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#189: The Case of the
Floating Stones
Original Airdate: 11/21/63

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
Juli Eng needs Perry’s help when some precious stones her grandfather left her wind up missing, and the jewel thief who swiped them winds up dead. This episode returns to one of the Mason show’s favorite settings: L.A.’s Asian community.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE FLOATING STONES
Based upon characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by Don Weis
Written by Robert C. Dennis
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
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Music Composed by Lucien Moraweck
Conducted by Lud Gluskin

Cast

Victor Maddern as Gilbert Tyrell
Irene Tsu as Juli Eng
Joyce Jameson as Lorraine
Gertrude Flynn as Agatha Culpepper
Walter Brooke as District Attorney
Ken Lynch as Wendel
Jerry Oddo as Ralph Iverson
James Forrest as Tudor Sherwin
James Hong as Louis Kew
Richard Loo as Mr. Eng
Bill Zuckert as Judge
Dale Ishimoto as Lao
Gil Stuart as Inspector Mac Ritchie
Walter Janowitz as Doctor Lefcourt
Baynes Barron as Chowen
Marshall Reed as Fisherman

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 … Sandy Grace
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … Cosmo Genovese
Theme Composed by … Fred Steiner
Harbor Sequences Photographed at … Consolidated Marine, Inc., Port of Los Angeles

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

Trivia Edit

Location: The bridge about 25 minutes into the episode is the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro. Submitted by Eric Cooper 25 June 10.
+ This bridge is also seen in #202, TCOT Arrogant Arsonist. Some pictures and more information can be found here. Submitted by daveb, 1/25/11.

Mr. Iverson, Ms. Culpepper, and Ms. Eng drink from the Curious Coffee Set on board the S.S. Ione. Then magically, the Set reappears at the Iversons’ home. How curious! Submitted by gracenote, 2/22/2011.

Uncredited Actors: The customs official inspecting Mr. Tyrell’s baggage is none other than Don Anderson. He looks like he really wants to say something to him, but can’t. Submitted by gracenote, 2/22/2011.
+ As Iverson leave’s the ship’s lounge, we can Bert Stevens sitting at a back table with some friends. Submitted by gracenote, 7/29/2011.

Sightings: Several favorite frequent faces appear in the courtroom gallery: Quiet Old Man #1, “Miss Carmody”, Pencil Mustache Man (in the far the corner), and the beloved Little Old Lady #1. And who are they, you may well ask. Submitted by gracenote, 2/22/2011.
+ Look closely. In a wide shot of the inspections area, a bespectacled man holding a brunette woman’s arm walks past a sign pointing to the information booth. That man is Distinguished Gentleman #1.

Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) does not appear despite being billed. Submitted by gracenote, 2/22/2011.

Comments Edit

I can see why the Summary describes this episode’s setting as a favorite. The sets are rich, and the action takes place in Hong Kong and San Francisco, with nice establishment shots of Hong Kong. It’s a rather different kind of plot for Perry Mason, too, long in development before the murder takes place. And I just love all the Chinese decoration. Submitted by gracenote, 2/22/2011.

By the way, the women’s haridos are getting BIG by now (hey, it’s 1963). I noticed lots of these time-consuming coifs on the ship. Let’s just hope nobody got her hair wet. Submitted by gracenote, 2/22/2011.

I nearly fell out of my seat when I saw it: The framed print on the wall of Iverson’s cabin—a pagoda—is exactly the same one that I saw every day growing up in our living room. My mother had gotten it from her travels in Japan. Submitted by gracenote, 7/29/2011.

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