Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989 TV Movie) User Reviews (16)

Ken Malansky Debuts

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 4 August 2008]

This entry in the Perry Mason series marked the first time that William R. Moses makes an appearance. He's young law school student Ken Malansky and they meet as Perry is giving a lecture to the participants of a moot court of soon to be graduates.

One of my favorite ironic moments in the Perry Mason series occurs in this film, Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson. Raymond Burr gives a very good speech to the group about juries, people bringing all kinds of baggage from their every days lives to a jury. They're no better or worse than any other average group of folks you can get out of a phone book. But that as a jury they become a noble body and one should never demean them in any way.

It was a great moment of eloquence for Raymond Burr, one of the best in his career as an actor. It ought to be mandatory in law schools in fact. Yet we are talking about Perry Mason who never let a case get that far to a jury, at least not in any of the movies or the couple of hundred episodes from the original series that I recall.

Anyway among the participants of the moot court is John Allen Nelson, the spoiled son of Brian Keith who is an old friend of Burr's. He's a really rotten kid who's dad has used money and influence to get him out of trouble before. During moot court Moses threatens him and later goes out looking to him some bodily harm. But someone beat him to it when he finds the body and he's discovered with the corpse of the late Mr. Nelson. Of course Moses turns to Perry Mason for help.

For fans of the old television series, the character of Ken Malansky actually does have a precedent. For a couple of seasons Perry Mason had an actor named Karl Held play young lawyer David Gideon whom he also defended in a murder trial. Held popped up in a dozen or so episodes after that.

Anyway you know this kid had a host of people who didn't like him in his study group and others. But Perry ferrets out the killer in his usual manner.

William R. Moses joined the TV film series after that as William Katt as Paul Drake, Jr. departed for a series Top of the Hill that didn't last. Neither Moses or Katt have ever lacked for work however though they both are now forty somethings.

It's a good episode and fans of Billy Moses consider it a landmark.

William R. Moses' first Perry Mason film

[knowing-all-answers · 7/10 · 18 December 2001]

This is the first movie with William R. Moses ("Falcon Crest") starring as Ken Malansky (nobody can remember this name !) supporting lawyer Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) and Della Street (Barbara Hale) during murder cases.

He enters the series by being accused of murder. But we know, Perry will defend him and proof his innocence ! This is interesting and nice enough for an evening in front of your TV at home.

Of course we will miss William Katt as Perry's assistant, but you will like William R. Moses, too.

Enter: Ken Malansky

[Mark-129 · 8/10 · 21 April 2005]

Raymond Burr returns as Perry Mason, this time defending young law student Ken Malansky of the murder of a fellow student.

This episode introduces William R. Moses as Malansky, who in future stories would take over the job of Mason's law associate and investigative legman.

Alexandra Paul also debuts, for a much shorter stay as Ken's "fiance", Amy Hastings.

The story follows the same tried and true formula as all Mason stories tend to do with the guilty party exposed in court at the end. In this case the histrionics were exceedingly effective when the guilty party was revealed.

I have always had the feeling the producers had planned to make Amy and Ken a sort of younger version of Mason and Della Street, but upping the romance angle. Sadly, Alexandra Paul made the decision to leave before the plan could come to fruition.

All in all an above average entry in the series and well worth your time.

Solid entry in the series that serves two purposes

[bob the moo · 31 March 2004]

Perry Mason is the lead tutor for a module of a law degree set in a mock classroom. His students include Ken Malansky and the Frank Wellman Jnr - son of one of Perry's good friends. When he finds out that Frank raped his girlfriend, Ken storms into the mock courtroom (where Frank is practicing his summation) only to find him dead. Giving his state and the situation, Ken is arrested and charged. He turns to Perry for his defence, who reluctantly agrees despite the impact on his friendship with Wellman Snr. Meanwhile Ken investigates despite the `help' of his ex-girlfriend Amy.

