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#169: The Case of
Constant Doyle
Original Airdate: 01/31/63

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
After Cal Leonard (Michael Parks of "Then Came Bronson") is caught climbing the fence at Otis Industries, he tells the police to get Joe Doyle, a local attorney, to help him. But Doyle died two months before, so his widow--Constant Doyle, played by Bette Davis--who is also a lawyer, arrives to defend Cal instead.

For some reason, Lawrence Otis is a little too ready to drop the charges against young Leonard, and Constant Doyle is puzzled.

Constant gets a second crack at defending Cal, who can't seem to stay out of trouble these days. He is charged with murdering his cousin. She gets her nose rubbed in the dirt when she digs for evidence and finds some very distressing news about her late husband.

Credits Edit

Cast

Bette Davis as Constant Doyle
Michael Parks as Cal Leonard
Peggy Ann Garner as Letty Arthur
Frances Reid as Miss Givney
Les Tremayne as Lawrence Otis
Neil Hamilton as Fred McCormick
George Mitchell as Desk Sergeant
Jerry Oddo as Steven Arthur
John Dennis as Police Lieutenant
Willis Bouchey as Judge
Dick Wilson as Prisoner
Marc Romaunt as Kid
Dorothy Edwards as Waitress
Gil Perkins as Watchman

Trivia Edit

+This is the first of four consective episodes that Raymond Burr will miss due to injury. He will be replaced by Bette Davis, Michael Rennie, Hugh O'Brien, and Walter Pigeon. Submitted by PaulDrake33.

+Dick Wilson makes his only Perry appearance in a small part as a prisoner. Dick Wilson was well known by baby boomers as Mr. Whipple, the man who was forever telling women shoppers to "Please don't squeeze the Charmin". Submitted by PaulDrake 33.

+Peggy Ann Garner makes her only Perry appearance here as Letty Arthur. Peggy Ann Garner is most famous for her role as Francie Nolan in the motion picture "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn". In fact she was awarded the Juvenile Oscar for 1946 for her performance. Submitted by PaulDrake 33.

+This episode is at the present (September 2009) available on YouTube for viewing. Submitted by PaulDrake 33.

Comments Edit

=There is some uncertainty why Burr was "missing" from this episode and the following three. The Perry Mason TV Show Book (1987) says he was "in the hospital for minor dental surgery." The Ona L. Hill biography Raymond Burr (1994) says "he went into the hospital on December 10, 1962 for major surgery." She goes on to say "He had been diagnosed with potentially cancerous intestinal polyps, which turned out to be benign. A part of his intestines was cut away and a Dacron tube inserted." I recall hearing from somewhere that, in later years, Burr denied cancer rumors about himself. Perhaps this explains the differing stories? The Hill story is supported by newspaper articles of the time. However, one article (Newport, R.I., Daily News, Feb. 11, 1963) says Burr "has been quoted as saying that they [the polyps] were cancerous." It goes on to say "he has declined any further statements beyond declaring that he was fortunate in all regards." Does anyone have any additional information? Submitted by daveb, 6/28/09.

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