A film that delivered very capable performances all around. Myrna Fahey, in particular, was very believable as a plucky murder suspect. I liked the filming on locations and the close-ups of the principals in unusual poses. Observe in particular, the interview by the police Lt. Of the primary suspect and her responses to the questions put to her. Mason is in the scene and seems quite impressed with her resilience. I was impressed by this scene and how it was filmed. The script was intelligent and drew the viewer into the suspense. The courtroom scenes had fine performances, as usual. By the principals with Burger and Perry making good digs at one another with some humor. The usual surprise ending. If you guessed right, you were just lucky!
7 Reviews
Howl or Hoot?
darbski7 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I'm giving this one an 8 because of the beauty of Myrna Fahey and Barbara Hale. Those of us (as I am) old enough to remember, can think back with resentment when our radio stations would broadcast some idiot yapping about how great he was when we wanted to listen to music.
Soon, enough, they realized it when enough of us called in to complain, and they stayed with a beautiful A.M. music programming format. Today's radio listeners don't realize how important A.M. was. Not just music, but ALL kinds of music. It was a terrific time to listen, and enjoy all types of popular music.
The plot surrounding the use of the radio in this episode is pretty dull. several red herrings interface with the total creep that was the dead guy. I must agree with zsenorsock (Argentina). I also noticed that Barney actually had a couple of ways out of his involvement, and a smart lawyer would have seen them. The important thing here, is that with the police testimony, the waters were completely muddied to the point that his client was no longer viable. Perry had done his job. The ending (except for Della) was stupid, though, and if you're going to have this kind of story, make sure that ALL the women are babes. Eye candy can cover a myriad of weaknesses.
Soon, enough, they realized it when enough of us called in to complain, and they stayed with a beautiful A.M. music programming format. Today's radio listeners don't realize how important A.M. was. Not just music, but ALL kinds of music. It was a terrific time to listen, and enjoy all types of popular music.
The plot surrounding the use of the radio in this episode is pretty dull. several red herrings interface with the total creep that was the dead guy. I must agree with zsenorsock (Argentina). I also noticed that Barney actually had a couple of ways out of his involvement, and a smart lawyer would have seen them. The important thing here, is that with the police testimony, the waters were completely muddied to the point that his client was no longer viable. Perry had done his job. The ending (except for Della) was stupid, though, and if you're going to have this kind of story, make sure that ALL the women are babes. Eye candy can cover a myriad of weaknesses.
Murder By Radio
zsenorsock22 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Barney Austin (Daniel J. Travanti) is an obnoxious late night radio host with kind of an odd program. Every night apparently he calls people who have written in to complain about him. He reads their number on the air as he dials, then when he gets them on the phone, pointlessly berates them. On this night one of the names he pulls from a hopper of cards is the name of his boss. He calls the boss, and in an INCREDIBLE coincidence, the boss is shot and killed on the air. What's even more amazing is Perry just happens to be listening to this show, which says a lot about Perry's taste in radio! The accused is the dead man's ex wife Holly Andrews (Myrna Fahey) who just happened to be at Andrews house at the time and was seen (quite coincidentally of course) by Perry, hastily driving away from the scene of the crime. But he's convinced the girl is innocent and takes her on as a client, even knowing he will have to testify as a witness for Burger at the trial. A reenactment of the murder as it was heard on radio leads to the confession of the murderer.
Despite some good performances (notably Travanti and Fahey), this episode is hurt by a lack of understanding as to how radio works. The movies never get it right when they try and depict TV production, and I guess TV evens the score by messing up their depiction of radio. Mason's final proof has to do with feedback which would only happen if the radio was as close to the telephone as it is in the courtroom and ignoring the idea the radio was perhaps turned on AFTER the murder (either to cover the sound of his leaving or to see if the murder really had been broadcast, since there would be a tape delay). A much better expose would have been if Mason had listened to the number Austin dialed on the tape and compared it to the number he dials in the reenactment. Then they would have had him cold. But no, instead Mason once again manages to wrangle a confession using flimsy evidence.
Despite some good performances (notably Travanti and Fahey), this episode is hurt by a lack of understanding as to how radio works. The movies never get it right when they try and depict TV production, and I guess TV evens the score by messing up their depiction of radio. Mason's final proof has to do with feedback which would only happen if the radio was as close to the telephone as it is in the courtroom and ignoring the idea the radio was perhaps turned on AFTER the murder (either to cover the sound of his leaving or to see if the murder really had been broadcast, since there would be a tape delay). A much better expose would have been if Mason had listened to the number Austin dialed on the tape and compared it to the number he dials in the reenactment. Then they would have had him cold. But no, instead Mason once again manages to wrangle a confession using flimsy evidence.