For those who know the Perry Mason series and enjoy it, they will find that this film continues doing what it has always been doing. The formula is all in place - the investigation by Mason's sidekick, a girl involved in that investigation, Mason's interviews, the court case and the eventual twist. All this it does as well as it usually does (ie not great but reliable and familiar) but it also adds some aspects to the mix. The element regarding Mason's conflict with Frank Snr has potential but sadly it doesn't do enough with it apart from put a plot twist into the middle of the film - but it doesn't have the emotional clout that it should have had. The other thing this film does is introduce to the series that character of Ken Malansky as a replacement for Paul Drake. The film uses him quite well, even if he is less assured than he would become.

Ken, as Drake always did, is reluctantly paired with a woman as his investigative partner. Here he has his ex girlfriend, Amy, with him - as he would for 3 or 4 films after this one. However her character is annoying here - too snobbish, irritating and really difficult to like. The fact that someone is kooky can be an endearing thing but here her character is too forceful and outside of the habits of polite (not rich) society. The only thing that is good about her role is that Paul is an OK actress and is easy on the eye. She is in the shadow of Moses though, who steps up to the challenge of making his mark and securing his employment. Katt is a sad loss to the series simply due to his family connection to the show, but I enjoy Moses a little more - and he has better hair than Katt absurd perm!

Mason does well but he doesn't step up to meet Brian Keith's more emotional input. Ken's class is badly served; I'm sure the actors could have done well but I was surprised how little time they had on screen - Mason's interviews took up less time than usual. None of them really make a mark and, worse still, some of them really force their scenes, supposedly because they knew how little time they had to shine. The `oh look it's...' face this time is Mark Rolston - not a famous name but you'll recognise him from many big films including Shawshank Redemption, Rush Hour, Robocop 2 and Aliens - shame he is only given about 3 minutes of screentime!

Overall this is still a solid entry in the series (if you generally enjoy the series). It doesn't do anything new above the formula but it has an interesting (if poorly used) subplot involving Perry and it also sees Malansky take over from Drake - however I would have preferred the film to partner Malansky with Drake for this film (rather than Amy) and provide a proper handover for the fans!

Perry Mason:The Case of the Lethal Lesson

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 10 August 2008]

A law student, Ken Malansky(William Moses), in a class taught by the respected and admired attorney Perry Mason(Raymond Burr)is framed for the stabbing murder of a fellow student, the brash, cocky and good-looking Frank Wellman, Jr(John Allen Nelson)who had assaulted and almost raped his girlfriend, Kimberly(Karen Kopins). Kimberly and her brother Scott(John DeMita)are also in Mason's class studying court law. After convincing Mason of his innocence, Perry finds the case troubling due to who the murdered student's pops was..his friend from the past, successful, financially influential, and incredibly wealthy businessman Frank Wellman, Sr(Brian Keith). Despite Wellman Senior's urgings to remain off the case, Mason agrees to represent Ken, whose life takes a roller coaster ride when a flame from the past pays bail, filthy rich, feisty, sublime, and beautiful fiancé Amy(..the yummy Alexandra Paul). Soon Amy is playing amateur sleuth attempting, like Ken, to find out answers as to who was in that locked room the night Wellman Jr was killed.

That night is important. Only those in the classroom knew of Frank's late-night studying for a mock trial to occur the next day. Kimberly's fellow student and roommate informs Ken of what Frank did to her. Enraged Ken storms out to confront Frank. His knife was stolen two weeks prior to this specific night. As Ken's leaving Kimberly's friend is smiling, that's because she was actually the one behind Frank Junior's success, writing and preparing everything for him..when he dumped her, revenge(..Ken beating him up)caused that smile as Ken was leaving angrily. Once Ken makes it to the classroom(..not seen is a stop by a cop who writes him a ticket, important in the case later on), he lifts the key ring from the security guard, bursting in and finding Frank lying dead on the floor, his own knife in the murdered student's back. The real killer, silhouetted in the darkness, brushes Ken aside framing him. A major important piece to the puzzle is a video geek, Eugene(Brian Backer, of "The Burning" fame)who might have evidence or knowledge of something important to Mason's case..Amy's pursuit of the truth for her man will possibly reap results as she sets her sights on catching Eugene. But, ultimately, Mason's skills as an attorney will yield the best results as he moves towards Frank Junior's past which may cost a life-long friendship, even calling pops to the stand regarding how he *helped* his son get ahead in law school. One more twist comes from Ken's roommate Travis(Charley Lang)who mentions that he witnessed him rummaging through his dresser drawer finding his knife, possibly endangering Mason's case.

