One other reviewer has criticized this episode, implying that it's mediocre or unexceptional. I respectfully disagree with his assessment, and I likewise respectfully suggest that he does not recognize or understand the formula for the Perry Mason series. This episode follows that formula, and it does so quite well. It even includes several atypical twists, such as the history starting 25 years earlier, the use of a steam room, the trick to keep a witness in town and to serve him with a subpoena, and the tagging of Paul Drake as a witness for the prosecution and his absence from the courtroom when the assistant district attorney was about to call Paul to the stand. The story and its branches are interesting, and the solution by Perry is well done and well presented.
9 Reviews
The Lipstick Business
Hitchcoc11 January 2022
Once again, a demure, quiet, unassuming brunette is in the defendant's chair. She is a scientist who becomes the scapegoat for a company that is reeling because secret formulas are being leaked. The plot is pretty pedestrian, certainly, but there are enough twists and turns to keep us guessing. Also, once again, we don't get any inkling of what is going to happen to about six others who committed various crimes in the process leading up to the murder.
Mason Jarring Desk Drawer
kleemma4 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
A good but flawed entry in the series. A critic claims he viewed Richard Basehart extensively in this episode.Well, Mr Basehart never appeared on any of the Perry Mason shows. Furthermore I would dismiss the review because of his inattentiveness. Why were there no ballistics reports?; seems very odd since these were ever so crucial in so many of the shows. How long could an armed guard report for duty with a missing gun? This show could easily have been staged within a half-hour, but since there were many prominent faces familiar to 50's and 60's TV, they had to extend it, only to fall short on character development. One expects more from Raymond Burr, and he delivers a timely denouement in the courtroom.
Lavender
darbski24 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
**SPOILERS** I don't think I'm giving anything away, but just in case.... I don't see why the woman Max was supposedly involved with was worth going into debt over. It's not that she was BAD looking, but she wasn't beautiful, either, you know? Of course, we all have our weaknesses. Try and compare her to Della Street; yeah, fuggetaboutit.
Now, what I really liked about this episode, was the way the story shows how badly the bad guys made out. Max is done forever with the cosmetics industry, and anyone else that demands integrity as a part of their life. His "girlfriend"? The scheming, manipulative, sneaky, rotten creep that he fell for, and cooperated with? Well, she turned on her REAL boyfriend when she testified on the stand; a rat off a sinking rowboat. Rawson, once this information is out? His company is as good as belly up with the other dead fish. Max is gonna HAVE to give up every bit of dirt he's got on the two accomplices and instigators if he's got a chance to stay out of jail for industrial espionage, doesn't he? Further, they've deposited a total of $4,000 in Karen's bank account, and said on the stand that it was a gift (unbeknownst to her), so Perry's fee is paid by them. Think of the patents, formulas, and any money made from them that are now going to flow into the coffers of Karen's inherited "Caress Cosmetics" company.
Last, Charles Knudsen? the killer who started out needing money for his family? Two deliberate murders so well planned? A brief trial, San Quentin, (probably a brief stay) and the gas chamber.
Another reviewer commented on the confession scene, and I must disagree with the assessment. I found it to be believable; you can see the internal torture he was condemned to when they finally figure out about the real rest of the message. Then, when he realized that He was well and truly caught, he HAD to tell someone. There was Paul. he didn't know him, but he was somebody to tell about the guilt. This was top drawer acting from one of the very best in the business: Dabbs Greer. One of the most prolific of all the character actors in Hollywood. There were other good actors in this episode, but this scene tells a story of how the talent and ability of these fantastic thespians carried the shows on a very regular basis. (R.I.P. Mr. Greer, and thanks for the great performances; You are NOT forgotten). I think that Lavender was used when funerals had open caskets and long viewing times to help mask the aroma of death. See "The Great Train Robbery".
Now, what I really liked about this episode, was the way the story shows how badly the bad guys made out. Max is done forever with the cosmetics industry, and anyone else that demands integrity as a part of their life. His "girlfriend"? The scheming, manipulative, sneaky, rotten creep that he fell for, and cooperated with? Well, she turned on her REAL boyfriend when she testified on the stand; a rat off a sinking rowboat. Rawson, once this information is out? His company is as good as belly up with the other dead fish. Max is gonna HAVE to give up every bit of dirt he's got on the two accomplices and instigators if he's got a chance to stay out of jail for industrial espionage, doesn't he? Further, they've deposited a total of $4,000 in Karen's bank account, and said on the stand that it was a gift (unbeknownst to her), so Perry's fee is paid by them. Think of the patents, formulas, and any money made from them that are now going to flow into the coffers of Karen's inherited "Caress Cosmetics" company.
