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#18: The Case of the
Cautious Coquette
Original Airdate: 01/18/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
A double murder, a hit-and-run driver, a secret marriage, and a missing witness keep Perry very busy.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in Erle Stanley Gardner’s
The Case of The Cautious Coquette
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by Laslo Benedek
Teleplay by Leo Townsend and Gene Wang
Produced by CBS Television in association with Paisano Productions
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer

Raymond Burr as Perry Mason
Barbara Hale as Della Street
William Hopper as Paul Drake
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Cast

Virginia Gregg as Sheila Cromwell
Donald Randolph as Steven Argyle
Kipp Hamilton as Elaine Barton
Harry Jackson as Harry Pitkin
Chester Stratton as Bates
Sid Clute as Frederick Arms
James Seay as Ross Hollister
Sydney Smith as Judge Osborn
K. L. Smith as Joe Raymond
Brett Halsey as Robert Finchley
Ed Hinton as Sheriff Mark Daley
Stephen Ellsworth as Sgt. Kenny
Ralph Sanford as Pat
Jeanne Bates as Western Union Clerk
Paul Hahn as Sgt. Davis
Weaver Levy as Jimmy
Jack Gargan as Court Clerk

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1957 Cadillac convertible, black w/ black & white int., top down (Mason), 1957 Corvette, white, top down (Drake), 1956 Cadillac series 75 limo, light color. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill. + Speaking of cars, at the 30 minute mark of the DVD of this episode, Perry is at the country club talking to Sheila Cromwell. If you look over her right sholder you can see the 1957 white Corvette parked at the club that Paul drives later in the show. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 14 May 2009.

The background music for the pool scene can be heard as a song playing in the murder room and elsewhere in #75, TCO Paul Drake’s Dilemma. Submitted by Charles Richmond, 3/4/2005.

Virginia Gregg makes the first of four appearances on Perry playhing Sheila Cromwell. Virginia Gregg was a prolific old time radio actress, and a favorite of Jack Webb. She appeared 10 times on the original Dragnet, 13 times on Dragnet 1967, and even in the Dragnet movie. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 14 May 2009.

Comments Edit

From the check Perry gives Elaine Barton, we see he is banking at Los Angeles Trust and Savings at 6th and Main. Perry’s office is (really) at 550 S. Flower Street at Sixth. Look here. So, I guess, the bank is relatively close to that locale. It’s even closer, I think, to 561 S. Spring where the Los Angeles Trust and Savings building is located. See here. The check is re: Robert Finchley Acct. It’s for $500.00. That’s about $3,675.17 today. We also see Perry’s signature. Is this the only time we see it in the series? The check is dated 5/10. N.b., the detective report from Apex on Elaine Barton is also dated May. Submitted by billp 1/1/2009.

The $3500 settlement that Finchley gets from Bates and Argyle would be about $25,726.21 today. Later on, Bates wants his contribution, $2500, back. That $2500 is worth about $18,375.87. The $76.41 that Robert Finchley has in the bank would be $561.64 today. Submitted by billp 1/1/2009.

Argyle stole $187,000 from the company. That would be about $1,374,514.71 today. Submitted by billp 1/1/2009.

It is implied throughout the show that Sheila Cromwell is in love with Ross Hollister, and Kipp Hamilton says as much to Mr. Hollister. However when Sheila is on the witness stand you can clearly see she is wearing a wedding band, and Perry continually refers to her as Mrs. Cromwell. Maybe she was a widow, however you would think if she were serious about Ross Hollister, she would take off the ring. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 14 May 2009.
+ Kipp clearly says that Sheila is a “rich widow“ in the early poolside scene. Submitted by katest 4/27/2011.

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