Show25

CARS: No cars. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Erle Stanley Gardner published his novel The Case of The Empty Tin in 1941. This episode has the same name, but little else in common with that novel. In the novel, Perry never enters the courtroom. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 27 May 2009.

In Erle Stanley Gardner’s 1941 novel, The Case of the Empty Tin, the character of Arthur Tragg makes his first appearance. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 27 May 2009.

Those of us of a certain age best remember Warren Stevens as the accidental victim of the Krell ‘plastic educator’ in “Forbidden Planet”. DOD 06/18/20

The paneling in the Carr home with the oval pattern appeared in the nightclub scenes in the previous “Deadly Double”. DOD 07/02/21

The judge calls a recess to allow Miriam time to come to court, then she appears on the stand immediately after. The only reason for this ‘break’ seems to be to give Little Old Lady a chance to change seats.

Lowell sure cleaned out his camera shop quickly.

Frank Wilcox plays the judge in this episode, his fifth of seven appearances as a judge in the prolific first season of the series. He gets to show a bit more of a human side than most actors did in that role. First, he shows considerable amusement at Mason and Burger’s wrangling over the meaning of the word “pretender.” Later Wilcox delivers what is (in my opinion) the best line given to a judge in 271 episodes. As Mason starts to dismantle the empty tin, Burger begins to splutter in protest. Wilcox says: “If Mr. Mason's going to crawl out on a limb, the least we can do is let him saw it off.” Submitted by FredK 17, Oct 2010.
+ Hamilton Burger's spluttering is "that's state's evidence" a perfect outburst for what he is known for wrangling with Mason. Submitted by HamBurger, 5/30/2021

Hallmark Movie Channel starts the week with this episode, #25, following Sunday's marathon of episodes 1-24. But FIOS has continued to list show info sequentially from last Friday's episode #217, and yesterday's two dozen marathon episodes, which were also mislabeled. FIOS thinks today's first show is #242. Submitted by MikeM, 10/9/2012.

It always strikes me as odd that Doris threw away a photograph from her father with a note written on the back. jfh 08Jan2024

The newspaper ad mentioned adventures in China from 1931-56 & Elston Carr said "we trafficked in arms, ammunition and information": China went through a Japanese occupation, civil war & Communist takeover in those 25 years. Mike Bedard 4.23.15

"Soon after he was born, the family moved to China and lived there for five years": nytimes.com/1993/09/14/obituaries/raymond-burr-actor-76-dies-played-perry-mason. Mike Bedard 4.23.15

Della's Shoes Della wears her high-heeled mules in this episode --- and she wears them well. jfh 05Jun2019

A glimpse of the elegant Ms. Street in her elegant boudouir wearing her elegant dressing gown. A glimpse of Perry at home in his dressing gown [and some mighty spiffy fireplace grates --- jfh 08Jan2024], and another of Perry in his pajamas asleep on his sofa using sofa cushions for pillows. jfh 05Jun2019

And a glimpse of Perry’s hirsute chest! Cheesecake and beefcake. DOD 08/03/23
Olive Deering definitely wins this episode's Virginia Fields Scenery-Chewing award! Ed Zoerner, 5/17/17

Spoiler Warning! Do Not Read Below If You Have Not Seen The Episode

Doris ‘beats the rap’, but, alas, it would also seem she loses out on all that money, since it would have been officially a gift from Elston, not an inheritance. DOD 06/18/20
+Maybe Perry found a way to link Elston's money to the original partnership, and Doris would then be an heir. Fred Flintstone 12/16/2020
++ When Miriam is on the stand (why did the writers make Miriam not show up in court at the time she was subpoenaed?), Burger states to Miriam that an Administrator had been assigned to Adam Hocksley's estate. jfh 08Jan2024

(Small World 2 continued): In a strange twist, Olive Dearing gets to play Miriam once again when, in this episode, she calls Perry pretending to be Miriam Hocksley about to commit suicide. Submitted by Charles Richmond, 10/11/2007.

For the fourth time in the first twenty-five episodes:

"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned
Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned."

Submitted by 65tosspowertrap, 4-10-2014.

How did Rebecca get Della's phone number? The only reason for Rebecca to call Perry (through Della) was so she could get his private number, then make the mistake of calling it while pretending to be Miriam. This would have been a great mystery if it hadn't been established in at least three previous stories that Perry could be called after hours using the night number at the Paul Drake Detective Agency. Submitted by H. Mason 10/6/14
+In her call to Perry, Della stated that Rebecca called "the service" (answering service, I presume) asking for Perry's private number; the service called Della and Della called Perry for authorization. jfh 12May2017.
Rebecca kills Elston when he catches her at the safe. Why was she trying to get in the safe, anyway? DOD 06/18/20
+ Good question. I suspect the answer has to be to tamper with/destroy whatever evidence Elston is keeping in the safe to prevent Miriam (and her new husband Alan) from getting the $2 million gift, or to tip off Doris so that she knows what to do to perfect her claim. Bad enough that Alan dumped Rebecca; he's not going to get the money too! This was certainly not explained in the wrap-up. Deduced by OldDave on 6/18/20. ++Jealous Rebecca was likely at the safe to mess up Alan's plan, maybe just to destroy the evidence or give it to Doris, as mentioned above. Fred Flintstone 12/16/2020
+++ I always assumed that Alan instructed Rebecca to try and get the evidence which he knew would vindicate Doris. At that time Rebecca did not know that Alan was going to marry/had married Mariam. Submitted by Wick 1/18/2022