Perry Mason is back in court to defend one of his former law students, Jack Barnett (Tim Reid), the husband and manager of temperamental pop singer Terri Knight (Vanessa Williams), whom is accused of murdering her following an argument, which was witnessed by their friends and colleagues. The ace attorney is puzzled because, although everybody appears to have eulogised Terri, she treated all of them badly. They include her ex-husband, Joe Dillon (Kene Holiday), who taught Terri everything she knew about performing and, after she hit the big time, walked out on him and whereas she was earning millions he was stuck singing and playing piano in coffee bars for a meagre $500 per week. Yet, if Jack is convicted of her murder, he will not be legally allowed to inherit his wife's estate, worth $14 million, and under the terms of the will it would then all go to Dillon. Then there is Sean Lassiter (Alan Rachins), the president of Terri's record company whom was afraid that his biggest signing was going to change labels and, on top of that, she had accused him of 'Payola' and that had the potential to ruin him. Finally, there is Terri's closest friend and personal assistant, Becky Dileo (Marilyn Jones), whom is totally convinced of Jack's guilt and was completely loyal to her even though she had hurt her too. All of these people had strong motives for murder, but it is an uphill struggle for Perry to prove that his client didn't do it...
One of the best and certainly one of the more ambitious of the long running series of revival TVM's of Raymond Burr's best-loved series Perry Mason. It is attractively set in the cut throat world of the music business in which the ace defence attorney's case slowly unravels the truth about the rise and fall of a pop idol. It isn't the usual sex and drugs and rock and roll tale this time, but a tragic one that leads to an emotionally satisfying and surprising denouement. Inventively directed by Ron Satlof, who was easily this series' best director and one of the most prolific, who opts to use flashback sequences when the murdered singer's friends and colleagues recall their memories of her set to the pop music specially written by composer Dick de Benedictis for the film. This succeeds in bringing out the emotional element which is fundamental to the story. It is competently acted by the entire cast with Vanessa Williams, Tim Reid and Becky Dileo of particular note among the supporting cast. Burr remains a commanding presence in his courtroom scenes, but Barbara Hale's Della Street gets very little to do. William R Moses' action man part as Ken Malansky is quite good here. In this case he poses as an A&R man in order to befriend a young, ambitious singer called Cathy Redding (Nia Peeples) in order to plug her for information about a songwriter who in reality is a violent armed robber turned killer. Peeples is quite likeable in the part and her scenes with Moses allow for some moments of gentle comedy and moving drama in which the pair fall out after she discovers that he is no A&R man and we as the audience hope that the pair will make things up. There is also a suspense element too in which Malansky has to try and convince her that the guy who claims to be a songwriter is nothing of the kind and a dangerous killer who could, if forced, add her to his list of victims.
All in all, The Case Of The Silenced Singer emerges as one of the best examples of this series that will be entertaining to people who simply enjoy good mysteries as well as fans who never miss an episode.
One of the best and certainly one of the more ambitious of the long running series of revival TVM's of Raymond Burr's best-loved series Perry Mason. It is attractively set in the cut throat world of the music business in which the ace defence attorney's case slowly unravels the truth about the rise and fall of a pop idol. It isn't the usual sex and drugs and rock and roll tale this time, but a tragic one that leads to an emotionally satisfying and surprising denouement. Inventively directed by Ron Satlof, who was easily this series' best director and one of the most prolific, who opts to use flashback sequences when the murdered singer's friends and colleagues recall their memories of her set to the pop music specially written by composer Dick de Benedictis for the film. This succeeds in bringing out the emotional element which is fundamental to the story. It is competently acted by the entire cast with Vanessa Williams, Tim Reid and Becky Dileo of particular note among the supporting cast. Burr remains a commanding presence in his courtroom scenes, but Barbara Hale's Della Street gets very little to do. William R Moses' action man part as Ken Malansky is quite good here. In this case he poses as an A&R man in order to befriend a young, ambitious singer called Cathy Redding (Nia Peeples) in order to plug her for information about a songwriter who in reality is a violent armed robber turned killer. Peeples is quite likeable in the part and her scenes with Moses allow for some moments of gentle comedy and moving drama in which the pair fall out after she discovers that he is no A&R man and we as the audience hope that the pair will make things up. There is also a suspense element too in which Malansky has to try and convince her that the guy who claims to be a songwriter is nothing of the kind and a dangerous killer who could, if forced, add her to his list of victims.
All in all, The Case Of The Silenced Singer emerges as one of the best examples of this series that will be entertaining to people who simply enjoy good mysteries as well as fans who never miss an episode.