Director Gerd Oswald is the real standout performer in this episode by giving it a real noir feel, using a lot of shadows and darkness in framing his shots. He also seems to have just discovered the idea of snap zooms because he seems to use them a lot in this story of an inventor Tom Wyatt (John Hudson) who is accused of murdering a man who took his formula through legal means. May Wynn makes her last professional appearance and makes it a good one. The actress who was originally named Donna Lee Hickey but then changed her name to her character name that she played in "The Caine Mutiny" plays the dead man's secretary and plaything. Now that he's dead, watch the way she sets her sights on a new sugar daddy: Perry! Cecil Kellaway does not get a lot of screen time in this episode, but does a memorable job as a disillusion chemist who appears to be trying to alter his own chemistry through booze. The story is pretty convoluted but the real show are the performances and the style Oswald brings to this one.
10 Reviews
Not too many people sadden by this murder
kfo949430 April 2013
This entertaining show begins at Fredrick Rollins Tropical Fish Store as one of Mr Rollins' employees, Tom Wyatt, is showing a man named Jackson Huxley a cure for a nasty fish disease named gull fever. Wyatt mixes his paste with the water and the fishes that were near death seemed cure of the disease and are back swimming around. This is going to be something that will bring much money to the store. However we learn that Jackson Huxley had bought the Rollins fish store not long ago and since he owes the company he going to push Wyatt and Rollins out of the way and profit from the remedy. Needless to say Wyatt is not happy.
Later Jackson Huxley is found murdered and the main suspect is Tom Wyatt. When the police learn that Wyatt was also dating a secretary of Huxleys, plus Wyatt's blood was found at the scene, it will be only a short time before Hamilton Burger will issue a murder warrant for Wyatt. Perry will defend him in court against a large amount of unflattering evidence.
But do not think Wyatt was the only suspect. There is a cascade of people that are not sadden by Huxley's demise. From his jilted wife, a fired sexy secretary, a partner in financial trouble, a drunk chemist and the owner of the fish store - Perry will have to look at all the facts and then determine who had the best motive or the luckiest chance to get rid of Huxley.
This is another one of the mysteries that will keep you on your toes. When people team up together to form an alibi, you know that it will be a tough case for Perry to defend. But like always, Perry will maneuver through the muck till a confession is reached and has his client out in time for supper. Good watch.
Later Jackson Huxley is found murdered and the main suspect is Tom Wyatt. When the police learn that Wyatt was also dating a secretary of Huxleys, plus Wyatt's blood was found at the scene, it will be only a short time before Hamilton Burger will issue a murder warrant for Wyatt. Perry will defend him in court against a large amount of unflattering evidence.
But do not think Wyatt was the only suspect. There is a cascade of people that are not sadden by Huxley's demise. From his jilted wife, a fired sexy secretary, a partner in financial trouble, a drunk chemist and the owner of the fish store - Perry will have to look at all the facts and then determine who had the best motive or the luckiest chance to get rid of Huxley.
This is another one of the mysteries that will keep you on your toes. When people team up together to form an alibi, you know that it will be a tough case for Perry to defend. But like always, Perry will maneuver through the muck till a confession is reached and has his client out in time for supper. Good watch.
A Close-Up of Murder
samgslp14 February 2014
If you are prone to motion sickness, take some Dramamine before watching The Case of the Glittering Goldfish, because you are in for some very abrupt and constant camera motion - in particular, some rather intense close-ups. But before the dramatic direction goes into full effect, we are shown a monumental innovation: the cure for gill fever! Tom Wyatt has spent the better part of his recent years perfecting the formula. What he doesn't know is that, in order to fund the experiments, his employer (Gage Clarke as Frederick Rollins) has sold the fish store to a man named Huxley.
Huxley's purchase made him sole owner of Wyatt's cure for gill fever, because it was done in Huxley's store with Huxley's lab equipment. As you can imagine, both Wyatt and Rollins are pretty cheesed with Huxley and they do the intelligent thing by consulting Perry Mason, who promises to look over the contract and find a loophole that will restore ownership of the fish medicine to Wyatt and Rollins. Unfortunately, Wyatt's blood is found all over the scene of the crime when Huxley's corpse is found- he's been poisoned with morphine. Wyatt is arrested and the search for the killer begins, a search complicated by the fact that everybody hated Huxley. Including Huxley's wife.