I grew up watching these Perry Mason movies as a child and loved them. Of course, Mason isn't the imposing towering presence he was as a character actor in his classic Hollywood days, so a great deal of the field work which yields results in his case come from snoopers Moses and Paul, who you just know will end up together by the tele-film's end. What I always appreciated most was Burr's resolve and charisma, even as a much older Mason, who moves much more gingerly, you believed in his wisdom and nose for figuring out the details not yet revealed. Paul is delightful and lights up the screen and Moses, trying to deal with a case that could send him to jail and juggling two female relationships at the same time. Moses would later join Mason as that budding lawyer, working on the field for his boss pursuing leads, putting himself in danger. Barbara Hale also returns as Mason's confident Della Street. They have the same eternally wonderful chemistry from the old television show. The movie, as the others would continue to provide, unravels clues and other suspects emerge. And, as expected, Mason rips to shreds those who threaten his case finding the real culprit in the process.

One of the better Perry Mason revival TVM's

[jamesraeburn2003 · 8/10 · 18 December 2015]

Perry Mason is lecturing at a law school in Denver Colorado and finds himself defending one of the students, Ken Malansky (William R Moses), whom is accused of killing fellow law student Frank Wellman. The prosecution believes it has an open and shut case because the murder weapon was Malansky's own knife - it has his initials carved on the blade. Malansky also had a strong motive because Wellman, although regarded as one of the school's rising stars, was actually a cheat. He had former girlfriend Donna Lehman (Leslie Ackerman) do his exam papers for him and he raped Malansky's girlfriend Kimberley Macdonald (Karen Kopins). Mason has plenty of suspects who had as much reason for wanting Wellman dead as his client - not least Kimberley, her domineering and devoted brother Scott (John De Mita) and Donna Lehman whose own academic work suffered as a result of Wellman. Mason also faces a predicament of his own - Wellman's father, Frank Wellman Snr (Brian Keith) is a friend from his law school days and he thought the world of his son and whenever he got himself into trouble i.e. drunk driving and assault, Wellman Snr, being a wealthy businessman, kept him out of trouble by buying the victims off and keeping his son out of court. By accepting Malansky's case, Mason is putting a long standing friendship on the line.

One of the better Perry Mason revival movies, which saw the departure of William Katt's Paul Drake Jnr and the introduction of Mason's new right hand man, the young attorney Ken Malansky. The character's introduction into the series is handled well - Mason represents him at a murder trial and gets him off - well, how else? - and in between fighting to clear his name Malansky has to choose between two women vying for his attentions - fellow student Kimberley Macdonald and Amy Hastings (Alexandra Paul), a wealthy socialite who is also resourceful and determined to get the man she loves. Alexandra Paul is great in the part and in turning amateur detective - much to Ken's dismay - she actually uncovers a vital witness who helps Mason unmask the real murderer. But who is the right choice for Ken, Amy or Kimberley? No, I won't say how it turns out but will confine myself to say that it wasn't who I expected it to be. Brian Keith is also quite good as Frank Wellman Snr and it makes a change to see the old friend of Mason's routine varied a little in that on this occasion he puts a long standing friendship at risk in representing the man accused of murdering his son.

Overall, Lethal Lesson is an above average entry into what seemed like a never ending series. The script plays fair with the audience and the final revelation of the killer when it comes will surprise the audience and its twists are logically laid out and not just dreamed out of thin air with no insight as to how Mason solved them, which was a problem for many episodes and it ended up frustrating viewers rather than surprising them.

Introducing Ken Malansky

[boblipton · 6/10 · 5 March 2019]

Raymond Burr is in Denver, working on "the court of the future" with law students, when one of his students, William Moses, is put on trial for murdering a fellow student. Since that student is the son of Burr's old law-school buddy, Brian Keith, he is reluctant. He is, however, Perry Mason, and just as all his clients are innocent, when Moses asks for him to defend him, we know he is innocent, so apparently Burr has no choice but to do so, with the attendant confession by a random witness on the stand.

