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#150: The Case of the
Counterfeit Crank
Original Airdate: 04/28/62

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
A young Burt Reynolds has a bit part in this episode, and Connie Hines (Carol in Mr. Ed) plays the victim’s wife.

Businessman August Dalgran enjoys throwing money away. In the opening scene he is dropping fistsful of dollars from his office window and gleefully observing the pedestrians below as they scramble for the loot.

Gus agrees to psychiatric testing but later, when he is accused of killing his nephew Kenneth, he admits the insanity was all an act.

Credits Edit

Opening

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

Trailing

Directed by Jerry Hopper
Written by Robert Leslie Bellem

“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
Wiliam Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Cast

Otto Kruger as August Dalgran
Jeanette Nolan as Martha Blair
Don Dubbins as Kenneth
Connie Hines as Sandra
John Larkin as Jay Fenton
Burt Reynolds as Chuck Blair
Michael King as Don Morley
William Woodson as Dr. Jackman
Paul Langton as Bertram Telford
Charles Irving as Judge #1
S. John Launer as Judge #2
William Keene as Bank Teller
John Hubbard as Joseph Tayback
Russ Bender as Deputy Bowman
Barney Biro as Judge #3
Paul McGuire as Deputy Turner
David Saber as Joe Fanning

Uncredited Actors
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice (spotted by gracep, 1/4/2010)

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
Sound … Glen Glenn Sound Co.
Automobiles Supplied by … Ford Motor Company
Titles and Opticals by … Pacific Title

Perry Mason \ A Film Presentation
A CBS Television Network Production

Trivia Edit

At August Dalgran’s competency hearing, Perry intervenes saying “...Section 1461 of the California Probate Code provides that any relative or friend of the alleged insane or incompetent person may appear and oppose such a petition.” There is in fact such a code and section. Read it here if you dare. Submitted by Steve Fox, 12/2/04. [Perry’s statement doesn’t seem to jibe with the current code.]

John Larkin makes his first of four appearances on Perry playing Jay Fenton. John Larkin was the voice of Perry Mason on radio for several years. He is probably best known to television viewers as D.A. Mike Karr on the afternoon soap opera Edge of Night. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 9 August 2009.

Location: The final scene was probably in Upper Iverson Ranch, Garden of the Gods area, in Chatsworth where many movies and television shows were shot. See episode #88 TCOT Bashful Burro for more about this area. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 3 May 2010. See also Location Trivia.

Character Names: We learn that Kenneth and Sandra’s last name is also Dalgran (so presumably Ken is August’s brother’s son). Submitted by gracep, 1/4/2011.

Continuity Error: A slight editing error. In court, during the murder hearing, just before the break, there’s a shot of Sandra (Connie Hines) in the gallery wearing a different hat than she wore earlier on the stand and in other such shots. This hat is seen again after the break during Burger’s summation and afterward. This appears to be on the next day as it was dark outside during the break scene in Perry’s office. And, Martha Blair’s hat has changed as well. Submitted by dave, 4/20/2011.

Comments Edit

Sandra Dalgran’s alibi is that she was at the movies watching Too Soon Blues. This may have been a nod to the film Too Late Blues, made in 1961 and released in January of 1962. The cast included Bobby Darin, Stella Stevens and Vince Edwards. Submitted by Mason Jar, 7/29/2011.

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