Highly Overrated But Still Good

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

A crotchety old millionaire dies in a fire not long after having his attorney Perry Mason change his will. Perry suspects murder and investigates. The fifth Perry Mason film from Warner Bros. is the first without Warren William and the best of the entire series. This time Perry is played by Ricardo Cortez. Cortez's performance is closer to how Perry should be than Warren William's version, which often felt like a poor man's Nick Charles. There's no camera mugging here and Perry actually does lawyer stuff, not just act like a private dick. Sadly, this was Cortez's only turn as Perry. The other reason I like this one is the mystery atmosphere which is missing from the previous movies. They relied more on comedy and typical B detective movie material.Lovely Jane Bryan makes her film debut here and does well. Love the waffle stuff. The great Harry Davenport plays Bryan's grandfather. June Travis takes over as Della Street. Della and Perry had married in the last movie in the series but that's forgotten here. Another change is that Perry's comic relief stooge Spudsy Drake is now named Paul Drake and is played by Garry Owen. He's probably the most grating part of the film and the only part that seems like it would fit right in with the Warren William movies. But that's a minor complaint really. It's a solid murder mystery with a brisk pace, some nice atmosphere, and a great twist.

Personally, I am not fond of this film, although Cortez is fine as Mason. The 1930s hosted a brief Warner Brothers series, with three different men in the lead. This is the only movie I have seen from the period.The plot is convoluted, with a few too many characters. I am assuming that all were in the original story - I would love to see the Burr television take that was apparently shot over twenty years later. Speaking of which, I am one of those who grew up on Burr's Mason, so it is strange to experience another actor in the role. This film wastes Della and Drake, in my opinion.Harry Davenport provides his usual supporting role professionalism, albeit in a B movie a few notches below what he was probably accustomed to.Definitely worth a viewing.

In the 1950's I faithfully watched Perry Mason on TV and as many of my generation came to think of Raymond Burr AS Perry Mason. However I will confess that until very recently, I had never read any the novels. I started to read them more or less chronologically by copyright date beginning in the 1930's. I was delighted to view a copy of The Case of the Black Cat. Although Ricardo Cortez was a bit more charming than the literary Perry Mason, I found the story and style to be vintage Erle Stanley Gardner. I hope that if film ever revisits Perry Mason that homework is done and this film is viewed, and perhaps set as a period piece. Certainly,at a time when so many remakes are being done, there is room for a new (or rather an Old )treatment of this literary icon. Erle Stanley Gardner wrote over 100 Perry Mason novels over a thirty year period, a wealth of idea's to draw from.

Excellent pre-Raymond Burr filming of a Perry Mason novel! I was lucky enough to see this on TCM (since it isn't on video). At first I wasn't expecting much, but found Ricardo Cortez to be an excellent Perry Mason! Why Warner Brothers didn't keep him for other movies in the series I don't know! That's probably why Perry Mason wasn't that successful until the tv series came along. It would be nice to see this title on DVD.