As usual, there are many false trails in this TV movie about Erle Stanley Gardner's lawyer-sleuth. It's well done, but the most interesting bit about it is the fact that Moses (as Malansky) would serve the remainder of the series as Burr's investigator.

Good story, a little slow

[cwg2005a · 8/10 · 15 August 2022]

If you like Perry Mason stories (and I once owned 86 PM books), you will be happy to see these resurrection stories. They do have one missing element: the tag at the end, when all the characters discuss the mystery and how it was solved.

One thing I do not like AT ALL in these new stories: Ken Malansky is the most incompetent, stupid, bumbling, and ridiculous investigator imaginable. In every show he goes into dark interiors alone, in every show he gets beat up at least once, in every show he gets information and then decides to NOT call police or share with anyone, but just go off half-cocked on some chase.

strong entry in the series

[bcstoneb444 · 7/10 · 15 January 2017]

First, I confess that I'm not as fond of the Mason revival TV movies as the original series. I especially enjoy the early episodes from the late Fifties, which for me had more edge than the TV movies from the 80s and 90s. Perhaps it's the chronologic proximity and the black & white look that recalls the film noir ethos that I find compelling. Whatever the case, I'm making my way through the Mason TV movies and this one may be the best yet. I've seen about a dozen of them, somewhat out of order, so the introduction and evolution of the Malansky character is a little obscure for me. But this entry had a swiftly-moving, if improbable, story, all done with considerable brio. And the romantic subplot was presented with a nicely comic touch and well integrated into the main story. Best of all was Alexandra Paul as Malansky's girlfriend, who more or less steals the movie. Burr is solid as always but isn't given that much to do. It's really Moses and Paul's movie. In sum, I give this one a fairly solid seven stars.

Enjoyable episode

[lucyrfisher · 9/10 · 24 January 2024]

Worth it for the clothes! It's 1989 - high 80s style. BIG hair. WIDE shoulder pads. HUGE coats. All the female students are dressed in neat, pressed, brushed, EXPENSIVE outfits - what we used to call power suits. When I was a student I wore jeans and lived in a scruffy shared house. This lot live in what look like "show flats". Or "condos" as they would call them.

Others have told the story. The victim's assault of a female student is oddly downplayed, but maybe this was deliberate, considering the outcome.

I liked the student who'd had an affair with the victim who just plagiarised her essays - used her as a Sidney Carton.

Perry Mason meets Ken Malansky

[sol1218 · 7/10 · 25 October 2010]

***SPOILERS*** It's when law student Ken Manlansky, William R.Moses, finds out from his collage girlfriend's Kimberly McDonald, Karen Koplin, dorm roommate Donna, Leslie Ackerman, that fellow law student and all around wise guy Frank Wellman Jr.,John Demita,tried to rape her when he got good and drunk at the local ginmill he just blew a fuse! Rushing down to McClaren Hall's Moot Court facility were Frank was practicing and perfecting his summation to the jury Ken Malansky, or "Big Mo" as he's known on campus, was just about to let Frank have it, with a right cross to the kisser, when he found out that someone else got to him first! There on the floor is Frank dead with a knife, Malansky's knife, stuck in his back! Arrested on the spot for the murder of Frank Wellman all Malansky can think of is getting his law professor the great Perry Mason, Raymond Burr, to take on his case! Perry faces a dilemma here in that the deceased or murdered Frank Werllman is the son of his best friend in the whole wide world successful businessman Frank Wallman Sr, Brian Keith, whom he went to law school together with!

It takes a lot of soul searching on Perry's part but after studying all the evidence in the case he in fact agrees to defend Malansky knowing that the guy was not only innocent of murder but was in fact framed by the person or persons who murdered Frank Wallman! Malansky also faces a very pressing problem, besides his standing trial for murder, in his estranged girlfriend Amy Hasting, Alexandra Paul, that he dropped like a hot potato showing up in courtroom unexpectedly to pay his bail, a cool $250,000.00 smackers, as well as punching him out for two timing her!