Quik-Call Box
bote8 September 2020
The best part of this show was the Motorola T1251B Quik-Call encoder in the radio station control room. It would've had no practical application in a broadcast station, but I guess the director figured it would look high-tech in 1965.
Comprehending the ending may prove difficult
kfo949425 January 2013
This was an odd premise for a 'Perry Mason' episode as we get a murder that is unfamiliar as any in the entire collection. Perhaps if the writer had made more of the characters likable- it may have went over better. But since that did not happen we get a scenario for murder that was strange and difficult to understand as we have seen in sometime.
An obnoxious radio DJ named Barney Austin, that ends his program with 'goodnight and unpleasant dreams', calls his boss, Kevin Steele, on the air. During the conversation Kevin (which is never seen) is shot. And guess what?- just so happens that Perry Mason is listening to the station.
There is many people to choose from in this mystery. Since nearly everyone in the cast hated Kevin Steele's guts, practically everyone is a suspect. But since Kevin's ex-wife, Holly Andrew, was seen near the crime seen by none other than Perry Mason -she will be charged. And she asks Perry to defend her even though Perry will be called as a witness for the state.
The ending for a novice person will be difficult to follow. And even when it is explained there will be more questions than answers.
Not one of the better scripts. For the regular person it will be difficult to understand the basis behind the electronics that will provide the true murderer, thus making the show more complex than needed. Even though the guilty party was obvious from the start- when in court they relied on poor evidence to draw a weak confession. The actors performance was the only bright spot in this weaker mystery. Not one of the better shows.
An obnoxious radio DJ named Barney Austin, that ends his program with 'goodnight and unpleasant dreams', calls his boss, Kevin Steele, on the air. During the conversation Kevin (which is never seen) is shot. And guess what?- just so happens that Perry Mason is listening to the station.
There is many people to choose from in this mystery. Since nearly everyone in the cast hated Kevin Steele's guts, practically everyone is a suspect. But since Kevin's ex-wife, Holly Andrew, was seen near the crime seen by none other than Perry Mason -she will be charged. And she asks Perry to defend her even though Perry will be called as a witness for the state.
The ending for a novice person will be difficult to follow. And even when it is explained there will be more questions than answers.
Not one of the better scripts. For the regular person it will be difficult to understand the basis behind the electronics that will provide the true murderer, thus making the show more complex than needed. Even though the guilty party was obvious from the start- when in court they relied on poor evidence to draw a weak confession. The actors performance was the only bright spot in this weaker mystery. Not one of the better shows.
Will see this one for a mile
bkoganbing27 April 2012
My rule of thumb for Perry Mason episodes holds true once again in this show. If I can figure out who the murderer is, the writers didn't do a good job.
We never see the deceased who was a rich guy who apparently enjoyed his reputation as a hard case. Among other things he owns a radio station where Daniel J. Travanti, the future Captain Furillo of Hill Street Blues is an early shock jock. He takes a call from the victim and the murder is played out over the air.
By sheer luck however, the victim's former wife Myrna Fahey ran into Perry Mason as she was leaving the deceased's house. Raymond Burr gets called as a prosecution witness to establish time and place, but he also agrees to be her defense lawyer.
And of course there are a host of alternative suspects, but I think anyone who watches both this show and mysteries in general will see this one coming for a mile.
We never see the deceased who was a rich guy who apparently enjoyed his reputation as a hard case. Among other things he owns a radio station where Daniel J. Travanti, the future Captain Furillo of Hill Street Blues is an early shock jock. He takes a call from the victim and the murder is played out over the air.
By sheer luck however, the victim's former wife Myrna Fahey ran into Perry Mason as she was leaving the deceased's house. Raymond Burr gets called as a prosecution witness to establish time and place, but he also agrees to be her defense lawyer.
And of course there are a host of alternative suspects, but I think anyone who watches both this show and mysteries in general will see this one coming for a mile.
Lame Motive For Murder
dubchi11 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
As the Perry Mason series wound down many episodes had conclusions which were very shallow.Sadly this episode is one of those which does not have a credible ending.If we are to believe that a highly rated radio personality murders his boss after being threatened with replacement or being fired then Howard Stern would have murdered 9-10 times by now.A successful radio personality can always find another job.The poorly thought out ending makes this an extremely disappointing Perry Mason episode.It's no wonder that Burr and Hopper were unhappy doing the show at this point.The quick,very poorly written ending ruins the episode.
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