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#133: The Case of the
Injured Innocent
Original Airdate: 11/18/61

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Life on the fast track finds Perry defending Walter Eastman, a racecar buff who is accused of murdering his European driver.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE INJURED INNOCENT
Based upon Characters Created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by Bernard L. Kowalski
Written by Paul Franklin

“Perry Mason”
Art Seid | Producer
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer
Jackson Gillis | Associate Producer
Produced by The CBS Television Network in association with Paisano Productions
Samuel Newman | 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

John Conte as Kirby Evans
Frank Maxwell as Dr. Mooney
Audrey Dalton as Kate Eastman
Alejandro Rey as Vincent Danielli
Wesley Lau as Lt. Anderson
Jess Barker as Walter Eastman
Linda Lawson as Erin Mooney
Phil Arthur as Ralph Townley
Raymond Bailey as Dr. Bell
Noel Drayton as Ellis
S. John Launer as Judge
Pitt Herbert as Autopsy Surgeon
Cindy Ames as Secretary
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice

Uncredited Actors
Bert Stevens as Courtroom Spectator

Crew

Director of Photography … Robert G. Hager
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Robert G. Stone
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
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … M.E.M. Gibsone
Titles and Opticals … Pacific Title

Perry Mason \ A Film Presentation
A CBS Television Network Production

Trivia Edit

One unusual fact about this episode: Della does not have a single line of dialogue! She is on screen a fair amount, but utters not a single word. The only time her voice is heard at all is when she chuckles along with everyone else at the fade-out. Note: This observation came from a televised episode; Della may indeed have had some lines edited out for commercial time. Submitted by Ed Zoerner, 4/1/2009.

Sightings: The Little Old Lady in a Hat hasn’t moved from her spot since the previous episode. You first see her as Hamilton Burger questions the coroner. As we cut to the gallery, she can be seen in the back row. Submitted by Kenmore, 9/13/2010.

Uncredited Actors: The inconspicuous Bert Stevens appears in the courtroom gallery, looking rather puzzled. Submitted by gracep, 12/2/2010.

Anomaly: Although the race-car engine designer is a professor and credited as Dr. Mooney, Walter Eastman addresses him as Mr. Mooney, and the lieutenant and others refer to him that way, too. Submitted by gracep, 12/2/2010.

Location: Since the show likes locations to pull double duty, I suspect the Tudor house 3 minutes into this episode (probably in Hancock Park) is also the Tudor 3 minutes into “TCOT Unwelcome Bride.” Also 6 minutes into “TCOT Unsuitable Uncle” it is supposed to be the house at 801 Stanhope Road. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 26 May 2011.

Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) appears only in the credits, but luckily Lt. Anderson (Wesley Lau) is on the job. Submitted by gracenote, 6/21/2011.

The race car in the first scene is a Maserati 250F, a champion Formula 1 car of the mid-1950s. Clue #1 is the Trident motif in the (nose) radiator air intake, visible in photo at top of this page (adjust monitor brite/contrast if not seen). Other I.D. features are the (1) long sleeve-like "scoop" carburettor air intake on the Right exterior of the engine compartment, (2) wrap-around plexiglass windshield and (3) general body shape. "No less than 34" 250Fs were built 1954-58 both for private sale and for the Maserati Works F1 team. 250Fs had 40 wins during that period including many major F1 victories up to end '57, at which time it was eclipsed by its competition. Its classic beauty has always been appreciated and Stirling Moss said "It really was a very nice car to drive." This car in Episode #133 is probably an early 250F since only the initial production sported the front Trident badge and later cars had a sleeker, longer appearance. The 250F has long external exhaust pipes on the Left Side, from the engine compartment back to the tail. These are not visible in the opening scene but would be in the Crash Scene a bit later, unless they crashed a different car (Crazy not to!). Can anyone I.D. the car in the crash scene? I didn't think to at the time I saw it. Read more about the 250F at the Wikipedia and see some photos at Historic Racecars. See the badge here. Submitted by GaryW, 22 Sep 2011.

In the first scene, Kate and Walter arrive at the track in a Jaguar XK150 FHC, produced 1957-1961. ("FHC" = "Fixed Head Coupe" = "hardtop") Note the nifty knockoff wire wheels. We later learn by inferance that Kirby Evans also has a Jag XK150 but it does not appear on screen. See article on the XK150 here. Another member of this cat family appeared in Episode#121, at which page you can read about the identifying features and see the progression of Jaguar sports cars from 1948-1961. Submitted by Gary Woloski, 30 Sep 2011.

Comments Edit

For me, there is a real plot hole here, because none of the events that unfold in this episode would have happened if Mrs. Eastman had simply divorced her husband. Her reasons (not wanting to sully his name) despite his philandering, just don’t hold water, especially if he has cut her off financially to boot! Submitted by gracep, 12/2/2010.
+I thought that the two actors' portrayal of Kate and Walter was that of a couple who deeply loved each other, with each character mystified as to why they were heading toward a divorce they truly didn't want. This anomaly nagged at me too, almost until the end of the episode, until . . . ALL WAS EXPLAINED in the final courtroom scene and the summing-up scene in Perry's office! I can't say any more without committing a "SPOILER"! Gracep, I think that you may have missed these last two scenes! Submitted by GaryW, 2 Oct 2011.

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