***SPOILERS*** It was in fact the spunky Amy Hasting, instead of the what looked like a beached whale Perry Mason, who despite being dumped by Malansky did all the leg work in finding Frank's killer. Malansky for his part started to realize what a jerk he was in his shoddy treatment of Amy who risked her life as well as bank account,if that jerk Malansky decided to jump bail, to save his rotten and ungrateful neck. In the end Frank's killer was exposed by Perry at Malanky's murder trial to the relief of Frank's dad Frank Wallman who in trusting his good friend Perry Mason was to find out the right person who did Junior in! Even though Frank Jr. for all the trouble he caused everyone on campus had it all coming to him!

Nice introduction for the Malansky character

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 21 March 2017]

THE CASE OF THE LETHAL LESSON is a fun PERRY MASON TV movie which mainly acts as an introductory piece for the character played in the show by William R. Moses, Ken Malansky. Here, Malansky is the murder suspect himself, discovered by security guards standing over the body of a just-murdered rival. Perry takes on the case and the rest, as they say, is history.

The opening scenes of this film are quite interesting in depicting a lesson in law in which students adopt the roles of the judge, the lawyers, etc. The murder plot itself is more typical, but it does have quite a dark edge. Burr doesn't have a great deal to do but he remains likable, and Alexandra Paul shines in a youthful turn. The only bad part of the production is the extremely awkward romance-type material involving Malansky and the two women interested in him. It's dated, and not in a good way. Still, any horror fan watching will be delighted to see Brian Backer, aka the heroic Alfred from cult slasher flick THE BURNING, in another weaselly role.

This is one of the worst Perry Mason movies - ever.

[emmapocl · 1/10 · 11 July 2022]

The writers of this film want you to suspend reality and believe that a 3rd-year law student and his ex-girlfriend think they can go all rogue to prove his innocence. They not only played detective without the help of police backup, but neglected to pass along information to his attorney, the person charged with trying to keep him from spending decades in the slammer.

If this guy ever went into the practice of law, I would love to read his Yelp reviews.

Another clumsy attempt to add drama to a poorly written script was the back room full of bad guys. That dialog was laughable.

EXCELLENT FILM!

[selwitelsd · 21 May 2003]

As a big fan of Billy Moses, I would have to say his entrance into the series was awesome and believable! This movie captivated me with it's romance and suspence. Also the humor aspect of it all. It was just a good natured film!

You made your future partners in the oddest places.

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 1 February 2022]

It's another complicated case for Perry Mason, one where he meets his partner to be, William R. Moses ("Falcon Crest"), in a law school mock trial then ends up defending him for murder. Moses is accused of murdering John Allen Nelson, another law student, the son of one of Perry's oldest friends, Brian Keith. The suspects and participants in the case I rather shady, and subplots takes as always the film into a rather sordid territories, dealing with a situation involving video piracy, something you don't hear about it anymore. As usual Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale give commanding performances, not only mentors to the law students on screen but the actors on the sound stage.

As the cast credits roll, a sense of "who?" pops into the viewer's head although a few people are recognizable by face if not by name. Brian Backer is the young man threatened by people involved in the video piracy racket, and Marlene Warfield from the last season of "Maude" if the prosecutor here. Keith is the only guest star recognizable by name and face, playing a wealthy and powerful man unaware of the evil nature of his son. The victim, John Allen Nelson, was familiar to soap fans from the first two years of "Santa Barbara". This could have used a bit more character development or some of the other students, seen fighting amongst each other during a campus practice basketball game. It's interesting in its complex nature, because everything is wrapped up neatly and it doesn't end up being too convoluted.

Brian Keith adds some class to this episode

[harloon-68278 · 7/10 · 16 October 2020]

The original Perry Mason series in the 1950s-1960s routinely featured major motion picture stars from the 1930s and 1940s. Not only were these marvelous actors but they matched Raymond Burr who was also a very experienced and talented motion picture actor. This episode featured Brian Keith who was no stranger to the big screen. Unfortunately the cast is otherwise populated by the mediocrity that is known as daytime television.