellman Snr and it makes a change to see the old friend of Mason's routine varied a little in that on this occasion he puts a long standing friendship at risk in representing the man accused of murdering his son.
Overall, Lethal Lesson is an above average entry into what seemed like a never ending series. The script plays fair with the audience and the final revelation of the killer when it comes will surprise the audience and its twists are logically laid out and not just dreamed out of thin air with no insight as to how Mason solved them, which was a problem for many episodes and it ended up frustrating viewers rather than surprising them.
One of the better Perry Mason revival movies, which saw the departure of William Katt's Paul Drake Jnr and the introduction of Mason's new right hand man, the young attorney Ken Malansky. The character's introduction into the series is handled well - Mason represents him at a murder trial and gets him off - well, how else? - and in between fighting to clear his name Malansky has to choose between two women vying for his attentions - fellow student Kimberley Macdonald and Amy Hastings (Alexandra Paul), a wealthy socialite who is also resourceful and determined to get the man she loves. Alexandra Paul is great in the part and in turning amateur detective - much to Ken's dismay - she actually uncovers a vital witness who helps Mason unmask the real murderer. But who is the right choice for Ken, Amy or Kimberley? No, I won't say how it turns out but will confine myself to say that it wasn't who I expected it to be. Brian Keith is also quite good as Frank Wellman Snr and it makes a change to see the old friend of Mason's routine varied a little in that on this occasion he puts a long standing friendship at risk in representing the man accused of murdering his son.
Overall, Lethal Lesson is an above average entry into what seemed like a never ending series. The script plays fair with the audience and the final revelation of the killer when it comes will surprise the audience and its twists are logically laid out and not just dreamed out of thin air with no insight as to how Mason solved them, which was a problem for many episodes and it ended up frustrating viewers rather than surprising them.