Cecil Kellaway plays Huxley's drunken scientist (Darrell Metcalf), assigned to break down the formula for the gill fever cure. Kellaway is hilarious as the drunken genius. One scene has Kellaway and Mason trading fish metaphors during a discussion of the murder, and even the stone-faced William Hopper can be seen trying to stop himself from laughing.
The aforementioned direction is a bit jarring and not to my taste, but it adds to the general feel of campy late-50s noir. All in all, this is not up there with the best of the Perry Mason episodes. It's corny, complicated, and predictable if you're an avid Mason fan. But Kellaway's performance is every bit as contagious as gill fever, and for that, it's a fun hour of television.
Huxley's purchase made him sole owner of Wyatt's cure for gill fever, because it was done in Huxley's store with Huxley's lab equipment. As you can imagine, both Wyatt and Rollins are pretty cheesed with Huxley and they do the intelligent thing by consulting Perry Mason, who promises to look over the contract and find a loophole that will restore ownership of the fish medicine to Wyatt and Rollins. Unfortunately, Wyatt's blood is found all over the scene of the crime when Huxley's corpse is found- he's been poisoned with morphine. Wyatt is arrested and the search for the killer begins, a search complicated by the fact that everybody hated Huxley. Including Huxley's wife.
Cecil Kellaway plays Huxley's drunken scientist (Darrell Metcalf), assigned to break down the formula for the gill fever cure. Kellaway is hilarious as the drunken genius. One scene has Kellaway and Mason trading fish metaphors during a discussion of the murder, and even the stone-faced William Hopper can be seen trying to stop himself from laughing.
The aforementioned direction is a bit jarring and not to my taste, but it adds to the general feel of campy late-50s noir. All in all, this is not up there with the best of the Perry Mason episodes. It's corny, complicated, and predictable if you're an avid Mason fan. But Kellaway's performance is every bit as contagious as gill fever, and for that, it's a fun hour of television.
Great reviews
darbski20 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
**SPOILERS** I think, anyway. The very first thing I have to mention is the absolutely outstanding staff of supporting actors. i don't care if I sound like a broken record (and I probably do), these bit and cameo players are the woof and warp of the film industry. In this case, Cecil Kellaway plays the part of a dissipated chemist, who has squandered his world class education and references to the point of working for a very minor (almost back-alley) company that disrespects not only his credentials, but his life. He has his revenge, if short lived.
I wonder, if upon analysis, his confession might be viewed as unwarranted testimony against himself. This was before Escobedo or Miranda, but there was still the 5th amendment. Even though he said to Perry that he couldn't say what he'd done without incriminating himself, upon Perry's next question, he did so, anyway. He referred to Huxley as vermin; a noxious, disgusting animal. I think he should have been allowed counsel before further testimony. I liked him and I bet Perry could have gotten him off.
An interesting statement from Lt. Tragg was to Della when he said to her "Miss Street, you're lovelier than ever, if that's possible"; he then appears lost for words, It was a great moment which I'm sure most of the audience would agree with; I certainly do.
I liked the aquarium that Darrell Metcalf had delivered to Perry's office; what I wonder is: what happened to it? It would have been a great addition to his otherwise incomprehensible decor (?).
Murvin Vye, who played Huxley did a fine job of portraying a complete scumbucket louse, who was just SO easy to despise - shows what a fine actor he was.
Perry had found a flaw in the supposed contract between Wyatt and Huxley, and being the business law genius that he was, he must have wrested control of "The Formula" from the wrongful possessors and restored it to his client, thereby putting the Kibosh to their dreams of grandeur.
One other note, and I wonder if any other reviewers would comment on this: the judges in this series must have the noisiest pencils (or glasses) in California's legal system; when rapped on the bench, they produce as much attention getting sound as a gavel, I believe.
I wonder, if upon analysis, his confession might be viewed as unwarranted testimony against himself. This was before Escobedo or Miranda, but there was still the 5th amendment. Even though he said to Perry that he couldn't say what he'd done without incriminating himself, upon Perry's next question, he did so, anyway. He referred to Huxley as vermin; a noxious, disgusting animal. I think he should have been allowed counsel before further testimony. I liked him and I bet Perry could have gotten him off.
