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#160: The Case of the
Unsuitable Uncle
Original Airdate: 11/08/62

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
The rowdy Southern California docksides provide the backdrop for this episode. When Dickie Durham shows up in L.A. after having spent the last nineteen years roaming the high seas, he turns the town upside down—until someone kills him. Perry is called in to defend Dickie’s longtime shipmate “Lord Harry” Fothergill for the murder. But Harry not only wouldn’t kill for money, when he is cleared of the murder charge, he pleads that he doesn’t want the problems and burdens his $250,000 inheritance would bring.

Does he seem like one of a kind? Paula Durham (Barbara Parkins of Peyton Place) is also in Dickie’s will. She and Harry argue over who should get the money—they each want the other one to take it all. Funnyman Harvey Korman (of The Carol Burnett Show) appears as a dockside bar owner.

Credits Edit

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

Trailing

Directed by Francis D. Lyon
Written by Robert C. Dennis
Arthur Marks | 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

Sean McClory as Harry Fothergill
Liam Sullivan as Dickie Durham
Ford Rainey as Russell Durham
Howard Smith as Frank Warden
George Kane as Gil Simpson
Barbara Parkins as Paula Durham
Anna Lee as Crystal Durham
Charles Irving as Judge
Harvey Korman as Coleman (Bartender)
Paula Winslowe as Night Court Judge
Harp McGuire as Officer
Harry Bartell as Handwriting Expert
Fern Barry as Helen (Maid)
George E. Stone as Court Clerk

Uncredited Actors
James Dime as Seaman at Murder Scene
Sol Gorss as Barfly in Saloon
Harold Miller as Restaurant Patron
(three from IMDb, posted by gracep, 1/12/2010)

Crew

“Perry Mason”
Director of Photography … Robert G. Hager
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Robert G. Stone
Film Editor … Richard H. Cahoon, A.C.E.
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
Theme Composed by … Fred Steiner
Automobiles Supplied by … Ford Motor Company

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

Trivia Edit

Two icons of 60s television make their only Perry Mason appearances in this episode. Barbara Parkins (Paula Durham) played Betty Anderson in all 123 episodes of Peyton Place on ABC from 1964 until 1969. She also starred in Valley of the Dolls in 1967. Harvey Korman (Coleman, the bartender) was a regular on The Carol Burnett Show for 138 episodes from 1967 until 1978. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 28 January 2009.

George E. Stone makes his final appearance on Perry here as the Court Clerk. Not only was it his final appearance on Perry, but it was his final acting assignment. Failing health led to his retirement, and he finally passed from a stroke in 1967. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 21 October 2009.

Paula Winslowe makes her final Perry appearance here as the Night Court Judge. Even though it was uncredited, Paula Winslowe, a very busy voice actress in the 30s and 40s, dubbed Jean Harlow’s speaking voice in a few scenes in Jean Harlow's final picture Saratoga. Jean Harlow died in June 1937 right before the completion of the picture, and Mary Dees was Jean Harlow’s body double, with Paula Winslowe doing the speaking. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 1 January 2010.

Character Names: Dickie Durham’s real name is Richard William Durham. Submitted by gracep, 1/12/2011.

Sightings: Just after Dickie tries to pick a fight with Gil, we find “Miss Carmody” having drinks with her escort at the Zebra Club. She also appears in the front row of the courtroom gallery. More about her and other regulars here. Submitted by gracep, 1/13/2011.

Location: About 6 minutes in, the Tudor house at 801 Stanhope Raod is also used in “TCOT Injured Innocent“ and “TCOT Unwelcome Bride.” Submitted by Eric Cooper, 1 June 2011.

Although the proprietor/bartender's name was "George Coleman," the name of the bar (shown in neon in the window during the scene in which Dickie refuses to return to Australia) is "Joe's." Submitted by CGraul, 23 August 2011.

Comments Edit

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