Based on Gardner's book, 'The Vagabond Virgin,' the episode starts off showing a scam involving the young Veronica Dale and a blackmailing ex-con Peter Handsell. Dale picks up rides with men and Handsell later blackmails them. Dale hitches a ride with Edgar Ferrell, a lecherous co-owner of Fidelity Studios who takes Dale to a luxurious house owned but the studio. Things go wrong when Ferrell hears someone and thinking it's his wife, tells Dale to hide. When Dale hears a shot, she flees and then picks up a ride with John Addison, who just happens to be the other co-owner of Fidelity Studios. Addison stupidly gives Dale a job at the studio and then Handsell shows up to blackmail him. Fortunately, Perry Mason is Addison's lawyer and Perry tries to clean up the mess but before he can do so Addison is arrested for Ferrell's murder. Everybody lies in this episode but Perry manages to sort it all out. But it wouldn't have worked out so easily if the murderer hadn't had a conscience and showed Perry where the murder weapon had been hidden. At the end of the episode Paul tells Perry that reporters are clamoring to hear what made him suspect who the murderer was. Perry tells him "Since everyone with a selfish motive was ruled out, we had to look for someone with an unselfish motive." Perry tells Paul that he will have to talk to the reporters, Paul asks him is he has any message for the gentlemen of the press. Perry says "You ought to tell them if they're ever tempted to pick up a lady on the highway, don't. If she's no lady, it could be murder." Love that line. Two other things I especially liked about this episode was seeing Catherine McLeod as Lorraine Ferrell and Barbara Pepper as Veronica Dale's mother. Pepper's career faltered due to her struggle with alcohol and weight but McLeod was such a good actress (I especially liked her in 'I've Always Loved You') that I wonder why she didn't have a stronger acting career.
8 Reviews
Star witness with a grant of immunity
bkoganbing25 June 2014
Perry Mason's client in this story is up and coming producer Robert Ellenstein who plays Irving Thalberg to his senior partner Paul Cavanaugh's Louis B. Mayer. Cavanaugh has a real reputation with a casting couch and a certain bottom feeding blackmailing columnist played by James Anderson is going to take advantage of it.
Anderson has young vixen as per the episode's title Carol Leigh working for him. She attracts Cavanaugh on the road to his house and no self respecting wolf would pass her up with her Little Red Riding Hood routine.
But later on Cavanaugh is shot to death and Anderson becomes William Talman's star witness with a grant of immunity. Anderson implicates Ellenstein.
Both Leigh and Anderson get torn to shreds by Raymond Burr. Hamilton Burger learns not to be hasty with those immunity grants. And later on a murderer you feel sorry for confesses to the deed.
Nice maneuvering by Raymond Burr in this one.
Anderson has young vixen as per the episode's title Carol Leigh working for him. She attracts Cavanaugh on the road to his house and no self respecting wolf would pass her up with her Little Red Riding Hood routine.
But later on Cavanaugh is shot to death and Anderson becomes William Talman's star witness with a grant of immunity. Anderson implicates Ellenstein.
Both Leigh and Anderson get torn to shreds by Raymond Burr. Hamilton Burger learns not to be hasty with those immunity grants. And later on a murderer you feel sorry for confesses to the deed.
Nice maneuvering by Raymond Burr in this one.
A simple good watch
kfo949410 December 2011
Here is another good episode from the first season as we see Perry defending John Addison (Robert Ellenstein) for the murder of his partner Edgar Farrell (Paul Cavanagh).
Seems both men were co-operators of Fidelity Studios. And a big stock holder's meeting was approaching that was going to swing the movie studio to a single manager and leave the other behind.
But before all of that Mr Farrell, picks up the 18 year old girl on the highway and takes her to a remote house that was owned by the studio. Before Mr Farrell gets lucky- a car drives up and he sends the girl into another room. The next scene produces a gunshot and then you see the young girl Veronica Dale (Carol Leigh) running from the house. And to make matters even more strange, she is picked up down the road by Mr Addison.
And when Hamilton Burger finds all this information, plus the fact that Mr Farrell was killed with Mr Addison's gun, a warrant is issued and Mr Addsion is taken to the county jail charged with murder.
There is also a big sub-plot to this story when we learn that picking up the girl on the highway was not by chance. It had been planned by ex-con blackmailer named Peter Hansel (James Anderson). This all comes to light- but Hamilton gives Peter immunity so that he can testify in court.
The episode ends in a rather uneventful way. Actually very tamed by 'Perry Mason' standards, when we get a confession from the true murderer away from the courtroom. But not before Perry makes people's testimony tainted by revealing lies while on the witness stand.
This is a good watch for viewers but nothing really stands out. It is a simple story with a simple ending. The only thing of mention is the beauty of Ms Carol Leigh and the performance by Barbara Peppers (she played Vernoica's mom).