An interesting statement from Lt. Tragg was to Della when he said to her "Miss Street, you're lovelier than ever, if that's possible"; he then appears lost for words, It was a great moment which I'm sure most of the audience would agree with; I certainly do.
I liked the aquarium that Darrell Metcalf had delivered to Perry's office; what I wonder is: what happened to it? It would have been a great addition to his otherwise incomprehensible decor (?).
Murvin Vye, who played Huxley did a fine job of portraying a complete scumbucket louse, who was just SO easy to despise - shows what a fine actor he was.
Perry had found a flaw in the supposed contract between Wyatt and Huxley, and being the business law genius that he was, he must have wrested control of "The Formula" from the wrongful possessors and restored it to his client, thereby putting the Kibosh to their dreams of grandeur.
One other note, and I wonder if any other reviewers would comment on this: the judges in this series must have the noisiest pencils (or glasses) in California's legal system; when rapped on the bench, they produce as much attention getting sound as a gavel, I believe.
Semi-dull plot, but the production is fantastic!!!
tforbes-218 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"The Case of the Glittering Goldfish" has a plot that's a little dull. Yeah, we have a new owner who's unpopular for a number of reasons, and is offed as a result.
But the production here is fantastic.
The camera angles are incredibly interesting, filmed in a way that just wasn't done 5 to 10 years earlier. It doesn't hurt that it has a jazz noir score, and it's one of a handful of episodes of Season 2 with such music.
And it has a special guest star, Cecil Kellaway, who turns in a great performance as a drunken chemist. Watching him is reason enough to watch this, along with the cool camera work and music score.
But the production here is fantastic.
The camera angles are incredibly interesting, filmed in a way that just wasn't done 5 to 10 years earlier. It doesn't hurt that it has a jazz noir score, and it's one of a handful of episodes of Season 2 with such music.
And it has a special guest star, Cecil Kellaway, who turns in a great performance as a drunken chemist. Watching him is reason enough to watch this, along with the cool camera work and music score.
Unreliable Narrator!
greg-1994717 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This one is worth watching for the 3 previously mentioned reasons: the noirish cinematography reminiscent of the pilot episode: The Case of The Moth-Eaten Mink, Cecil Kellaway's scene stealing performance, and the usually wisecracking Lt Tragg's sudden gushing silence at Della's beauty.
My only beef is with the camera as an unreliable narrator. I feel cheated watching the murderer make his fake "discovery" of the body, when there's noone to pretend for except us, the viewer.
My only beef is with the camera as an unreliable narrator. I feel cheated watching the murderer make his fake "discovery" of the body, when there's noone to pretend for except us, the viewer.
Something Very Fishy Here
bkoganbing28 August 2019
While working as a partner in a fish store with Gage Clarke, John Hudson comes
up with a formula for gill fever. But Clarke's in debt up to his neck and fish chain
store owner Murvyn Vye buys them out in order to acquire the new formula.
Murvyn Vye with that deep voice and swarthy complexion played a variety of villains on the big and small screen. As Cecil Kellaway the chemist that Vye uses to see if the formula is genuine, to know him was to hate him. Kellaway steals this episode with his inebriated scientist.
When the perpetrator is nailed in court by Raymond Burr it comes almost as a relief. The coda on this episode has the perpetrator looking forward to prison as a field of endeavor.
Can't this that.
Murvyn Vye with that deep voice and swarthy complexion played a variety of villains on the big and small screen. As Cecil Kellaway the chemist that Vye uses to see if the formula is genuine, to know him was to hate him. Kellaway steals this episode with his inebriated scientist.
When the perpetrator is nailed in court by Raymond Burr it comes almost as a relief. The coda on this episode has the perpetrator looking forward to prison as a field of endeavor.
Can't this that.
The Case of the Glittering Goldfish
Prismark1027 May 2023
Tom Wyatt has developed a treatment for gill fever, a disease that afflicts tropical fish. His boss Frederick Rollins had agreed to share the invention together.
Only Rollins had sold his business to Jack Huxley. He now owns the intellectual rights to the formula. This angers Wyatt, even making threats against Huxley.
The arrogant and greedy Huxley asks his intoxicated chemist Darrell Metcalf to analyze the formula to it can be replicated.
The next morning Huxley is found dead and Wyatt is arrested.