Last, Charles Knudsen? the killer who started out needing money for his family? Two deliberate murders so well planned? A brief trial, San Quentin, (probably a brief stay) and the gas chamber.
Another reviewer commented on the confession scene, and I must disagree with the assessment. I found it to be believable; you can see the internal torture he was condemned to when they finally figure out about the real rest of the message. Then, when he realized that He was well and truly caught, he HAD to tell someone. There was Paul. he didn't know him, but he was somebody to tell about the guilt. This was top drawer acting from one of the very best in the business: Dabbs Greer. One of the most prolific of all the character actors in Hollywood. There were other good actors in this episode, but this scene tells a story of how the talent and ability of these fantastic thespians carried the shows on a very regular basis. (R.I.P. Mr. Greer, and thanks for the great performances; You are NOT forgotten). I think that Lavender was used when funerals had open caskets and long viewing times to help mask the aroma of death. See "The Great Train Robbery".
Paul Drake Gets Steamed
DKosty12326 December 2009
This is a solid outing with a very good supporting cast. Richard Basehart from Voyage To The Bottom of The Sea is in this one & on the witness stand for a good while. The plot involves industrial espionage in the Pharmaceutical & Make Up Industry.
Drake runs a lot in the episode as he becomes a material witness & the cops are after him while Mason sends him in pursuit of information abut someone who has supposedly been dead for 23 years. Mason gets his client off and Drake serves a witness for Mason in a steam room.
The solution to who did it involves a clue scrawled in lip stick on a desk drawer by the victim. A very good episode.
Drake runs a lot in the episode as he becomes a material witness & the cops are after him while Mason sends him in pursuit of information abut someone who has supposedly been dead for 23 years. Mason gets his client off and Drake serves a witness for Mason in a steam room.
The solution to who did it involves a clue scrawled in lip stick on a desk drawer by the victim. A very good episode.
Never lived up to its potential
kfo949418 June 2012
After watching the first few episodes of season four, this one came with high expectations. Even though the acting was excellent and the plot was one of interest, it had so many unusual coincidence that the writers had to quickly explain them during the very end of the show.
Karen Lewis is working for Caress Cosmetics when some secret formulas are leaked to the rival competition owned by Gabe Rawson. When Max Pampey, Caress's superintendent, discovers evidence leading to Karen's guilt, it sets off a series of events that someone is trying to frame Karen for the thefts.
When the owner of Caress, Silas Vance, is found murdered- even more evidence is found linking Karen to the theft and also the murder. This is where Perry takes the case and will defend Karen in court for the charge of murder.
This begins the odd coincidences, as it seems that everyone at Caress Cosmetics has some type of relationship with the rival owner Gabe Rawson. Some employees of Caress worked, dated or even steamed with the arch rival Mr Rawson. -- And even more bizarre is that we are taken back many years to a death in a New York prison to explain why Karen will now become the heiress to the entire Caress Cosmetic Company- if Perry can get her off the murder charge.
This really was not a poor episode but the potential that this story had- left much to be desired when the credits began to roll. This also goes to prove that a great guest cast can sometimes lead to a middle-of-the-pack show.
Karen Lewis is working for Caress Cosmetics when some secret formulas are leaked to the rival competition owned by Gabe Rawson. When Max Pampey, Caress's superintendent, discovers evidence leading to Karen's guilt, it sets off a series of events that someone is trying to frame Karen for the thefts.
When the owner of Caress, Silas Vance, is found murdered- even more evidence is found linking Karen to the theft and also the murder. This is where Perry takes the case and will defend Karen in court for the charge of murder.
This begins the odd coincidences, as it seems that everyone at Caress Cosmetics has some type of relationship with the rival owner Gabe Rawson. Some employees of Caress worked, dated or even steamed with the arch rival Mr Rawson. -- And even more bizarre is that we are taken back many years to a death in a New York prison to explain why Karen will now become the heiress to the entire Caress Cosmetic Company- if Perry can get her off the murder charge.
This really was not a poor episode but the potential that this story had- left much to be desired when the credits began to roll. This also goes to prove that a great guest cast can sometimes lead to a middle-of-the-pack show.
Two letters
bkoganbing19 October 2013
The old dying message cliché is used in this Perry Mason. As Hercule Poirot was wont to remark that whole business is rather melodramtic.
Nevertheless its effective as young Patricia Breslin is Raymond Burr's client. She's found at the scene of a homicide of her boss and mentor where he's been shot and night watchman Dabbs Greer has been knocked out. Turns out she inherits the estate from the victim which is a cosmetics empire.
The victim's body was partially underneath a desk and Raymond Burr discovers the written message on the under side of the middle drawer written in lavender lipstick. Two letters make Ray Collins think the perpetrator is Breslin.
