Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo
Sleazy talk show host Ted Mayne writes a tell-all book, which enrages and embarrasses several very prominent women. One of them, actress Roxanne Shield, loses her composure during an interview and winds up making a televised death threat. Of course, when Ted is murdered, she is arrested. Witnesses claim they saw Roxanne outside his apartment that night and police later find the murder weapon in her car. Renowned defence attorney Perry Mason accepts the challenge of defending her in court.
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- Cast：
- Raymond Burr , Barbara Hale , William R. Moses , Geraldo Rivera , Tracy Nelson , Priscilla Barnes , Anjanette Comer
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Reviews
A lot of fun.
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review
Yes, this really is the greatest episode of Perry Mason ever made! That's because shortly after it begins, Geraldo Rivera gets killed. I liked that and I bet you'll like it too. Heck, DVR it like I did, so you can watch it over and over again. Very enjoyable and satisfying, although I do wish the producers had spent more time developing this. For example, viewers might like it better if they'd killed off Geraldo Rivera with the assistance of Wile E. Coyote. They could have blown him to bits with dynamite, hit him on the head with a sledge hammer, dropped a 15-ton boulder on him, or finally run him flat with a steamroller. I'd pay a dollar to see that. I forget what happens at the end, but I'm certain Perry Mason proved his client was innocent, he found out who really killed Geraldo Rivera, and they gave him a parade.
Nice to see Tracy Nelson and William R. Moses in this film. Apparently, they were married when this Perry Mason thriller was made and their marriage was probably on the rocks. Notice the pushing scenes and animosity at the beginning between the two. Of course, by the end, they're kissing, but don't be fooled by this.Unfortunately, this is not one of Perry Maon's best; although, he shows love for Della by giving her a bracelet.Geraldo Rivera is really the enemy here as a sleazy talk show host whose tell all book about the women he has bedded down as enraged all and led to his untimely demise.Naturally, the actress on screen, who said that she would kill the Rivera character, Ted Mayne, is arrested when the knife is plunged into Mayne's stomach rupturing a major vessel.In his amazing way, Mason discovers the true identity of the killer by finding out more about that red dress.
This particular Perry Mason television film, The Case of the Reckless Romeo, is distinguished for having Geraldo Rivera play a version of himself and well on the screen. It was almost a shame to have him killed off, he was the best thing about this film.Like Geraldo in real life, Geraldo is the host of a tabloid television talk show and he's written some tell all memoirs about the women of whom he's had carnal knowledge of. But whereas in real life some of them issued denials altogether and some just didn't comment, these women are furious. But unfortunately one of them made the mistake of having the cameras rolling when she threatened to do Geraldo in. She's the star of an action television series, so when Geraldo is done in, she's the one who needs the services of Perry Mason.The other thing The Case of the Reckless Romeo is noted for is the presence of Tracy Nelson who comes from a distinguished show business family, the daughter of Ricky and the granddaughter of Ozzie and Harriet, with her husband William R. Moses. Tracy plays a kind of budding Geraldo like journalist herself and she's carving an agenda all her own in this episode.There's a cute subplot about Raymond Burr being constantly reminded that it's Barbara Hale's birthday coming up. As if someone as sharp as Perry Mason would ever forget Della Street's birthday.
Following a similar tell-all book authored by television personality Geraldo Rivera, this entry in the Perry Mason movie series blurs fact and fiction by casting Rivera as Ted Mayne, who is murdered after publishing his own scandalous tone. The suspect is a TV actress, who makes the mistake of blowing off steam over the book by threatening Mayne's life on camera.Enter Perry Mason, who uses his usual methods to uncover the true killer in open court.This is an average Mason film, with, a final clue, though plausible, seems too over the top to be believed, requiring the guilty party to go "mad" on the stand to pull it off.The supporting cast is good, with Geraldo giving a surprisingly effective performance as Ted Mayne.