Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter (1991) Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William R. Moses, John James, Jerry Orbach Movie Review

Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter (1991)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Raymond Burr in Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter (1991)

This Just In.... Perry Mason Solves a Case

At TV station KGGY, news anchor Brett Huston (John James) does not have many friends amongst his colleagues as he holds secrets on all of them, including his bosses, and as such struts around the place like he owns the place, antagonizing others especially Gillian Pope (Kerrie Keane) by doing what he likes. When Brett is murdered in the parking lot with a gun belonging to Gillian she finds herself arrested and calling on the services of Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) and his team to defend her.

I wonder how Raymond Burr felt about doing the Perry Mason movies because even the most kind hearted, good natured actor must have tired of the repetitive nature of them. As such "Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter" does not stray from the formula which all the previous movies had used with a despised person ending up murdered and Perry questioning various people all of which had motives for killing him. Whilst Mason cleverly questions people and pieces together a case good old Ken Malansky is doing the leg work, dodging punches and finding time to fall for an attractive woman.

Philip Michael Thomas in Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter (1991)

But "Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter" despite being completely generic due to that formula it is still entertaining. One of the reasons why is yet again the producers have scored many familiar faces to appear in supporting roles such as Jerry Orbach and Philip Michael Thomas. The other reason is because of Raymond Burr who had such presence as Perry Mason that even though you know he is going to do the same thing he did in the last movie he has such a manner that he still commanded your attention. In a way it is the same with William R. Moses as you knew he would end up with an attractive woman whilst avoiding punches but Moses has a likeable nature that his character simply works.

What this all boils down to is that "Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter" is a routine Perry Mason movie which runs with the formula and doesn't do anything new with it. But thanks to Burr along with the other regulars as well as the famous faces who show up in supporting roles it is as entertaining ever.

Tags: TV Mystery Movie Crime Solvers, Perry Mason


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