There are a whole host of suspects. This include secretary Sally Wilson who is engaged to Wyatt. She was forced to work late that night by Huxley. His wife Norah who disliked her husband and has a flaky alibi herself. Huxley's business partner who also wants a piece of the formula.
There is a nice bit of cut and thrust in the courtroom as Perry Mason looks to hone in on the alternatives. At the end you have a modicum of sympathy for the actual culprit. I thought the story was a cut above but still too run of the mill.
Only Rollins had sold his business to Jack Huxley. He now owns the intellectual rights to the formula. This angers Wyatt, even making threats against Huxley.
The arrogant and greedy Huxley asks his intoxicated chemist Darrell Metcalf to analyze the formula to it can be replicated.
The next morning Huxley is found dead and Wyatt is arrested.
There are a whole host of suspects. This include secretary Sally Wilson who is engaged to Wyatt. She was forced to work late that night by Huxley. His wife Norah who disliked her husband and has a flaky alibi herself. Huxley's business partner who also wants a piece of the formula.
There is a nice bit of cut and thrust in the courtroom as Perry Mason looks to hone in on the alternatives. At the end you have a modicum of sympathy for the actual culprit. I thought the story was a cut above but still too run of the mill.
Fish Food
Hitchcoc28 December 2021
The accused did have a rather violent temper and was abusive to his girlfriend. He also was careless in his research, doing work on company time and then being surprised when the jerky owner moves in for his share. When he punches the guy out, it is beyond the rights he has. I just wasn't all that interested in this episode.
Yes he was vermin! And I exterminated him!
kapelusznik1822 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** It's when things started getting fishy in that fish doctor Tom Wyatt's, John Hudson, secret formula for the cure of gill disease was not only stolen from him in an underhanded deal by Jackson Huxley,Murvyn Vye, but later when Huxly after getting himself smashed on booze was found dead in his office from morphine poisoning. With Wyatt the prime suspect in Huxley's murder it's his lawyer Perry Mason, Raymond Burr,whom Hudson had earlier consulted about Huxley ripping him off who's to defend him in court. This leads to a number of confusing incidents to first find out if this cure for gill disease really works and was it worth for Huxley stealing it from Hudson in the first place.
In trying to prove if the formula works more then to who killed or murdered Huxley Perry uncovers the truth by getting the inventor of the gill disease formula nutty professor Darrell Metcalf, Cecil Kellaway,on the stand. It was Metcalf who found his boss Huxley's body and reported it to the police as well as being the last person to see Huxley alive. Something that no one seemed to notice including prosecuting attorney Hamilton "Ham" Burger,William "Bill" Talman, until Perry got to work on Medcalf.
***SPOILERS***The end couldn't come fast enough in this Perry Mason episode it that by the time the truth came out almost everyone watching it were almost bored to sleep with all the sub-plots and confusion in it. The only thing that kept you awake was the pretty looking babes including Huxley's secretary Donna Sherwood, May Wynn, in it who ended up getting fired by him just before he was found murdered. As for Perry he as usual went through the motions in doing his job as a defense attorney and hit the jackpot by exposing Huxley's killer. Who in fact did a bigger job exposing himself by just throwing in the towel without giving Perry a chance-Due to time restraints- to even cross examine him!
In trying to prove if the formula works more then to who killed or murdered Huxley Perry uncovers the truth by getting the inventor of the gill disease formula nutty professor Darrell Metcalf, Cecil Kellaway,on the stand. It was Metcalf who found his boss Huxley's body and reported it to the police as well as being the last person to see Huxley alive. Something that no one seemed to notice including prosecuting attorney Hamilton "Ham" Burger,William "Bill" Talman, until Perry got to work on Medcalf.
***SPOILERS***The end couldn't come fast enough in this Perry Mason episode it that by the time the truth came out almost everyone watching it were almost bored to sleep with all the sub-plots and confusion in it. The only thing that kept you awake was the pretty looking babes including Huxley's secretary Donna Sherwood, May Wynn, in it who ended up getting fired by him just before he was found murdered. As for Perry he as usual went through the motions in doing his job as a defense attorney and hit the jackpot by exposing Huxley's killer. Who in fact did a bigger job exposing himself by just throwing in the towel without giving Perry a chance-Due to time restraints- to even cross examine him!
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