This was a very unusual episode. For one thing, there are no actual courtroom scenes; a school board hearing takes the place of the court, so Perry is not actually acting as a defense attorney. Still, a murder does eventually take place (45 minutes into the episode!) and at the end a murderer does confess, so that all falls into line. This episode, however, feels a little bit like Rebel Without a Cause meets Harper Valley P.T.A. Plus there is no appearance of Della Street, but maybe that is just because Barbara Hale needed a vacation!
9 Reviews
Perry defends a teacher for improper conduct with student
kfo949413 September 2012
A touchy subject is the plot on this episode when a widowed school teacher, Jane Wardman, is accused of improper conduct with one of her students. The student, Pat Mangan, is the town bully that is part of a motorcycle group from the school. A letter to the school also states that a student, Kenneth Sterling that had died in a motorcycle accident last year, was also involved with Ms Wardman. Ms Wardham admits to helping Kenneth but there was no relationship other than teacher and student. The school board that consist of most of the town's professional citizens, ask Ms Wardham to resign rather than fight the dismissal in court.
Perry just happens to be vacationing in the small town and comes to the aid of widow. However the mood in the town is not very good. In fact the ladies in the town pay Ms Wardham a visit to force her out of town. But with the help of Perry and Paul, Ms Wardham will get a hearing in front of the school board. During the hearing, that is presided over by Judge Edward Daley (Edgar Buchanan), it becomes clear to Perry that this town has secrets it wants hidden.
When a local bar owner is murdered, it begins the fall of a dated secret that someone in power never wanted to see the light of day. In the informal hearing, Perry will produce evidence that fingers someone that had reason to get rid of Ms Wardham.
Good script and good mystery.
Perry just happens to be vacationing in the small town and comes to the aid of widow. However the mood in the town is not very good. In fact the ladies in the town pay Ms Wardham a visit to force her out of town. But with the help of Perry and Paul, Ms Wardham will get a hearing in front of the school board. During the hearing, that is presided over by Judge Edward Daley (Edgar Buchanan), it becomes clear to Perry that this town has secrets it wants hidden.
When a local bar owner is murdered, it begins the fall of a dated secret that someone in power never wanted to see the light of day. In the informal hearing, Perry will produce evidence that fingers someone that had reason to get rid of Ms Wardham.
Good script and good mystery.
Unusual Venue
bkoganbing2 January 2013
Only by chance was Perry Mason vacationing in a small Sierra Mountain town did schoolteacher Mona Freeman obtain his services. It seems as though she's been the target of a poison pen campaign alleging her involvement with some of her students and the women of the town are up in arms.
It's no coincidence that this started after the death of one of her kids in a motorcycle crash before the events of this story begin. That student is described as a James Dean type. The rest of his cycling crowd are a bunch of losers and they're contributing to the rumors.
The local judge Edgar Buchanan is also the head of the school board and he lets Perry know right away that this is informal and by informal he means to run it his way, none of this objecting stuff and evidentiary rules. It's an unusual venue, unusual story, but within the Perry Mason parameters.
Unusual or not and even with the death of another of the principal persons of this drama, Raymond Burr gets to the truth at this school board hearing. After the murderer confesses, a trial is just a formality.
Unusual venue, unusual story, but
It's no coincidence that this started after the death of one of her kids in a motorcycle crash before the events of this story begin. That student is described as a James Dean type. The rest of his cycling crowd are a bunch of losers and they're contributing to the rumors.
The local judge Edgar Buchanan is also the head of the school board and he lets Perry know right away that this is informal and by informal he means to run it his way, none of this objecting stuff and evidentiary rules. It's an unusual venue, unusual story, but within the Perry Mason parameters.
Unusual or not and even with the death of another of the principal persons of this drama, Raymond Burr gets to the truth at this school board hearing. After the murderer confesses, a trial is just a formality.
