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#201: The Case of the
Frightened Fisherman
Original Airdate: 02/27/64

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
Chemist Randolph James has started a successful business to develop a new antibiotic. But when his former boss, Hudson Bradshaw, files suit claiming James developed the formula while working for him, it’s only the beginning of James’s problems.

His wife, Natalie, is selling her stock to Bradshaw, which will give the ex-boss control of James’s new company. There are also whispers that Natalie is having an affair with Bradshaw. Furious, James vows to stop his wife at any cost.

It’s apparently not an empty threat, as Natalie soon turns up dead. The police say James did it. James claims that he was fishing at the time of the murder. But when he can’t locate the fisherman who can back up his story, he locates Perry instead.

Credits Edit

Opening

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

Trailing

Directed by Arthur Marks
Written by Jonathan Latimer
Arthur Marks / Art Seid | Producers
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
Wesley Lau as Lt. Anderson

Cast

Mala Powers as Helen Bradshaw
Connie Gilchrist as Mrs. Pennyworth
Lee Farr as Randolph James
Marian Collier as Natalie James
Ilze Taurens as Gretchen Lang
Richard Devon as Marion Devlin
Bartlett Robinson as Hudson Bradshaw
Emile Genest as Hans Lang
Bill Smith as Andy Witcoe
Connie Cezon as Gertie
Richard Cutting as Blind Fisherman
Stacy Keach as Lt. Gibson
Kort Falkenberg as Interne
Ray Walker as Fake Fisherman
Walter Stocker as 1st Police Officer
Seamon Glass as 2nd Police Officer
Richard Geary as 3rd Police Officer
Harry Strang as Lab Parking Guard
Tom Harkness as Judge

Uncredited Actors
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice
Robert Wegner as Door Bailiff

Crew

“Perry Mason”
Director of Photography … Howard Schwartz, A.S.C.
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Gordon A. Webb
Film Editor … Al Clark, A.C.E
Casting … Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Irving Pringle
Hair Stylist … Annabell
Wardrobe Supervision … Ed McDermott, Evelyn Carruth
Set Decoration … Carl Biddiscombe
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … Marshall Schlom
Theme Composed by … Fred Steiner
Automobiles Supplied by … Ford Motor Company

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

Trivia Edit

Location: Within the first 10 minutes Natalie asks the operator to connect her to Hudson Bradshaw’s mobile car phone. As he answers his car phone, the Malibu Vet Clinic which was at 23919 Malibu Road, is visible over his left shoulder. It’s just across the street from the Malibu Colony. The shell of the vacant Vet Clinic still exists although it looks like it might blow over any minute. Just to his left as he drives is the back area of the old Colony Market which lasted until the 1980s when it was replaced by a Ralph’s market. Posted by Eric Cooper and Linda Shockley, July 27, 2009.
+ The big bluff in the background is called Malibu Bluffs Park and is the home of the Michael Landon Community Center. This same drive by location was used again when Paul Drake answers his car phone halfway through episode #226, TCOT Frustrated Folk Singer. Malibu seems to be a favorite location, probably because Raymond Burr lived there during the series. Posted by Eric Cooper and Linda Shockley, July 27, 2009. Some pictures here.

Sightings: Quiet Old Man (#1) and Pencil Mustache Man are briefly visible in the courtroom gallery at various times. More here. Submitted by daveb, 1/5/2011.
+ Distinguished Gentleman #1 joins them in observing the courtroom action. Submitted by gracenote, 2/13/2011.

The Curious Coffee Set makes another appearance, this time in a restaurant where Perry has stopped off. Submitted by FredK, 10 January 2011.

The Stacy Keach who plays Lt. Gibson is none other than the father of the Stacy Keach (Jr.) who played Mike Hammer on TV in the 1980s and 1990s. Submitted by gracenote, 2/13/2011.

Ray Collins was credited but did not appear as Lt. Tragg. Barbara Hale was credited but did not appear as Della Street. We did, however, get a rare glimpse of Connie Cezon as Gertie. Submitted by gracenote, 2/13/2011.

Location: The Malibu beach house will be reused by Lee Meriwether in Cheating Chancellor. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 28 April 2011.

Uncredited Actors: Sgt. Brice (Lee Miller) appears by Lt. Anderon’s side as he makes his arrest. Robert Wegner is the bailiff who guards the door. Submitted by gracenote, 2/13/2011.

Comments Edit

I am not 100% certain because of the distance of the shot, but when Mrs. James identifies a man getting out of his car as Perry Mason, it rather looks more like Distinguished Gentleman #1. Submitted by gracenote, 8/11/2011.

There is a young dark-haired fellow who appears in the courtroom, and then later reappears in the courtroom scene. Submitted by gracenote, 8/11/2011.

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