Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal

TV Movie
1993
TV-PG
1h 31m

IMDb RATING

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Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal (1993)

Alana, a maverick owner of a cosmetics company, reveals she's 60. She's kept her age a secret and credits the cream for her youthful appearance. She's murdered and the formula is missing. He... Read allAlana, a maverick owner of a cosmetics company, reveals she's 60. She's kept her age a secret and credits the cream for her youthful appearance. She's murdered and the formula is missing. Her husband is arrested and Perry defends him.Alana, a maverick owner of a cosmetics company, reveals she's 60. She's kept her age a secret and credits the cream for her youthful appearance. She's murdered and the formula is missing. Her husband is arrested and Perry defends him.

Director
- Christian I. Nyby II
Writers
- Robert Schlitt
- Erle Stanley Gardner
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

495

YOUR RATING

Director
- Christian I. Nyby II
Writers
- Robert Schlitt
- Erle Stanley Gardner
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Storyline

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Trivia
Final TV role of Patrick O'Neal.

Goofs
The murder weapon is a Thompson Contender. It is a single shot weapon which does not eject its cartridge. During the episode, the cartridge is introduced as evidence in the trial, which would have been very unlikely. Later in a scene the gun is used by an assassin with rapid fire, which isn't possible with this weapon.

Connections
Followed by Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host (1993)

User reviews7

Review

Featured review

7/10

Conspirators Only Go Skin Deep

Patrick O'Neal makes his second appearance in a Perry Mason mystery movie in The Case Of The Skin-Deep Scandal. In the first Perry Mason film, O'Neal was the victim for which Barbara Hale was arrested and Raymond Burr resigned from the bench to get back into private practice to defend his old girl Friday.

But in The Case Of The Skin-Deep Scandal O'Neal is in fact the defendant who is charged with the murder of his wife Morgan Fairchild. Fairchild is a beautiful and ruthless cosmetics Queen who built her empire on O'Neal's money. Now she's got all kinds of people who've been trampled on the way up and they're out for blood. O'Neal looks good for it because Fairchild's been keeping a boy toy played by Scott Thompson Baker on the side. But there are a host of other suspects as is always the case.

The Case Of The Skin Deep Scandal also marked the farewell performance of Patrick O'Neal who never failed to be good in a variety of roles he was cast in. My personal favorite with him has always been Alvarez Kelly where his performance of the unctuous Union Major stole the film from stars William Holden and Richard Widmark.

I think I can safely say that the murder involves two other members of the cast, one of whom kills the other in order to not risk exposure on the Fairchild murder. Billy Moses is also nearly killed by the same person and of course they both don't reckon with the research and deductive powers of ace defense attorney Perry Mason.

Some of the plot elements are borrowed from the Billy Wilder film, Fedora. This is one of the better Perry Mason mysteries, devoted fans will love it.