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#116: The Case of the
Difficult Detour
Original Airdate: 03/25/61

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Plans to build a vacation resort go wrong when someone engineers the death of the developer. Perry is called on to defend the construction worker charged with the crime.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE DIFFICULT DETOUR
Based Upon Characters Created By Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by John Pyser
Teleplay by Sy Salkowitz and Samuel Newman
Story by Sy Salkowitz
Art Seid | Producer
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive 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

Jeff York as Pete Mallory
Suzanne Lloyd as Sheila Benton
Jason Evers as Stuart Benton
Mort Mills as Sgt. Ben Landro
Lee Farr as Chet Stark
Joe di Reda as Phil Edwards
Neil Hamilton as Ames
Joan Camden as Miriam Ames
Bert Freed as Edward Parker
John Gallaudet as Reviewing Judge
S. John Launer as Judge
Mike Masters as Driver

Uncredited Actors
Don Anderson as Bailiff (spotted by gracep 11/12/2010)

Crew

Production Supervisor … Dewey Starkey
Director of Photography … Frank Redman, A.S.C.
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Gordon Webb
Film Editor … John D. Faure
Casting … Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Irving Pringle
Hair Stylist … Annabell
Wardrobe Supervision … Ed McDermott, 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

Construction Equipment Through Courtesy of Allis-Chalmers

Perry Mason \ A Film Presentation
A CBS Television Network Production

Trivia Edit

Anomaly: Bert Freed, listed as Edward Parker, is really Harry Parker. Posted by daveb, 12/20/2007.

Continuity Error: A bit of a blooper happens after Perry ticks off Sheila Barton on the stand. When we see Perry talk to Pete Mallory (York) about “blackmail” at his table, the wide shot showing Perry’s face reveals that York’s hair is parted, yet on the “reverse angle” York’s hair is combed straight back. Clearly both shots happened on different days. Posted by Kenmore, 12/14/2009.

Holy triple play! This makes the third appearance of 1960s Batman’s Commissioner Gordon—I mean Neil Hamilton. Submitted by gracep, 11/12/2010.

+...and isn't it interesting that this episode originally aired following TCOT the Bare-Faced Witness, in which Batman (Adam West) appeared. Submitted by Fifty-Niner on 13 July 2011.

Sightings: The Little Old Lady in a Hat and Quiet Old Man #2 sit in the back row of the courtroom gallery on the prosecution’s side. Distinguished Gentleman #1 and “Miss Carmody” both appear on the defense’s side. Read more about these favorite frequent faces and help us find more! Submitted by gracep 11/12/2010.
+ Quiet Old Man #1 can be seen briefly in a few shots seated on the other side of the Little Old Lady in a Hat in the back row. Submitted by daveb, 11/12/2010.

Character Names: Mr. Ames’ first name is Jim. Submitted by gracenote, 7/8/2011.

Comments Edit

Joe di Reda appears here as Phil Edwards. Mr. di Reda should not be confused with Joe DeRita who played the part of Curly Joe in the Three Stooges movies of the 1960s. Mr. di Reda was much younger. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 3 September 2009.

This is the first of three appearences by Jeff York, who turns in a rather “angry” performance (though that’s what the character calls for). Submitted by Kenmore, 12/14/2009.

Another episode in which Della wears her monogrammed dress! Ed Zoerner, 5/22/2010.

This is yet another episode where the way they handle violence against women is terrible and perplexing. Sheila Benton comes staggering in, claiming her husband has beat her. She seems to be believed, but no one takes her to the hospital or gets a statement. Instead, the cop rushes her back to her husband! Submitted by gracep, 11/12/2010.

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