Unusual venue, unusual story, but
Well, Yeah
darbski21 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
**SPOILERS** What's most good about this episode is not that Perry wins vindication for his client. Nope. It's the way that a crummy, mean, little bully was exposed, and then asked to leave town by his own parents. After two run-ins with Paul, ersatz biker Pat Mangan was shown to be a weak, scared little puppy. Now, the idiots that were riding them, all had pretty nice scooters; I'm pretty sure that Mangan's was about a 1960 Triumph Bonneville. I've owned two myself, and they are sweet.
A classroom of smart mouthed little punks in 1962? I don't think so. The idea that a principle of a high school not walking into a classroom to straighten out such clowns is ludicrous. The idea that a "Judge" would NOT put a stop to any of the outrageous behavior exhibited by the so-called "Board of Education" says volumes about small town politics and silliness. Really, all Perry had to do was say he'd call up the STATE board of education, and all the little witches running their little soap operas would immediately be put in their place. Trouble was....the murder of Kenneth Sterling.
Apparently, after Mangan took a small spill on his scoot, Paul finally put the fear of God into him, so he confessed some of his sins. Next, one of the idiots he had for associates (now, trying to look like a good boy), says in an open hearing what it was that got Jane Wardman into trouble, in the first place.
Perry plays everyone at their own game. Out-thinking them by miles, and showing them all what was what. He even showed how the judge himself could be a likely suspect. One thing I really liked was Jane's kid, Terry. He told her that they HAD to fight for themselves. That's when she hired Perry. After the fallout finished hitting the fan, Jane said (after the apology from the board of fools), she was going to stay, and make her home right there. Good for her. IF their parents have any brains, they'll ground the punks off their bikes until after they graduate. It's the right thing, too, because I'll bet they have a lot of homework, and tests to make up after they get back in school after their disciplinary suspensions; don't you think?
Like in so many cases, when the smart guy who was behind it all should have kept his mouth shut and hired a lawyer, he started blabbing about how it was self defense, and how he had to protect himself. This actually works. I know that people don't wanna believe it, but any good cop will tell you that they will just let a suspect keep right on talking until they slam the cell door shut. Further, since they were not in a court of law, and two years before Miranda, his confession would hold up. Two homicides? Second degree, but life in San Quentin, I'll bet.
One question was HOW he and Gus got the bike and Kenneth away from the Summit Inn, and over into the next county. Moving a motorcycle seems simple, but it really isn't, I've done it myself many times. I've never had to dispose of a body, but I'll bet THAT can be just as complicated. A good question for younger people is "How could they do it without being seen?". Here it is. Back in 1962, and for years later, there was nowhere near the traffic on the public roads late at night. It's true. Very few businesses stayed open late (except bars), most people worked during the day. Many times in the late 1960s, I could ride for many many miles without encountering any other traffic, late at night and early morning. NOW, it seems like no matter where you are there is always traffic. The energy bill for lighting our roadways has to be staggering. That is all.
A classroom of smart mouthed little punks in 1962? I don't think so. The idea that a principle of a high school not walking into a classroom to straighten out such clowns is ludicrous. The idea that a "Judge" would NOT put a stop to any of the outrageous behavior exhibited by the so-called "Board of Education" says volumes about small town politics and silliness. Really, all Perry had to do was say he'd call up the STATE board of education, and all the little witches running their little soap operas would immediately be put in their place. Trouble was....the murder of Kenneth Sterling.
Apparently, after Mangan took a small spill on his scoot, Paul finally put the fear of God into him, so he confessed some of his sins. Next, one of the idiots he had for associates (now, trying to look like a good boy), says in an open hearing what it was that got Jane Wardman into trouble, in the first place.
Perry plays everyone at their own game. Out-thinking them by miles, and showing them all what was what. He even showed how the judge himself could be a likely suspect. One thing I really liked was Jane's kid, Terry. He told her that they HAD to fight for themselves. That's when she hired Perry. After the fallout finished hitting the fan, Jane said (after the apology from the board of fools), she was going to stay, and make her home right there. Good for her. IF their parents have any brains, they'll ground the punks off their bikes until after they graduate. It's the right thing, too, because I'll bet they have a lot of homework, and tests to make up after they get back in school after their disciplinary suspensions; don't you think?
