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#112: The Case of the
Wintry Wife
Original Airdate: 02/18/61

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Inventor Walter Randall wants a divorce. His wife Laura says no way. Walter is playing around with a sweet young thing named Phyllis Hudson. Laura gets back at him by blackmailing one of his assistants into building a time bomb that will destroy Walter's underwater sounding invention.

One night, while doing a last-minute check on the bomb in a warehouse, Laura is surprised to find Phyllis. Taking advantage of the situation, she clubs the young woman. But Phyllis survives the explosion--only to be charged with Laura's murder.

Perry agrees to defend her and stages an elaborate demonstration in the courtroom, using Paul, flying in a helicopter forty miles away, to make a key point.

Credits Edit

Cast

Jerome Thor as Walter Randall
Robert Karnes as Deputy D.A. Chamberlin
June Vincent as Laura Randall
Alan Hewitt as Bruce Sheridan
Marianne Stewart as Phyllis Hudson
Fredd Wayne as Roger Phillips
Jean Howell as Amelia Phillips
Barney Phillips as Mr. Johnson
Sue England as Judy Baldwin
Willis B. Bouchey as Judge
Paul Barselow as John Penner
Michael Fox as Autopsy Surgeon
Robert Bice as Second Operative
George E. Stone as Court Clerk
Rudolph Salinger as Chemist
Chuck Stroud as First Operative

Trivia Edit

Anomaly: Paul Barselow, listed as John Penner, is called Ben Penner by Amelia Phillips and Deputy D.A. Chamberlin in court.

+This show is the beginning of Part 2 of the 4th season, as sold on CBS DVD's. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 3 January 2010.

+Laura Randall does not drive the automobile that is parked in her garage to the warehouse. The car in the garage is a light colored two toned vehicle, and she drives a dark colored 1959 Chevrolet to the warehouse. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 22 January 2010

+When Phyllis Hudson bursts into Mason's offices after the explosion and fire, she is wearing no coat. When Paul drives her to the house to retreive some of her effects, she has acquired a coat from somewhere. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 22 January 2010.

Comments Edit

A good episode, the whole "Wintry Wife" angle is wonderful. It would have been better if they'd handled the technology involved differently. Generally I think the Perry Mason series (or any series, past or present) makes a mistake anytime it gives too much detail on "technology" unless they're prepared to spend a lot of money on the mock-up, computer animation or what-not. Otherwise it tends to date the episode. Another problem is that the technology depicted risks looking ludicrous with the passage of time and thus a distraction to the story. It's better to just give some vague impression of the technology and let the viewer's imagination do the rest. Instead of letting us see the "sounding device," it'd been better to just show Walter pushing some undefined object into the crate etc. Imagination is always current. Well, unless the technology at issue is something like the automobile or light bulb or garage door openers. Really, it's best to avoid technological references altogether. In the series defense, I'm sure not in their wildest dreams did they imagine people would be watching Perry Mason 50 plus years later. Submitted by billp. 13 December 2009.

+Is it just me or does anyone else think that Private Detective Penner looks a lot like the little old man in the Six Flags commercials? I suppose it could be possible, because IMDB says Paul Barselow is still living at 87 years of age. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 22 January 2010.

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