The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle is a 1994 Made-for-TV Movie directed by Helaine Held. It is the 28th TV movie in the Perry Mason series of TV movies and the second to air under the A Perry Mason Mystery banner, the rebranding of the series of TV movies after the passing of Raymond Burr in 1993.
Despite being a part of the series, this is the second movie where Perry Mason himself doesn't actually make an appearance (due to the death of his then-actor, Raymond Burr, in 1993). Rather, the film focuses on "Wild Bill" McKenzie (played by Hal Holbrook), a retired friend of Mason's, asked by him to give a speech for a gathering of lawyers at a lavish hotel. Also at the hotel that night are Adrian Lye, host of a Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous-type show, and some celebrities for his next episode, including Daniel Kingman, a chess champion that has ties to McKenzie. However, Lye is poisoned that night, and the chess champion is the most likely suspect, so it is up to McKenzie and his allies to prove his innocence.
Tropes:
- Contrasting Sequel Main Character: Bill McKenzie takes care of a ranch, drives a motorbike, is adamantly against corruption, and served in war.
- Every Man Has His Price: How Kingman actually won his chess championship, which led to him being Blackmailed by Lye to appear on the show.
- Mandatory Unretirement: McKenzie comes out of retirement to assist Kingman.
- Meaningful Name: A chess player named Kingman.
- Shameful Strip: Happens to Ken Malansky while investigating the room the true assassin used, only to get cornered at gunpoint by a Femme Fatale.
- Smart People Play Chess: McKenzie, as well as his client/friend Kingman.