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#207: The Case of the
Antic Angel
Original Airdate: 04/16/64

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
Peter (The Big Valley) Breck plays William Sherwood, an ex-boozehound struggling to stay on the wagon. He loses the battle one night when he sees not a pink elephant, but Ruth, his dead wife, walking with another man.

Later, Sherwood gets a spooky call from Ruth and agrees to meet her. When she doesn’t appear, Sherwood gets nervous and thirsty and is soon bombed. Outside the bar, he finds his wife in a car, and this time she’s really dead. He calls Perry for help, but the lawyer and Paul cannot find body or car. When the corpse turns up in her apartment and Sherwood’s fingerprints are all over her car, he’s the natural suspect.

Correction: Don Davis reports: “According to the actual epsiode, which I have just viewed, the corpse actually turns up at the bottom of a 130-foot ravine in a car rented by Vince Kabat. However, the defendant, William Sherwood, has indeed left bloody fingerprints all over the car, so that much is correct.”

Credits Edit

Opening

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

Trailing

Directed by Arthur Marks
Teleplay by Robert C. Dennis
Arthur Marks \ 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

Michael Ansara as Vince Kabat
George Tobias as Sidney Falconer
Peter Breck as William Sherwood
Richard Erdman as Harry Niles
Bek Nelson as Dana Kent
Cathleen Cordell as Maggie Malecki
Logan Field as Sergeant
Alexander Lockwood as Medical Examiner
Morris Ankrum as Judge
Tracy Morgan as Waitress
Billy Halop as Barman
James Cross as Panhandler
Janet Dey as Lynne Bowman
Larry Barton as Clerk

Uncredited Actors

Don Anderson as {	Bailiff
	Pedestrian
	Bar Patron

Trivia Edit

Syrian born Michael Ansara makes his only Perry appearance here playing Vince Kabat. Mr. Ansara was married to Barbara Eden (“TCOT Angry Mourner”) when he appeared in this episode. However, Ms. Eden appeared on Perry Mason before her marriage to Mr. Ansara. Michael Ansara had his greatest acting fame as Cochise on the 50s western, Broken Arrow. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 14 October 2009.

Sightings: For at least a third time, Distinguished Gentleman #1 plays a spooky morgue attendant, once again turning up the sheet for an identification. Later, in the courtroom gallery, he and Quiet Old Man #1 appear as spectators. Read about them and all the other favorite frequent faces so diverting to spot. Submitted by gracenote, 3/20/2011.

In addition to playing the bailiff at the door (who helps nab the murderer at the end of the episode), Don Anderson has two other appearances here. In the opening scene, he passes by Bill Sherwood outside the hotel revolving door. Later, he's seen from behind sitting at the bar in Red's Reef as Sherwood banters with a waitress in the foreground. Submitted by FredK, 7 April 2011.

The restaurant where Paul and Perry have coffee between court sessions uses the ever-present Curious Coffee Set. Submitted by gracenote, 3/20/2011.

Although credited, we never see Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) in this episode. The rest of the principal cast (except of coure for dear Gertie) is credited and appears. Submitted by gracenote, 3/20/2011.

Location: Thirty-six minutes in Perry once again scores a parking spot right in front of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 N. Hill Street. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 3 August 2011

Comments Edit

Bob Dylan fans will enjoy seeing the murderess’s “leopard-skin pillbox hat.” Submitted by Francis, 10 June 2011.

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