But as Perry never defends guilty clients, if you can't figure out this one you are deficient in your mystery watching.
Nevertheless its effective as young Patricia Breslin is Raymond Burr's client. She's found at the scene of a homicide of her boss and mentor where he's been shot and night watchman Dabbs Greer has been knocked out. Turns out she inherits the estate from the victim which is a cosmetics empire.
The victim's body was partially underneath a desk and Raymond Burr discovers the written message on the under side of the middle drawer written in lavender lipstick. Two letters make Ray Collins think the perpetrator is Breslin.
But as Perry never defends guilty clients, if you can't figure out this one you are deficient in your mystery watching.
Another Dumb Killer Confesses All
mbrahms2613 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is another garden variety episode in which various red herrings are thrown in to mislead the viewer and in which the killer, confronted with at best weak circumstantial evidence advanced by Mason, needlessly spring up in court to explain why he just had to kill the victim. In this case, it involved pure speculation on Mason's part as to what a dying man may actually have been trying to write, rather than what the prosecution thought he had written. A weak, contrived plot, like all too many Perry Mason episodes that even a fine cast could not salvage.
Isn't one knock on the head enough for one night!
sol12185 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
****SPOILERS**** It all starts when the wimpy skirt chasing manager of the Caresse Cosmetics Company Max Pompey, Whit Bissel, tried to hit onto pretty company secretary Karen Lewis, Pat Bresin. In trying to run away from him Karen has the 98 pound weakling bang his head on the desk in trying to force himself on her. Mad with rage at not being able to do anything about him being beaned Pompey accuses Karen of industrial espionage against the company that she works at. As it turns out it's non other then Karen's accuser Max Pompey who's the spy in the ointment or company.
But surprisingly enough it's not him who's been doing most of the spying and stealing the company's secret cosmetic formulas. It's when the CEO Salis Vance, James Bell, hears about all this he himself investigates who's the spy and sure enough finds out only to end up getting shot, off camera, by him. That's after when we see him gingerly tip toeing, where we see him in shadow, into Vance's office.
With the luckless Karen now framed in murdering her boss Mr. Vance by his actual murderer she has to stand trial for her life, there is a death penalty in the state of California, but fear not sweet Karen the great Perry Mason, Raymond Burr, is coming to your rescue. And the one person who can save Karen, besides Perry, is the kind and friendly night watchman Charlie Knudsen, Debbs Green. As we and Karen soon find out Charlie was not only at the scene of the crime but also, by getting bopped on the head, a victim of it!
At her murder trial things don't at first look good for Karen with her lawyer Perry Mason unwittingly uncovering evidence that directly connects Karen to her bosses Silas Vance murder! With her name written on a desk by the murder victim, Silas Vance, himself. As it later turned out that it the name written with lavender lipstick was that of Vance's killer but it wasn't as everyone suspected that of Karen Lewis!
***SPOILERS*** Interesting but not one of the better Perry Mason episodes has Vance's killer meekly confess his crime not to Perry but his friend private investigator Paul Drake, William Hopper, instead. The scene was so surreal and in what seemed like slow motion that you thought by watching it something was wrong with the TV set VCR or DVD player that you were watching it on.
But surprisingly enough it's not him who's been doing most of the spying and stealing the company's secret cosmetic formulas. It's when the CEO Salis Vance, James Bell, hears about all this he himself investigates who's the spy and sure enough finds out only to end up getting shot, off camera, by him. That's after when we see him gingerly tip toeing, where we see him in shadow, into Vance's office.
With the luckless Karen now framed in murdering her boss Mr. Vance by his actual murderer she has to stand trial for her life, there is a death penalty in the state of California, but fear not sweet Karen the great Perry Mason, Raymond Burr, is coming to your rescue. And the one person who can save Karen, besides Perry, is the kind and friendly night watchman Charlie Knudsen, Debbs Green. As we and Karen soon find out Charlie was not only at the scene of the crime but also, by getting bopped on the head, a victim of it!
At her murder trial things don't at first look good for Karen with her lawyer Perry Mason unwittingly uncovering evidence that directly connects Karen to her bosses Silas Vance murder! With her name written on a desk by the murder victim, Silas Vance, himself. As it later turned out that it the name written with lavender lipstick was that of Vance's killer but it wasn't as everyone suspected that of Karen Lewis!
***SPOILERS*** Interesting but not one of the better Perry Mason episodes has Vance's killer meekly confess his crime not to Perry but his friend private investigator Paul Drake, William Hopper, instead. The scene was so surreal and in what seemed like slow motion that you thought by watching it something was wrong with the TV set VCR or DVD player that you were watching it on.
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