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#2: The Case of the
Sleepwalker's Niece
Original Airdate: 09/28/57

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
In this episode Perry must defend a man with a motive. Peter Cole walks in his sleep and has been found more than once roaming the house, unaware of his actions. One night, he was even found standing over someone's bed holding a knife. Now he's been accused of stabbing a man who was attempting to extort money from him and block the progression of his divorce. Cole hires Perry to handle his difficult defense.

Perry needs all the encouragement he can get. Thanks to Della, he gets it in the famous shoulder-rubbing scene.

PMESG

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in Erle Stanley Gardner's The Case of The Sleepwalker's Niece
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by William D. Russell
Teleplay by Laurence Marks, Gene Wang
Ben Brady Producer
Produced by CBS Television in association with Paisano Productions
Gail Patrick Jackson Executive Producer
Sam White Associate 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

John McNamara as Peter Cole
Hillary Brooke as Doris Cole
John Archer as Frank Maddox
Nancy Hadley as Edna Hammar
Darryl Hickman as Steve Harris
Helen Mowery as Lucille Mays
Thomas B. Henry as Ralph Duncan
Harry Hickox as Phillip Kendall
Kenneth MacDonald as Judge
Tony Michaels as Jackson
Clark Howat as Policeman
Fred Graham as Sheriff
Joey Ray as Detective
Jack Harris as Court Clerk

Crew

Gene Wang Story Editor
Production Supervisor J. Paul Popkin
Director of Photography Frank Redman, A.S.C.
Art Direction Lyle Wheeler, Lewis Creber
Assistant Director Maxwell Henry
Editorial Supervisor Art Seid, A.C.E.
Makeup Mel Burns
Wardrobe Supervision Dick James
Set Decorations Walter M. Scott, Charles Q. Vassar
Properties Ray Thompson
Recorded by Alfred Bruzlin
Rerecording Mixer Harry M. Leonard
Script Supervisor Cosmo Genovese

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1957 Ford Skyliner retractable, black (Mason), 1957 Plymouth convertible. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

+Darryl Hickman makes his only Perry appearance here playing Steve Harris. Darryl Hickman was a prolific child actor appearing in among others, "Grapes of Wrath", "The Human Comedy" and "Leave Her to Heaven". However upon entering adulthood, his star was surpassed by his little brother Dewayne Hickman, staring as Dobie Gillis. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 25 August 2009.

The (shooting?) script for this episode is dated 27 June 1957. Scripts for at least 9 episodes are dated earlier. So, while it was aired 2nd, I believe this episode was no earlier than the 10th filmed. There was about a 3 month lag between filming and air date. Submitted by billp. 3 November 2009.

Fred Graham (Sheriff) played a detective in "Rear Window," where Raymond Burr has his most famous film role. Graham is also in "TCOT Credulous Quarry" where he plays a fire chief. Submitted by billp. 15 November 2009.

In this episode, Perry drives a 1957 Buick. In early episodes he drives a 1957 Ford. I hypothesize that in later episodes he first drives a 1957 and then 1958 Cadillac. He winds up the season in a 1958 Ford. So 1957 Ford marks early, 1957 Cadillac marks middle episodes, 1958 Cadillac marks late episodes, and 1958 Fords is the last show or so of the season. Although an early script, it's not particularly early. I believe this episode marks a transition between early (Ford) and middle (1957 Cadillac) episodes. No earlier than the 12th filmed. But more likely no earlier than the 15th filmed. Submitted by billp. 29 November 2009.

Comments Edit

The $100000 Maddox offers to Doris Cole would be worth about $736561.28 in 2007 dollars. She later accepts $25000 ($184140.32) to settle from Mason. That's still an "ouch" in my book, especially when we consider what kind of lady she is. The $500000 Maddox wants for his share of the company would $3682806.39. billp 12/26/08

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