Show4
Does anyone know where “Logan City” is located? Or, is that just the back lot at the studio? What about the other locations? Any look familiar? Submitted by daveb, 11/11/2008.
+ Logan City (in the Perry Mason universe) was supposed to be in the desert east of L.A. near the Nevada border. Added by H. Mason 9/30/14
+ Logan City is used here for the first time along with TCOT Demure Defendant and TCOT Perjured Parrot
+ In the book, the town - which is called "El Templo" rather than Logan City - is in the Coachella Valley (although it is fictionalized as the Red River Valley). In the episode, the clues of its whereabouts are less clear, but as it is described, both implicitly and explicitly, as an agricultural area that is remarkably hot, it would seem to be in roughly the same place. Paul Draked by Notcom 083118.
+In the opening scenes, the bus first drives along the highway between Yucca Valley and Joshua tree -- a location and a specific bus trip scene often used in the series -- and then arrives in a more agricultural area with deciduous trees, perhaps in the Coachella Valley or the San Fernando Valley. Later, when Perry goes back the other way, the background shots (rather murkily filmed) again show the road between Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley, but when the car stops, there are the deciduous trees again, and then a foreground Joshua tree, probably a prop tree, and more background film of Joshua trees, It's natural history and ecosystem chaos. -- catyron, September 7th, 2020.
That $5000 that Briggs attempts to extort from Mrs. Adams would be $36,828.06 in 2007 dollars. My impression is that such a sum was well beyond her reach. As good a prescription for murder as any—blackmailers take note. Submitted by billp, 12/26/2008.
I don’t remember this episode, but somebody please tell me that no ducks actually drown. Submitted by gracep 12/11/2010.
+ The duck suffers a few indignities but does not drown. It is rescued by a kid in the audience. Submitted by daveb, 12/11/2010.
+ The duck is obviously in distress when it's being held upside-down and having the secret duck-drown concoction poured over it, and then the little boy who rescues it roughly throws it to the ground. The scene made me uneasy (how many takes were there?), but I understand that country folk are not sentimental about animals. Submitted by 65tosspowertrap, 3-11-2014.
+ Actually the (perceived) cruelty of the trick becomes major point of contention in the trial (although the trial, of course, takes place in town rather than the country).
The duck plays a much more important part in the original story, as it is actually found at the crime scene. Submitted by Notcom, 080317 (083118).
The Case of the Unnecessary Apostrophe...the sign on the highway for the Waters Farm reads "Water's Dairy Farm." Fortunately for Mr. Waters, the sign on the barn later in the episode correctly reads "Waters Dairy Farm." English teachers may relax. Submitted by CCullinC on 9/10/2019.
Steamy Product Placement. Other than for cars, I think the Perry/Lois motel-room scene has the first Product Placement of the series. Sights and sounds of beer are pervasive in the 3 minute, 13 second scene in which Perry makes his solo after-dark visit to Lois Reed's lonely room at the Sands Motel. The sultry, melancholy and tipsy Lois, holding a can of beer, greets Perry at the door saying "Hello Lawyer . . . Like a beer? Dance a little?" (DVD 35:40). There is more sensual display of beer in this scene than in any mere beer commercial I've ever seen:
- Lois drinks straight from the can, holding it in view with its Pabst Blue Ribbon label prominent for 108 of the scene's 193 seconds!
- Listen & watch for added detail as Lois swings the fridge door shut. Someone had to "produce" those empties on top of the fridge and place them and the microphone perfectly. The director & crew must have had a lot of fun doing this scene!
- There are plenty of empties seen and heard clunking around. There's a loud "PPhhhT!" when Lois opens a new can which sprays towards her face. Lois is having fun!
- Later, there's foam on the top of the can and Lois's expression of enjoyment as she takes a long series of gulps.
- The scene's sexuality is enhanced by Lois' diaphanous blouse and her silky undergarments hanging to dry on the line strung across the kitchenette.
I'm astonished by this assault on the boundaries of the era's conservative sensibilities. This was only Episode #4 and the 1957 audience couldn't have known 'TV Perry Mason' well enough to be certain that he behaved as an impeccably honourable gentleman at all times. This scene must have captured the rapt attention of both genders viewing at home. I wonder what their reaction was but have not been able to find records of it.
As for the product placement,
Pabst sales were sagging in the mid-50s and this episode aired during their 1957 "Pabst makes it perfect" campaign. Assuming that Pabst instigated its appearance in this episode, was the brewer satisfied with its exposure in this scene? I also wonder if CBS was aware of the content of the scene before it aired. Is it wishful thinking on my part that perhaps PBR was simply the favourite beverage of someone in Paisano Productions? In any case, I think that the scene gave Carol Kelly a marvellous acting opportunity which she carried off perfectly! Submitted by Gary Woloski, 5/11/12.
+ I commend GW for his insightful analysis of this scene. 65tosspowertrap, 3-11-14.
Although the Pabst badge is obvious, the name itself is blacked out.
Near-vice Another instance where Perry has a cigarette in hand but never puffs. jfh 25Apr2018
If Logan City really did exist, after viewing this episode I suspect there would be a sign at the city limits reading, "Welcome, Out-of-Towners. Hope you brought a handkerchief". M French 11/19/16
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Oh, Della! Could that second dress that Della wears in court be any tighter? (I think it's monogrammed "DS" although my recording of the MeTV broadcast is a little murky.) Note the men in the gallery following her with their eyes as she scurries out of the courtroom (can you blame them?). Maybe she wore it to distract the judge and prosecutor. She certainly had me distracted. I love how women dressed back then. They weren't showing a lot of skin (unlike today's vulgar displays) but the clothes were tight and left little to the imagination. Submitted by DellaFan, 3-12-14.
It's for you, Mr. Mason: Perry has just witnessed a duck near-drowning when Martha Norris finds him in the street. It's Paul calling, from Logan City. Submitted by francis, 5/25/14.
Judge Meeham did Not wear a Judicial robe in any of the court sessions. Mike Bedard 7.13.16 MeTV viewing.
Philip Tonge (prosecutor Cortland) is best known for his role as head of Macy's toy dept. in "Miracle on 34th Street".
Paul and Perry charge right into Briggs’ motel room as if they knew the door was unlocked.
The newspaper photo of the crowd at the auction is obviously a collage.
Twice Perry gets tracked down to take a phone call.
While waiting for a check from Waters, Briggs attempts to cool off in front of an air conditioner that is either remarkably quiet even by today's standards, or not even on.
This is one of the better shows, tightly scripted and plotted and featuring wonderful performances by our two female leads. DOD 04/23/18
Drop, drop: Who's there ?? Tho I have few complaints with this episode - indeed, I think it's one of the best of the first season...maybe even the series - one thing that doesn't sit quite right is the poisoning: how exactly was it effected ?? It was cyanide gas - perhaps mimicking the means of execution? - but how was Briggs made to inhale it ?? It's hard to imagine the killer dropped in the tablets, walked out and expected him to remain to suffocate; had he been rendered unconscious (?) If so, there was no mention of it (tho admittedly it was never explicitly denied either). Also, the "peculiar smell" Paul notices - presumably the telltale bitter almond - is so distinctive it's hard to imagine they would calmly stick around. Notcom, 100520.
Justice? Early on, PM tells the Logan City judge that justice is what both of them should be interested in. For gosh sakes, it is subsequently revealed an innocent man was executed, and there is virtually no reaction from anyone. Perry tells the son to not dwell on the past! Shocking how cavalierly this massive injustice is treated. Nowadays such a travesty would not be so easily dismissed. Rick P 9/1/21