Like in so many cases, when the smart guy who was behind it all should have kept his mouth shut and hired a lawyer, he started blabbing about how it was self defense, and how he had to protect himself. This actually works. I know that people don't wanna believe it, but any good cop will tell you that they will just let a suspect keep right on talking until they slam the cell door shut. Further, since they were not in a court of law, and two years before Miranda, his confession would hold up. Two homicides? Second degree, but life in San Quentin, I'll bet.
One question was HOW he and Gus got the bike and Kenneth away from the Summit Inn, and over into the next county. Moving a motorcycle seems simple, but it really isn't, I've done it myself many times. I've never had to dispose of a body, but I'll bet THAT can be just as complicated. A good question for younger people is "How could they do it without being seen?". Here it is. Back in 1962, and for years later, there was nowhere near the traffic on the public roads late at night. It's true. Very few businesses stayed open late (except bars), most people worked during the day. Many times in the late 1960s, I could ride for many many miles without encountering any other traffic, late at night and early morning. NOW, it seems like no matter where you are there is always traffic. The energy bill for lighting our roadways has to be staggering. That is all.
Yet another fishing trip down the drain!
AlsExGal19 October 2023
Perry Mason is in a small town to do some fishing, but that never seems to work out.
In the same small town where Perry is vacationing, Jane Wardman is being asked to resign her teaching position at the local high school because she has been accused of having an improper relationship with a student after a troubled boy she had tried to counsel and befriend committed suicide. It's more than small town wagging tongues though, because the boy she allegedly had the relationship with testified to the school board about their kissing and drinking together, also an anonymous note was sent to the board accusing the same thing.
Wardman, a widow and the mother of a young son, decides to stay and fight and defend her reputation rather than resign. Perry, a witness to some of the cruel and abusive treatment she receives from the townsfolk decides to represent her at the school board hearing, where it turns out that this smear attack against her is much bigger than just small minds wanting to believe the worst.
There does turn out to be a murder involved in this episode, but it comes near the end and Perry's client - for once - is not the accused. There's quite a bit of Paul Drake in this episode, as he is needed to both investigate and deal with some of the town bullies who don't care for his presence.
This episode brings in some features of films that were popular in the early 60s - troubled youth and motorcycle gangs bullying citizens on lonely roads at night.
In the same small town where Perry is vacationing, Jane Wardman is being asked to resign her teaching position at the local high school because she has been accused of having an improper relationship with a student after a troubled boy she had tried to counsel and befriend committed suicide. It's more than small town wagging tongues though, because the boy she allegedly had the relationship with testified to the school board about their kissing and drinking together, also an anonymous note was sent to the board accusing the same thing.
Wardman, a widow and the mother of a young son, decides to stay and fight and defend her reputation rather than resign. Perry, a witness to some of the cruel and abusive treatment she receives from the townsfolk decides to represent her at the school board hearing, where it turns out that this smear attack against her is much bigger than just small minds wanting to believe the worst.
There does turn out to be a murder involved in this episode, but it comes near the end and Perry's client - for once - is not the accused. There's quite a bit of Paul Drake in this episode, as he is needed to both investigate and deal with some of the town bullies who don't care for his presence.
This episode brings in some features of films that were popular in the early 60s - troubled youth and motorcycle gangs bullying citizens on lonely roads at night.
The Car Mrs Wardon was Driving
williammaceri13 May 2021
When Mrs Wardon drove Perry to the summit and when they arrived at the summit, and when she had the accident the night with her son in the car, it was always the same kind of car, a 1962 full size Mercury. I. always make a point of noticing car details, and I will tell you the car was never a full size Ford, and it certainly was never a Corvar. I have no idea where that came from.
