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#171: The Case of the
Two-Faced Turn-A-Bout
Original Airdate: 02/14/63

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Bruce Jason has a doppelganger, an exact double. The identity of that man is the key to this case about murder and Russian intrigue.

Hugh O’Brian stars in a double role, playing both Bruce Jason, the lawyer who defends Elihu Laban in a murder trial, and one of the murderers who killed two victims.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
With special guest star Hugh O’Brian
in The Case of THE TWO-FACED TURN-A-BOUT
Based upon Characters Created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by Arthur Marks
Written by Samuel Newman
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

Hugh O’Brian as Bruce Jason
Lisa Gaye as Alyssa Laban
Trevor Bardette as Garrett Richards
Abraham Sofaer as Elihu Laban
Robert F. Simon as Philip Hillman
Werner Klemperer as Ulric Zenas
Berry Kroeger as Darius Tyson
Gregory Morton as Amos Waldemar
Joan Petrone as Tess Noyman
Kenneth MacDonald as Judge
Henry Travis as T.V. Reporter
Walter Mathews as Reporter No. 2
Charles H. Radilac as Franz Schreck
William Woodson as Commentator
Dale Johnson as Ride Attendant

Uncredited Actors
Don Anderson as Uniformed Officer
Bert Stevens as Bodyguard
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice

Crew

“Perry Mason”
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
Theme Composed by … Fred Steiner
Automobiles Supplied by … Ford Motor Co.

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

Trivia Edit

Location: The Laff in the Dark ride featured in this episode was at the Long Beach Pike. The “airport protest” scene was staged outside the lobby of the Long Beach Arena, a few blocks from the Pike. Show pictures here. Submitted by D. A Supernaw, 6/21/2005.

Goof: When Elihu meets a former agent, the latter repeatedly mentions the Tunnel of Love as the ride in which a certain transaction will take place. However, it is not the Tunnel of Love but rather Laff in the Dark (see above), which is more of a light horror show, not at all romantic. Submitted by gracep, 1/27/2011.

Uncredited Actors: At the airport, Don Anderson appears momentarily as a uniformed cop standing behind Lt. Tragg. Bert Stevens is one of Schreck’s (Charles H. Radilac’s) bodyguards, clearly visible as they are leaving the terminal and later as Schreck boards the Laff in the Dark. (He could, however, be a plainclothesman.) And Sgt. Brice (Lee Miller) is among the plainclothes contingent escorting Schreck. Submitted by gracep, 1/27/2011.
+ Anderson also appears very briefly as one of the line of officers providing security at the amusement park. Submitted by FredK, 27 January 2011.

Sightings: Several favorite frequent faces turn up for this hearing of international import: “Miss Carmody”, Pencil Mustache Man, Distinguished Gentleman #1, and the Little Old Lady in a Hat. Read more about why we are spotting these people here. Submitted by gracep, 1/27/2011.
+ Continuity Error: At times, those last two spectators magically teleport from one side of the courtroom to the other, from one cut to the next. Submitted by gracep, 1/27/2011.

Location: The porch of a house with the address of 1432 is used for scenes at the Laban residence as well as a scene in #218, TCOT Bullied Bowler. I don’t know what street this was but the 1400 block would be just a few blocks north of the studio in Hollywood. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 28 April 2011.
+ It also serves as Floyd Grant’s house in #167 TCOT Bluffing Blast. Submitted by gracenote, 7/25/2011.

“Didn’t Paper Bear want to visit Disneyland?” asks Anderson. He’s referring to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, who visited the US in September 1959. He was supposed to see Disneyland, but because of security reasons, it was skipped. Submitted by gracenote, 7/25/2011.

Nice try by the producers to insert the recuperating Mason into this episode: His scene “together” with O’Brien’s character was shot shot separately. Note the different lighting and the fact that they never appear in the same shot. Submitted by Francis, 12/11/2011.

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