The Case of the Surplus Suitor

Episode aired Feb 28, 1963
1h

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

310

YOUR RATING

Wesley Lau and Walter Pidgeon in Perry Mason (1957)

Crime Drama Mystery

Hollis Wilburn's dilemma is deciding between two suitors who are also seeking a franchise from her uncle's business. Her problems grow when her uncle is first blackmailed and then murdered. ... Read allHollis Wilburn's dilemma is deciding between two suitors who are also seeking a franchise from her uncle's business. Her problems grow when her uncle is first blackmailed and then murdered. Being the sole heir to his estate, she's charged.Hollis Wilburn's dilemma is deciding between two suitors who are also seeking a franchise from her uncle's business. Her problems grow when her uncle is first blackmailed and then murdered. Being the sole heir to his estate, she's charged.

Director
- Jesse Hibbs
Writers
- Erle Stanley Gardner
- Robert C. Dennis
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

310

YOUR RATING

Director
- Jesse Hibbs
Writers
- Erle Stanley Gardner
- Robert C. Dennis
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
One of the few cases where Della is at the preliminary hearing only as a witness. She is seated in the gallery and not at the defendant's table, where she usually sits.

Goofs
When the receptionist stops John Wilburn outside his office to let him know he has a phone call, he looks to his left. Then on the cut to the close-up he repeats the same motion.

Quotes
Hamilton Burger: Well, Miss Street, having you here just as a witness for the prosecution is a rare experience for both of us.
Della Street: I'll try not to be hostile, Mr. Burger.
Hamilton Burger: Well, that'll be a rare experience too.

User reviews7

Review

Featured review

5/10

It is apparent that this series needs Raymond Burr

Joyce Bulifant plays her regular character- a ditsy blond, Hollis Wilburn, in this mystery that is again without the presents of Raymond Burr. She lives with her uncle, John Wilburn, after the death of her father.

Uncle John Wilburn has been taking care of young Hollis's 15% of the company as she follows through on getting married. Since John is not in good physical shape, he has told Hollis that she is to inherit his part of the company upon his death.

John gets a call about blackmail concerning money in a swiss bank account. John claims to know nothing of the money and starts to backtrack the accounts and believes he knows how money got into a swiss bank account. All the information hinges on a safe in John's office and only three people knew the combination. Hollis was one of them.

When John ends up murdered, his last words are heard by the maid- "No Hollis No". Hamilton Burger's office soon have more evidence and charge Hollis with murder. With Perry Mason on the mend, we have Walter Pidgeon playing Attorney Sherman Hatfield that will defend Hollis in court on the charges.

Raymond Burr's absents was readily missed in this episode. Even though the story was good- it just did not play well without Raymond in the script. Out of the last three visiting lawyers, I will say that Walter Pidgeon was more apt to play an defense attorney than either of the others last guest stars. It is apparent that this series could not survive without the presents of Raymond Burr in the script.