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#16: The Case of the
Demure Defendant
Original Airdate: 01/04/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Nadine Marshall confesses to all the details of a murder while under a drug-aided hypnosis session with her doctor. The doctor seeks Perry’s advice on what to do with the recording of Nadine’s confession. Perry knows what not to do with it. He doesn’t want to see it in the hands of Burger or Tragg until he investigates his hunch that the girl is really innocent.

Credits Edit

Cast

Christine White as Nadine
Clem Bevans as Capt. Hugo
Fay Baker as Marian Newburn
Walter Coy as Lester Newburn
Barry Atwater as Dr. Denair
Sherwood Price as John Locke
Alexander Campbell as Wellman
Morris Ankrum as Judge
Connie Cezon as Gertie
Maurice Manson as Dr. Granby
Steven Geray as Korbell
Joe Mell as Stand Owner
Paul Hahn as Ballistic's Man
Ashley Cowan as Messenger
John Mitchum as Operative
Jack Harris as Court Clerk
Lida Piazza as Miss Wilson
Rickie Sorensen as Arthur Lindner
Leilani Sorensen as Small Girl

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1957 Cadillac convertible, black w/ black & white int., top down (Mason), Late 50s Austin-Healey 100-6, top down. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.
+ The Austin-Healey 100 being driven by Nadine's boyfriend John, then disappearing around the corner. Seconds later Perry and Della depart the scene. GW, 10 Apr 2012.

It may be a miracle, but Paul turns down food. When Perry and Della are busy preparing a celebratory dinner—for two if the table service is correct—Paul shows no interest in what’s being prepared. He must have been sick or worried about Perry’s hijinks….Submitted by Dedra Kaye, 3/21/2008.

Continuity: In the courtroom scene near the end, Perry picks up the pen holder containing the buckshot from off the Judge’s desk to examine it. While Perry is holding the pen holder the camera cuts to a shot of the Judge and the pen holder has magically re-appeared on the Judge’s desk. Next shot is of Perry and he is still holding the pen holder. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 5/27/2008.

Double Duty: As Perry drives his Eldorado into Logan City, he takes out his handkerchief and mops up some perspiration. How hot was it? It was so hot that in the next shot it’s actually Lee Miller behind the wheel. Submitted by Francis, 1/8/2012.
+ The scene a few seconds after Perry mops his brow. Is that the back of Burr's or Miller's head in the Caddy? GW, 10 Apr 2012.

In jail, Perry asks Nadine "You still believe you could have inherited that 'bad seed'? In the 1956 film version of the novel The Bad Seed concerning the same subject matter, William Hopper portrayed the father of the title character. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/05/12.

In the closing credits, only the names of the teleplay writers (Ben Brady and Richard Grey) are completely capitalized. All other names, including Raymond Burr, use lower-case letters as well. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/05/12.

Other cast appearances: Joe Mell appeared in the first Star Trek pilot (in a scene with Jeffrey Hunter as Capt. Christopher Pike) and also in The Twilight Zone episode "Dead Man's Shoes." Barry Atwater got to wear pointy ears on Star Trek playing Vulcan Surak in "The Savage Curtain" and also appeared on The Twilight Zone in "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street." He also played a vampire in the original The Night Stalker TV-Movie. Christine White played William Shatner's wife on The Twilight Zone in "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/05/12.

According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (circa 1969), the product saccharin is spelled without an e at the end. Saccharine, an adjective, means "Of, relating to, or of the nature of sugar or saccharin; sweet" or "Having a cloyingly sweet attitute, tone or character." Saccharine is pronounced the same as saccharin or with a long i sound in the last syllable. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/06/12.

Syndication cuts: Nadine in the hospital taping her confession; Lt. Tragg waiting at Mason's and taking the tape and recorder from Della [Gertie is completely cut out of this episode]; Mason throwing stones into a pond [a fact referrenced by Paul later], offering a boy and girl $5 to find a bottle, buying a hot dog and being recognized by the stand owner; Perry wiping his brow on the drive to Logan City [see Double Duty above]; Burger's remarks to the jury. Additional Hallmark cuts: The conversation between Marion and Lester after she says "Please, Lester, I just can't take anymore."; Dr. Locke's entire testimony; the judge warning the jury not to discuss the case and the jury leaving [in the original, the judge's line "The jury will be excused while the court considers this objection" is shown with a close-up on the judge; in the Hallmark version, the line is dubbed over a long shot showing the jury and the scene ends and fades out.] Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/06/12.

Comments Edit

One of the few times that the identity of the murderer is not revealed until the final scene. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 6/26/2008.
+ Isn’t this actually typical of Perry Mason? Queried by gracep, 1/14/2011.
+ In most episodes, the murderer is revealed in the penultimate scene. The final scene usually takes place in Perry's office where everyone discusses the case, wraps up loose ends, and cracks a joke or two. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 1/26/2011.

Although his appearance is brief, Uncle Martin (Wellman) as played by Alexander Campbell is one of the most despicable characters ever on Perry Mason in my opinion. Often in the Perry Mason series, the viewer finds himself conflicted over the resolution of the case. The viewer wants the (presumed innocent) defendant to go free, but doesn’t really want the culprit named. Why? Because the victim was such a reptile, we sympathize with the killer. I consider this tension one of the strengths of the show. Submitted by billp, 1/1/09.

'Uncle Martin's' torture of his niece is based on the still debated idea that intelligence and behaviour are inherited characteristics, and that genetics are inevitable. Not necessarily, since nutrition and environment also play a factor. His attempt to frighten her out of marriage (and one wonders why he cared, but he is, as 'billp' said above, 'despicable'). The now disinherited field of human eugenics, that dated well before WW2 (and in the US) suggested that selective breeding could eliminate 'feeble minded', and 'criminal insanity' from humankind (and, shamefully, certain races). Science fiction writer C.M. Kornbluth wrote two acclaimed stories revolving around this idea, "The Marching Morons", and "Little Black Bag". Describing a future where the stupid had outbred the intelligent ..submitted by MikeReese, 6/9/2012.

The killer should have just slipped him the saccharin. He could have gotten cancer according to modern-day product warnings! Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/06/12.

Was Lt. Tragg's first name established on the series at this point? His door just has "Lieutenant Tragg" written on it and it seems odd that the writers would give another character in a conversation with Tragg the same name as Tragg without an apparent reason or at least mentioning they both had the same name. Tragg even calls the boy "Arthur." Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/06/12.

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