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#108: The Case of the
Envious Editor
Original Airdate: 01/07/61

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Does pornography cause violence? Even Perry has a hard time with that one in this cheesecake-leads-to-murder episode.

James Coburn stars as Donald Fletcher, a vulturish moneyman who, after buying into a respected but financially troubled publishing house, has turned it upside down by changing its conservative publications into scandal sheets featuring nude pictures of women.

Edmond Aitken, whose family once controlled the publishing house, contacts Perry, only to learn that there isn't any legal basis to oust Fletcher. No problem. Someone does the family a favor and murders the yellow journalist/flesh peddler. Trouble is, the prime suspect is Edmond’s wife Alyce, whom Fletcher had been blackmailing with “calendar photos” Alyce made in a moment of weakness.

Credits Edit

Trailing

Directed by Laslo Bendek
Written by Milton Krims
Seeleg Lester | Producer
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer
Arthur Marks | Associate Producer
Produced by The CBS Television Network in association with Paisano Productions
Jackson Gillis | Story Consultant

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

Cast

Phillip Abbott as Edmond Aitken
James H. Coburn as Donald Fletcher
Paul Lambert as Ben Nicholson
H. M. Wynant as Deputy D.A. Sampson
Barbara Lawrence as Lori Stoner
Jennifer Howard as Milly Nash
Vinton Hayworth as Wendell Harding
Sara Shane as Alyce Aitken
S. John Launer as Judge
Sid Tomack as Rudi Tripp
Dave Willock as Jay Robinson
Jim Drum as 1st Reporter
Virginia Carroll as Mrs. Welch
Paul Power as Winslow
Donna Hayes as Girl
Harry Hollins as 2nd Reporter
George E. Stone as Court Clerk

Uncredited Actors
Robert Wegner as Door Bailiff
(spotted by g, 7/4/2011)

Crew

Art Seid, A.C.E. | Assistant to the Producer
Production Supervisor … Dewey Starkey
Director of Photography … Frank Redman, A.S.C.
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Robert G. Stone
Film Editor … Richard H. Cahoon, A.C.E.
Casting … Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Irving Pringle
Hair Stylist … Annabell, S.C.H.
Wardrobe Supervision … William Zacha, Evelyn Carruth
Set Decoration … Charles Q. Vassar
Sound Effects Editor … Gene Eliot, M.P.S.E.
Music Editor … Gene Feldman
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … M.E.M. Gibsone
Sound … Glen Glenn Sound Co.
Titles and Opticals … Pacific Title

Perry Mason \ A Film Presentation
A CBS Television Network Production

Trivia Edit

Anomaly: Dave Willock, listed as Jay Robinson, is called Phillip Robinson in court by Deputy D.A. Sampson. Submitted Mitch English, 20 December 2007.

Continuity: When Lori Stoner is on the witness stand, the white streak in her hair is to the right of center. Later, in shots of her in the court seating area, the white streak is to the left of center. Submitted by Daniel Jones, 7/17/2007. Some pictures here.

Character Names: There seems to be some dispute about the pronunciation of Alyce Aitken’s first name. It is at various times pronounced Elise and Alice. As a matter of fact when Jay Robinson is on the witness stand he pronounces it each way within a span of 30 seconds. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 29 July 2009.

Sightings: Seen in and around the courtroom are Quiet Old men # and #2, Pencil Mustache Man, Distinguished Gentleman #1, “Miss Carmody,” and the Little Old Lady in a Hat in the back corner. Submitted by daveb, 4/5/2011.
+ Distinguished Lady #2 also appears among the spectators. At one point she walks behind Perry and Paul as they confer in the hallway. Find more about all these folks on the “Who Is That?” page. Submitted by gracenote, 7/4/2011.

The dark little poem that Nicholson recites to taunt poor Aitken is “Richard Cory” (1897) by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Simon & Garfunkel adpated it the 1960s (years after this epsiode aired). Submitted by gracenote, 7/4/2011.

Uncredited Actors: Scowling Robert Wegner appears, as he often does, as the bailiff guarding the courtroom door. Submitted by gracenote, 7/4/2011.

In the wrap-up, everyone drinks from that ubiquitous and Curious Coffee Set. Submitted by gracenote, 7/5/2011.

Comments Edit

I’ve seen this episode a half-dozen times, but every time I “remember” the murderer incorrectly! Does that ever happen to any of you? I don’t know why my faulty memory should fall victim to this episode in particular. In any event, I consider this a good episode; it has: credible suspects, an interesting plot, and an absolutely great performance by James Coburn. Ed Zoerner, 5/17/2011.

I find James Coburn to be a rather unexpected casting choice. Submitted by gracenote, 7/4/2011.

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