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#154: The Case of the
Bogus Books
Original Airdate: 09/27/62

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Joseph Kraft is not your typical used-book salesman. Behind the facade of his small shop is a thriving operation in forgeries of rare first editions that nets him $70,000 a year. But Kraft slips up when he finds that a copy of Tristram Shandy is missing.

Shortly after, Kraft is found dead inside a locked room. The death appears to be accidental; he seems to have died because of a faulty gas heater. Perry doesn’t think so, though, and before long, the police don’t either. Guess who the main suspect’s lawyer happens to be?

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE BOGUS BOOKS
Based upon characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by Arthur Marks
Written by Jonathan Latimer

Art Seid | Producer
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer
Jackson Gillis | Associate Producer
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
Wesley Lau as Lt. Anderson

Cast

Phyllis Love as Ellen Carter
Adam West as Pete Norland
John Abbott as Prof. Carlos Muntz
H. M. Wynant as Gene Torg
Joby Baker as Kenneth Carter
Allison Hayes as Pearl Chute
Woodrow Parfrey as George Pickson
Maurice Manson as Joseph Kraft
Tenen Holtz as Mr. Gilfain
Raymond Greenleaf as Rare Book Curator
Kenneth MacDonald as Judge
John Alvin as Bank Teller
William Tracy as Man
Michael Fox as Coroner’s Physician
Renee Godfrey as Lady Librarian

Uncredited Actors
Robert Wegner as Door Bailiff (spotted by Rich Erickson, 6/23/2010)
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice

Crew

Director of Photography … Robert G. Hager
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Gordon A. 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
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … Cosmo Genovese
Automobiles Supplied by … Ford Motor Company

Perry Mason
Produced by the CBS Television Network in association with Paisano Productions

Trivia Edit

Two books are mentioned in this episode. Both are real. The first is Manning and Granger's Reports, aka Manning & Granger's Common Pleas Reports. You will find it mentioned here. The other book is The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. You can read about it here. Submitted by Steve Fox, 12/6/2004. [I wonder if Perry really does have a full set of Man & G?]

+ Also, English writer Izaac Walton (1593-1683) is mentioned by Professor Muntz. He had purchased a work by the author at the bookstore the previous week. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/02/12.

Character Names: Although Michael Fox is listed merely as the “Coroner’s Physician,” it is the same Dr. Hoxie he has been playing since “The Case of the Runaway Corpse”! (Talman addresses him thus.) Submitted by gracep, 1/13/2011.

This episode has some familiar classical pieces throughout. During the opening scence, the music played on the radio in the bookstore is the familiar second movement (Andante) of Haydn’s “Surprise” Symphony No. 94 in G Major. In a later scene at the bookstore, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony provides the background. Two other familiar pieces play on that radio at different times. Submitted by gracenote, 7/11/2011.

Uncredited Actors: Burr’s stand-in, Lee Miller provides yet another performance as a silent Sgt. Brice. The stern bailiff guarding the door is Robert Wegner. Submitted by gracenote, 7/11/2011.

Sightings: Appearing in the courtroom gallery are Quiet Old Man #1 and the Thin Man. More here. Submitted by gracenote, 7/11/2011.

Unconvincing Musicianship Dept.: That guitar Adam West is so ineptly trying to look like he's playing is a low-budget Kay acoustic. Kay made many thousands of similar models sold through Sears, Spiegel, etc. Submitted by francis, 5/20/12.

Beginning in the fall of 1962, CBS began incorporating the production credit (CBS/Paisano Productions in this case) along with the "Seal of Good Practice" into the closing credits rather than a separate credit. This occurs on the 1962-63 season of The Twilight Zone as well. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/02/12.

Comments Edit

A reunion of sorts for Allison Hayes and Maurice Manson. They both appeared several years earlier in the Roger Corman flick, The Undead, although they didn’t share any scenes together, just as in this episode if you don’t count the phone call. Submitted by Kenmore, 1/07/2012.

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