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#120: The Case of the
Misguided Missile
Original Airdate: 05/06/61

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Perry takes a step into the space age in this episode. He is called on to defend an old war buddy who is accused of killing an officer at Vandenberg Air Force Base during the investigation of some mysterious missile crashes.

In this show, Perry reveals that during World War II, he served, with the defendant, on a U.S. Navy minesweeper in the South Pacific.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE MISGUIDED MISSILE
Based Upon Characters Created By Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale as Della Street
William Hopper as Paul Drake
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Trailing

Directed by John Peyser
Written by Sol Stein and Glenn P. Wolfe
Arthur Marks | 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
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Cast

Bruce Bennett as Dan Morgan
Jeanne Bal as Helen Rand
Simon Oakland as Captain Caldwell
Robert Rockwell as Major Jerry Reynolds
Richard Arlen as Dr. Harrison
William Schallert as Dr. Bradbury
Med Flory as Captain McVey
George Neise as George Huxley
Stephen Roberts as Major Cooke
Richard Shannon as Colonel Sloan
Ronnie Knox as Sgt. Lewis
Larry Gray as Brig. Gen. Bishop
Clark Howat as Lt. Col. Fremont
Alan Dexter as Dr. Stanton
Paul Lees as Air Policeman
James Sikking as Civilian Engineer

Crew

Production Supervisor … Dewey Starkey
Director of Photography … Frank Phillips, A.S.C.
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Morris Harmell
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

Perry Mason \ A Film Presentation
A CBS Television Network Production

Trivia Edit

Old-time silent star Richard Arlen makes his only appearance on Perry in this episode playing Dr. Harrison. Richard Arlen co-starred in the 1927 production of Wings, the first movie to win an Oscar for best picture. Submitted by PaulDrake33.

Jeanne Bal makes her first of four appearances on Perry Mason. Her most famous role may have been as Nancy Crater on the first Star Trek episode to air, “Man Trap.” Posted by Kenmore, 12/13/2009.

Location: There are some great shots of the Vandenberg Air Force Base in this episode. Submitted by gracep, 11/16/2010.

Although listed in the credits, neither Della Street (Barbara Hale) nor Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) appear in this episode. Hamilton Burger (Talman) also does not appear, but he is not listed in the credits. Submitted by gracep, 11/16/2010.

Character Names: Capt. Caldwell’s first name is Mike. The Civilian Engineer is Burt Springer (and his name is used more than once). Dr. Stanton’s first name is Richard. Submitted by gracenote, 7/10/2011.

Comments Edit

In the first scene we see with Perry, he mentions a past experience to Maj. Reynolds on “Ulithi.” Reynolds replies about “raiding a bar on Mogmog.” Ulithi Atoll was an important US Naval base during WW2; it was occupied by US forces in late 1944 and served as an important staging area. Mogmog was one of the larger islands, and it did have a bar where sailors could purchase (with special tickets) room-temperature beer. Posted by Kenmore, 12/13/2009.

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