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#187: The Case of the
Reluctant Model
Original Airdate: 10/31/63

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Someone actually puts one over on Perry in this episode. When wealthy art connoisseur Otto Olney throws a party to celebrate his purchasing a rare painting by Gauguin, he is furious when a party guest named Durant says that the painting is actually a fake.

Perry comes up with a plan to have Olney sue Durant for libel. But here's where Perry’s been had. Durant claims he never said anything about the painting and the only witness, a woman named Maxine, agrees.* When Perry tries to get in touch with her, he learns she’s left for an art school and won’t testify. Since he can’t catch up with her, he tries her apartment for a clue and finds the dead body of Colin Durant, fully clothed, in Maxine’s shower. The police get to Maxine when Paul does and arrest her for the murder of Colin Durant. Perry takes the case and is thrust into the world of art collectors and art forgers.

* Webmaster’s Note: Joel Peebles notes that Maxine did not agree. In fact, she gave Mason and affidavit stating that Durant did tell her that the Gauguin was a forgery.

Credits Edit

Opening

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

Trailing

Directed by Jesse Hibbs
Teleplay by Jonathan Latimer
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
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg
Wesley Lau as Lt. Anderson

Cast

John Larkin as Otto Olney
Robert Brown as Goring Gilbert
Joanna Moore as Grace Olney
Margaret Hayes as Leslie Rankin
John Dall as Colin Durant
Erin O’Donnell as Maxine Lindsay
Carl Prickett as Oscar Pickering
Charles Irving as Judge
Shirley Mitchell as Ticket Woman
Kitty Kelly as Agnes Newton
Walter Mathews as First Reporter
Dick Garton as Second Reporter
Noel Drayton as Art Expert
Ida Mae McKenzie as Housewife
Julia Faye Thomas as Assistant In Art Gallery
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice
Lindsay Workman as Yacht Steward
Louise Lane as Critic

Uncredited Actors
Robert Wegner as Door Bailiff
(spotted by Rich Erickson, 6/23/2010)

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 … Sandy Grace
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … Cosmo Genovese
Theme Composed by … Fred Steiner

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

Trivia Edit

The painting The Three Witches also appears in #132, “TCOT Posthumous Painter.” See appearances here. Submitted by Xanthippe Svanström, 12/24/2003.

The painting seen in the hall outside Goring Gilbert’s place can also be seen in #146, “TCOT Absent Artist,” and #260, “TCOT Sausalito Sunrise.” See here. Submitted by Leah, 1/29/2003.

The Crying Cherub painting from #89, “TCOT Crying Cherub,” and seen in #146, “TCOT Absent Artist,” can also be seen in Goring Gilbert’s studio. Submitted by daveb, 12/4/2007.

Sightings: In the courtroom, “Miss Carmody” & Quiet Old Man #1 observe the proceedings, while Distinguished Gentleman #1 works the stenotype. Learn more about these frequent faces. Submitted by gracenote, 2/22/2011.
+ Earlier, the aformentioned Gentleman, along with a companion, is led in the background by the mâitre d’ to his table in the restaurant where Colin Durant confronts Perry. Later, he appears, back to the camera, in the background of the bus depot, and he’s talking to yet another lady. Then he reappears in the depot at least twice more, walking in the background. Submitted by gracenote, 8/2/2011.

Comments Edit

Is it me, or does John Dall play pretty much the same sort of role in every Perry he's been in? Not that I don't like the guy! Submitted by MikeReese, 1/25/2012

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