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#10: The Case of the
Runaway Corpse
Original Airdate: 11/23/57

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Ed Davenport accuses his wife, Myrna, of poisoning him. He also claims to have a letter from Myrna’s dead uncle that says she poisoned him, too. Myrna consults Perry, but when they learn that Davenport is in the hospital, dying of arsenic poisoning, Perry works fast to cover for Myrna. When Tragg arrives to investigate Davenport’s death, the incriminating letter is out of sight—but so is Davenport’s body. Perry must buy time until he can prove Myrna’s innocence. Burger goes after Perry for tampering with evidence, but loses as usual.

PMESG

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in Erle Stanley Gardner’s The Case of The Runaway Corpse
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by Christian Nyby
Teleplay by Marvin Wald and Jack Jacobs
Ben Brady | Producer
Produced by CBS Television in association with Paisano Productions
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer
Sam White | Associate Producer

Raymond Burr as Perry Mason
Barbara Hale as Della Street
William Hopper as Paul Drake
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Cast

June Dayton as Myrna Davenport
James Maloney as Dr. Renault
Sarah Selby as Louise Ansel
Adam Williams as Jason Beckmeyer
Rebecca Welles as Rita Norge
John Stephenson as Ed Davenport
Michael Fox as Dr. Hoxie
William Challee as Mr. Medford
Keith Alan as Officer Boom
Robin Morse as Dr. Mitchell
Martha Wentworth as Motel Manager
Jack Kenney as Kenny
Ed Jerome as Judge
Jack Harris as Court Clerk

Uncredited Actors:
Connie Cezon as Gertie
Tom Kennedy as Operative Don Gregory

Crew

Gene Wang | Story Editor
Production Supervisor … J. Paul Popkin
Director of Photography … Frank Redman, A.S.C.
Art Direction … Lyle Wheeler, Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Art Marks
Editorial Supervisor … Art Seid, A.C.E.
Film Editor … Richard W. Farrell
Makeup … Mel Burns
Wardrobe Supervision … Dick James
Set Decorations … Walter M. Scott, Charles Q. Vassar
Properties … Ray Thompson
Recorded by … Alfred Bruzlin
Rerecording Mixer … Harry M. Leonard
Script Supervisor … Cosmo Genovese

This has been a CBS Television Network Production
Filmed in Hollywood by TCF Television Productions, Inc.

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1957 Cadillac convertible, black w/ black & white int., white top up (Mason), 1957 Pontiac Star Chief convertible, medium color, top down, 1954 Buick Special convertible, medium color, top down, 1957 Buick Special 4dr sedan (Police). Cameos: 1957 Corvette, white, top down (Drake), 1955 Chevrolet Nomad, 1957 Chevrolet BelAir 4dr sedan, light color. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Goof: A great blooper! Two of the main characters, Myrna Davenport and her cousin Louise, are in conference with Perry in his office. Louise turns to Myrna and says “Louise, that telephone call that came just before we left the house…Ed’s very ill….” Submitted by Rodney Pendell, 7/11/2002.

Continuity Error: The gauges on the oxygen tank in the motel room show pressure when Dr. Renault checks them. A few seconds later, there’s no pressure. Pictures here. Submitted by daveb, April 19, 2007.

Uncredited Actors: Principal cast member Connie Cezon makes a rare cameo as Gertie, the receptionist. Former amateur heavyweight boxer Tom Kennedy plays a Drake operative, Don Gregory. Submitted by gracenote, 8/26/2011.

Sightings: At least two frequent familiar faces turn up in the courtroom gallery to watch Perry in action: Distinguished Gentleman #2 and Pencil Mustache Man. Submitted by gracenote, 8/26/2011.

John Stephenson was the voice of Mr. Slate, Fred's boss, on The Flintstones. Submitted by Mason Jar 10/7/2011

Comments Edit

Myrna inherited $280,000 or $2,062,371.58 in 2007 dollars. Only $40,000 ($294,624.51) is left. Beckmeyer had $210,000 ($1,546,778.69) in his trailer. The police had the $17,000 ($125,215.42) that Norge had turned over. Let’s see: 210,000 + 40,000 + 17,000 is 267,000. So there’s been a net loss of 13,000 ($95,752.97). Besides being a crook and a skunk, Ed Davenport seems to have been a pretty lousy businessman, too. Submitted by billp, 12/27/2008.

On E. Davenport’s real estate business’ “For Sale” sign we see: 8 room, 2 bath, 60' x 150' (lot), $35,000; 4 family flat, 8 (car) garage, built 1948, $30,500; and Tri-plex, $27,500. In 2007 dollars these properties would be worth $257,796.45, $224,651.19, and $202,554.35 respectively. I don’t know what California properties run now, but I’m getting the distinct impression housing was a lot more affordable in California back then than now—if these 1957 prices were realistic. Submitted by billp, 12/27/2008.

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