This really happened back then
buccaneer-519296 October 2023
Reviewers like Hitchcoc must of lived in a perfect white suburban neighborhood. Stuff like this happened all the time when you lived in a neighborhood like mine back in the day. Rich white people ran neighborhoods like mine and God forbid you were black or Asian or Spanish. When this episode was first aired in 1962 stuff like this was happening all over the country, people say it exaggerated but it's not. Depending on quite a few factors a whole town could turn on you and all it took was one rumor, or and this is the worst part the wrong color. So this is a good episode and example of the social climate of the 1960's. The fact this episode came out in the 60's just shows people were aware there was trouble.
Beyond Belief
Hitchcoc29 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Taught for 45 years. Occasionally we would run into a parent who hassled us and, yes, there are some guys willing to give you trouble. But for the whole town to get so involved in harassing this young woman is absurd. Not to mention that the bully looked to be about 28 years old. Also, the conclusion was unsatisfying. She went back. In that town?
Teacher's Pet
kapelusznik1826 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
****SPOILERS*** Very Strange Perry Mason, Raymond Burr, episode where Perry doesn't defend a murder suspect, what would a Perry Mason episode be without one, but a women's honor and ends up solving not just one but two murder cases at the same time! All this while Perry is on a fishing vacation in far off Placer Hill!
This all started when English teacher Jane Wardman, Mona Freeman, is accused by a number of her students of making passes at them and keeping them over after school for extra curricular studies. Forced to resign because of her unprofessional actions Jane is saved by the bell or better yet Perry Mason. It's Perry who on his own goes fishing not for trout but the person who mailed this letter to the school board accusing Jane of playing the field with her male students and in the process, by robbing them of their innocence, corrupting them.
Most of the innocent and milk drinking students that Jane is accused of corrupting are member of a motor cycle gang who spend their off time at the Summitt Inn getting smashed with booze despite them being minors. It's the person who owns the Summitt Inn and selling bottles of whiskey to the under aged boys Gus Wiler, Chris Alcaide, who's later found murdered by both Perry and his private investigator friend Paul Drake, William Hooper,that soon had the story change dramatically. Even though Perry's client Jane Wardman was in no way suspected in Wiler's murder he took it upon himself to solve it to prove, this I can't figure out, that she was innocent of improper behavior with her students.
****SPOILERS**** To make things even more confusing it's brought out that Jane's involvement with a student of hers Ken Sterling who was killed in a motorcycle accident a month earlier was the reason for Wiler's murder! As Perry later proved, like only he could, it was Wiler's cover-up of Sterling death that in fact lead to his murder by blackmailing the person who was covering it up with him. One of the most confusing Perry Mason episodes ever but you have to give Raymond Burr credit for being able to look serious and keep a straight face throughout this entire Perry Mason episode!
This all started when English teacher Jane Wardman, Mona Freeman, is accused by a number of her students of making passes at them and keeping them over after school for extra curricular studies. Forced to resign because of her unprofessional actions Jane is saved by the bell or better yet Perry Mason. It's Perry who on his own goes fishing not for trout but the person who mailed this letter to the school board accusing Jane of playing the field with her male students and in the process, by robbing them of their innocence, corrupting them.
Most of the innocent and milk drinking students that Jane is accused of corrupting are member of a motor cycle gang who spend their off time at the Summitt Inn getting smashed with booze despite them being minors. It's the person who owns the Summitt Inn and selling bottles of whiskey to the under aged boys Gus Wiler, Chris Alcaide, who's later found murdered by both Perry and his private investigator friend Paul Drake, William Hooper,that soon had the story change dramatically. Even though Perry's client Jane Wardman was in no way suspected in Wiler's murder he took it upon himself to solve it to prove, this I can't figure out, that she was innocent of improper behavior with her students.
****SPOILERS**** To make things even more confusing it's brought out that Jane's involvement with a student of hers Ken Sterling who was killed in a motorcycle accident a month earlier was the reason for Wiler's murder! As Perry later proved, like only he could, it was Wiler's cover-up of Sterling death that in fact lead to his murder by blackmailing the person who was covering it up with him. One of the most confusing Perry Mason episodes ever but you have to give Raymond Burr credit for being able to look serious and keep a straight face throughout this entire Perry Mason episode!
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