PERRY MASON: The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989)

Ken Malansky(WILLIAM R. MOSES) is a law student attending a class being taught by Perry Mason. When a friend tells him that his girlfriend was assaulted by a fellow student, Ken rushes to the university's mock courtroom to confront him and finds him dead. The murder weapon was Ken's own knife. Perry is reluctant to take on his case, especially since the victim was the son of a close friend.

Directed by 
Christian I. Nyby II

Writing Credits (WGA)  
Robert Hamilton ... (teleplay)

Dean Hargrove & Joel Steiger (story) 

Casting By 
Carol L. Dudley


THE CASE OF THE LETHAL LESSON is one of the best made for TV movie about Perry Mason and the people around him.

ERLE STANLEY GARDNER, one of my favourite authors,  crossed over on 11 March 1970, but this movie is based on the characters he has created.

Mom and I watched this the first time, then I watched it again just before writing this blog entry.

We had a feeling who set him up, and we were sort of right.  I know this was made almost thirty years ago, but I know many young people who are only discovering Perry Mason now, so I wouldn't dare give spoilers.   Just watch the movie to find out.

WILLIAM R. MOSES and ALEXANDRA PAUL have good onscreen chemistry.  

I like this story, and I think even Mr. Gardner would be pleased.  

THE CAST: (I will try to do it the Erle Stanley Gardner way)

FRANK WELLMAN, JR.- A cocky lawyer wannabe as played by 

DONNA LEHMAN- A scorned woman who loves him as played by 

KIMBERLY MCDONALD- A woman he almost assaulted as played by 

SCOTT MCDONALD- The twin brother of that woman he almost assaulted as played by .

JEFF-An athlete whom the cocky lawyer wanna be ruined his reputation as played by .

KEN MALANSKY- A handsome lawyer wannabe who loves the woman the cocky lawyer wannabe almost raped as played by William R. Moses.  He gets framed for the murder of the cocky lawyer wannabe.

AMY HASTINGS-The crazy ex-girlfriend of the the handsome lawyer wannabe as played by Alexandra Paul.

EUGENE- THE ONLY PERSON who knows how to handle the security cameras, etc.  as played by Brian Backer.

TRAVIS HOWE- The handsome lawyer wannabe's roommate as played by Charley Lang.  

BAR TENDER AL-The guy who Amy Hastings bribes to get some info about a suspect.

FRANK SR.- The father of the cocky lawyer wannabe who got murdered.  He is also Perry Mason's longtime friend. He is played by Brian Keith.

DELLA STREET- A longtime secretary of Perry Mason, who is now old and grey with him, but they still don't have a romantic relationship here.  Only innuendos, including in this episode/TV movie, but in fan fiction, Perry and Della did get married.  Barbara Hale plays Della in this series.

AND 

PERRY MASON-(description not mine) Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people over the course of this long-running courtroom drama, and he manages to clear each and every one of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand. He is also a judge.  Raymond Burr plays Mason in this made for TV movie.




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