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#110: The Case of the
Fickle Fortune
Original Airdate: 01/21/61

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Ralph Duncan is an underpaid civil servant whose job is to inventory the estates of wealthy decedents. One day, he returns home with $153,000 in archaic greenbacks he discovered while going over the old Boden house. Ralph just wanted to impress his wife and he was going to take them back the next day. Too bad cousin Charley saw the bundle and decided to lift it. When Ralph is accused of theft, a charge of murder goes along with it.

Ralph’s wife hires Perry Mason to get her husband out of one sticky jam.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE FICKLE FORTUNE
Based upon characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by Laslo Benedek
Written by Sol Stein and Glenn P. Wolfe
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
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Cast

Cathy O’Donnell as Norma Brooks
Vaughn Taylor as Ralph Duncan
Philip Ober as Albert Keller
Robert Casper as Charley Nickels
Liam Sullivan as Lloyd Farrell
Helen Brown as Mrs. Hollister
Virginia Christine as Helen Duncan
Richard Gaines as Judge
Eve March as Nurse Hamilton
Connie Cezon as Gertie
Michael Fox as Autopsy Surgeon
Berkeley Harris as Patrolman
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice
George E. Stone as Court Clerk
Hal Taggart as Clerk
Vincent Troy as Waiter

Uncredited Actors
Robert Wegner as Restaurant Patron spotted by gracep 11/1/2010

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
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

Talman returns! Hurrah, William Talman returns at District Attorney Hamilton Burger. He had been off the show since Episode #87, “The Case of the Singing Skirt,” 12 March 1960, a total of 22 19 episodes [see below]. His first witness back was Dr. Hoxie, and his first words were “and the time of death doctor?” Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 5/5/2009. Edited by gracep, 11/1/2010.
+ Correction: To be more precise, Talman did appear in #95-#97, but these were probably filmed before he left. After “Singing Skirt,” he was absent from #88-#94 and #98-#109 for a total of 19 absences. Submitted by gracep, 11/1/2010.
+ For more information about Talman’s woes and the story behind his departure, see related trivia items for episodes #87-89 and #95-97. Also read about the credits (link in the sidebar). Submitted by gracep, 11/1/2010.

Someone must have kept that money for quite a while. The 50-dollar bill pictured on this episode with Benjamin Franklin on the face was first issued in 1874. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 7/29/2009.

Richard Gaines makes his 13th of 14 appearances as the judge on Perry. His 12th appearance was on 22 October 1960. In the ensuing 3 months something remarkable has happened to Judge Gaines. If you go to episode #46, “TCOT Married Moonlighter,“ there is posted a picture of Judge Gaines. You will notice that he is quite bald, as he has been in all the previous 12 episodes. However in this episode he has a full head of light colored hair, either silver or blond. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 5 August 2009.
+ [Note: The actor picture at #46 is randomly chosen from those available. Click here for the available pictures from that episode.]

Goof: When Ralph Duncan drives up his driveway, pay attention to the background. Now, fast forward to when Duncan is stopped by the police or Perry arrives at the murder house. Observe the neighborhood. I think you will see that Ralph Duncan and Lloyd Farrell were neighbors! Kind of makes you wonder why Charley had to drive Ralph to Farrell’s when he could have just walked. Submitted by billp, 9 November 2009.

Actually, you can see Ralph Duncan’s two-tone Dodge across the street behind the policemen at Lloyd Farrell’s house. I also think if you compare Ralph’s clothes when he comes home with the groceries and when he’s at the murder house, you’ll find they’re the same. Clearly these two scenes were filmed at the same time. And it’s also really night-time! Not just daylight pretend night-time. We can probably forgive the Perry Mason folks for that. As I recall, those old black-and-white TVs did a pretty good job making day look like night all by themselves. Submitted by billp, 12 November 2009.

Sightings: A trio of courtroom regulars appear in this episode. The Pencil Mustache Man sits in the first row behind the defense table. The Quiet Old Man (#1) can be seen during cutaways to Helen Duncan and the Little Old Lady in a Hat can be seen during cutaways of Charlie Nickles. Submitted by Kenmore, 9/21/2010.
+ Two more regulars appear. “Miss Carmody” has a gig as a waitress where Perry, Della, and Paul discuss the case. You can see her serving a table behind them. Later she shows up in the croutroom gallery, too, along with the “Thin Man”. Submitted by gracep, 11/1/2010.

Uncredited Actors: At one restaurant scene is a heavy-built man in a dark suit, visible between Della and Perry. He reappears in the background behind Paul Drake in a later restaurant scene, where we also see frequently uncredited actor Robert Wegner dining. “Miss Carmody” (see item above) is still working there. Submitted by gracep, 11/1/2010.

Character Names: Michael Fox is listed merely as “autopsy surgeon” instead of his usual name, Dr. Hoxie (though he is never addressed thus). Nurse Hamilton’s first name is Ann. Submitted by gracep, 11/1/2010 and updated 7/5/2011.

Mr. And Mrs. Duncan enjoy breakfast and the morning paper with a coffee set that looks remarkably like the same one Perry and Paul use in a restaurant. (It is not, however, the Curious Coffee Set that has appeared in loads of episodes, but it is rather similar. The difference is a white bottom half in the knock-off.) Submitted by gracenote, 7/5/2011.

Comments Edit

The final line in this episode belongs to Perry. He says, “We are all glad, Hamilton.“ Could Raymond Burr actually be referring obliquely to the fact that everyone is glad that William Talman is back? Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 7/24/2009.

Gertie has a few lines in this episode. I always look forward to an episode where Gertie gets to speak. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 7/29/2009.

This is one of my favorite episodes. As usual the supporting cast is superlative. Helen Brown turns in a fantastic performance as Mrs. Hollister. Philip Ober and Robert Casper are especially good, too. Submitted by billp, 9 November 2009.

Those greenbacks: Don’t know how it was in the late 1950s, but today I’d guess those greenbacks would be worth more to a collector than their face value. Trading them in at par would probably cost you money. Submitted by billp, 9 November 2009.

Robert Casper looks a little bit like Sean Penn when he smiles, at times. Submitted by gracep, 11/01/2010.

Some of the direction in this episode really stands out. Notable: the discussion outside the murder house with Tragg, Mason and Duncan (really well done), the Mason/Drake restaurant scene where Mason places a comforting hand on Paul’s right arm and smiles, and when Tragg discovers the knife box. Submitted by cgraul, 10/4/2011.

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