Notes- I know this is an early episode, but every time some nugget of information is revealed in court, you get this loud rustling sound from the spectators gallery. I glad, in later episodes, they we away from that sound. In this show you get it about five times.
Seems both men were co-operators of Fidelity Studios. And a big stock holder's meeting was approaching that was going to swing the movie studio to a single manager and leave the other behind.
But before all of that Mr Farrell, picks up the 18 year old girl on the highway and takes her to a remote house that was owned by the studio. Before Mr Farrell gets lucky- a car drives up and he sends the girl into another room. The next scene produces a gunshot and then you see the young girl Veronica Dale (Carol Leigh) running from the house. And to make matters even more strange, she is picked up down the road by Mr Addison.
And when Hamilton Burger finds all this information, plus the fact that Mr Farrell was killed with Mr Addison's gun, a warrant is issued and Mr Addsion is taken to the county jail charged with murder.
There is also a big sub-plot to this story when we learn that picking up the girl on the highway was not by chance. It had been planned by ex-con blackmailer named Peter Hansel (James Anderson). This all comes to light- but Hamilton gives Peter immunity so that he can testify in court.
The episode ends in a rather uneventful way. Actually very tamed by 'Perry Mason' standards, when we get a confession from the true murderer away from the courtroom. But not before Perry makes people's testimony tainted by revealing lies while on the witness stand.
This is a good watch for viewers but nothing really stands out. It is a simple story with a simple ending. The only thing of mention is the beauty of Ms Carol Leigh and the performance by Barbara Peppers (she played Vernoica's mom).
Notes- I know this is an early episode, but every time some nugget of information is revealed in court, you get this loud rustling sound from the spectators gallery. I glad, in later episodes, they we away from that sound. In this show you get it about five times.
Willing, Wandering, Waif?
darbski25 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS I liked this episode. It shows quite well that girls can be scheming, conniving, manipulators. In this case what is not brought out is that it can also be a fatal mistake in reality. Anyway, it's great to watch Mason completely dismantle the reprehensible nature of this "witness". Now to the SPOILER: when Paul Drake reported back to Perry after being allowed access to Dale's apartment, he brings back a notebook that he states very sarcastically he "just happened to find" along with another small piece of evidence. Why didn't the police grab up this notebook? Curious, at least. The little part where beautiful Della is trying to work out the importance of a phone call is great. They, by this time, must have realized that her beauty would be a serious asset to the series. Loved the ending; one of those when, the killer can be a sympathetic character. Great episode.
Novels Make Some of the Best Episodes
DKosty12328 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Erle novels make the strongest episodes in the series the reason this is so si that the characters are more fully developed and the details of the case often more baffling than the episodes done by TV writers just based upon the characters.
Here there is a powerful guest cast to go with the story which has more than the usual twists and turns. In the end Perry has to drag the murderer out using a lot of cunning and deduction. My favorite part of this episode line wise involves Barbara Pepper(Later Doris Ziffel on Green Acres) playing Mason's clients mother. After Drake finds her, Mason puts her up in a hotel room waiting to spring her at the trial.
"Your stay here is on me so get anything you want," says Perry.
"That's good," says Barbara "I need a beer."
This is long before Norm said that line on Cheers.
Here there is a powerful guest cast to go with the story which has more than the usual twists and turns. In the end Perry has to drag the murderer out using a lot of cunning and deduction. My favorite part of this episode line wise involves Barbara Pepper(Later Doris Ziffel on Green Acres) playing Mason's clients mother. After Drake finds her, Mason puts her up in a hotel room waiting to spring her at the trial.
"Your stay here is on me so get anything you want," says Perry.
"That's good," says Barbara "I need a beer."
This is long before Norm said that line on Cheers.
Many Twists and Turns
Hitchcoc11 November 2021
This is a complicated case because there is extortion involved. Also, a young woman who is willing to say anything. We have a murder and a connection to a Hollywood producer who is being set up. Anyway, apparently this is one Erle Stanley Gardner's books and it forces us to pay attention every minute. The conclusion is a bit ambiguous and unsatisfying.
The Case of the Vagabond Vixen
Prismark1012 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
There are a lot of despicable people in this story.
No surprise as its based on the Hollywood filmmaking community.
Edgar Ferrell is an older film producer who picks up pretty young hitchhiker Veronica Dale. Ferrell plans to take her to his cabin and seduce her. Only for Ferrell to be shot dead.
While Veronica runs out she later bumps into John Addison. A younger film producing partner with Edgar.
The next day Addison calls Perry Mason to get Veronica out of jail for vagrancy. Later Addison is being blackmailed by a sleazy ex con. Addison does not know that young Veronica was in cahoots with the blackmailer.
Addison becomes the main suspect with the murder of Edgar Ferrell. The blackmailer gets immunity and becomes a key witness for the prosecution along with Veronica.
A simple case but a tough nut for Perry Mason to crack. When Edgar thought that his wife was at the house. It could only lead me to think that she could be the only plausible suspect.
A tawdry look at Hollywood and Addison is only saved by a confession but it's not in the courtroom.
No surprise as its based on the Hollywood filmmaking community.
Edgar Ferrell is an older film producer who picks up pretty young hitchhiker Veronica Dale. Ferrell plans to take her to his cabin and seduce her. Only for Ferrell to be shot dead.
While Veronica runs out she later bumps into John Addison. A younger film producing partner with Edgar.
The next day Addison calls Perry Mason to get Veronica out of jail for vagrancy. Later Addison is being blackmailed by a sleazy ex con. Addison does not know that young Veronica was in cahoots with the blackmailer.
Addison becomes the main suspect with the murder of Edgar Ferrell. The blackmailer gets immunity and becomes a key witness for the prosecution along with Veronica.
A simple case but a tough nut for Perry Mason to crack. When Edgar thought that his wife was at the house. It could only lead me to think that she could be the only plausible suspect.
A tawdry look at Hollywood and Addison is only saved by a confession but it's not in the courtroom.
Murder at Paradise Cove
sol121828 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
****SPOILERS*** After being picked up by movie producer Edger Ferrell, Paul Cavanagh, hitchhiking along the Pacifice Coast Highway outside L.A 17 year old Veronica Dale, Carol Leigh, is taken to his house with a promise to be given a screen test for a new movie he's making.
Happy in being able to break into the movies as well as getting a chance to blackmail Ferrell with her partner in crime ex-convict Peter Handsell, James Anderson, as things soon turn out it's Ferrell battle ax wife Lorraine, Catherine McLeod, who seems out of camera rage to have shown up unexpectedly and caught her cheating husband in the act! With Ferrell quickly hiding Veronica in another room she hears a gun shot and takes off feeling her life is in danger. No sooner then she left Ferrell's pad Veronica in given a ride outside a local gas station by non other then his boss at Fidelity Studios John Addison, Robert Ellenstein, who had no idea where she was. Addison also didn't know, like Veronica, that Ferrell was shot and killed just moments before he gave her a lift!
It's not that long that Addison is picked up and booked by the police in Ferrell's murder all due to the testimony of Veronica Dale whom he kindly gave a lift back to town! As for Veronica the worse is yet to come for her in her being beaten down and unmercifully crossed examined by Addison's attorney Perry Mason, Raymond Burr. The cross examination on Perry's part is so effective that Veronica broke down and admitted her together with Peter Handsell setting up and blackmailing unsuspecting rich driver like Ferrell for the last six months! But as for who murdered Ferrell that's one point that Perry can't quite figure out. That's until the guilt ridden person who did Ferrell in confessed to the crime outside not inside the courtroom!
***SPOILERS**** This was a real stumper for Perry Msson who just about gave up on getting his client John Addison off and was willing to get or plea barging down a 2nd degree murder charge against him. It was Ferrell's real killer who did Perry and John Addison a big favor by not only admitting to his or her crime but also recovering the murder weapon, with his fingerprints on it, to convict him!
Happy in being able to break into the movies as well as getting a chance to blackmail Ferrell with her partner in crime ex-convict Peter Handsell, James Anderson, as things soon turn out it's Ferrell battle ax wife Lorraine, Catherine McLeod, who seems out of camera rage to have shown up unexpectedly and caught her cheating husband in the act! With Ferrell quickly hiding Veronica in another room she hears a gun shot and takes off feeling her life is in danger. No sooner then she left Ferrell's pad Veronica in given a ride outside a local gas station by non other then his boss at Fidelity Studios John Addison, Robert Ellenstein, who had no idea where she was. Addison also didn't know, like Veronica, that Ferrell was shot and killed just moments before he gave her a lift!
It's not that long that Addison is picked up and booked by the police in Ferrell's murder all due to the testimony of Veronica Dale whom he kindly gave a lift back to town! As for Veronica the worse is yet to come for her in her being beaten down and unmercifully crossed examined by Addison's attorney Perry Mason, Raymond Burr. The cross examination on Perry's part is so effective that Veronica broke down and admitted her together with Peter Handsell setting up and blackmailing unsuspecting rich driver like Ferrell for the last six months! But as for who murdered Ferrell that's one point that Perry can't quite figure out. That's until the guilt ridden person who did Ferrell in confessed to the crime outside not inside the courtroom!
***SPOILERS**** This was a real stumper for Perry Msson who just about gave up on getting his client John Addison off and was willing to get or plea barging down a 2nd degree murder charge against him. It was Ferrell's real killer who did Perry and John Addison a big favor by not only admitting to his or her crime but also recovering the murder weapon, with his fingerprints on it, to convict him!
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