<< Antic Angel | Episodes | Drifting Dropout >>

#208: The Case of the
Careless Kidnapper
Original Airdate: 04/30/64

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
After a fake kidnaping goes wrong, Dr. Gregory Pelham finds that his secret experiments in rehabilitating prominent alcoholics result in a tangle of blackmail and murder that only Perry can unravel.

Credits Edit

Opening

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

Trailing

Directed by Jesse Hibbs
Written by Robb White
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

Music composed by Rene Garriguenc
Conducted by Lud Gluskin

Cast

Thomas Lowell as David Pelham
Marilyn Erskine as Susan Pelham
Burt Metcalfe as John Lathrop
Mimsy Farmer as Sande Lukins
Mark Slade as Michael Da Vinci
Peter Hobbs as Gregory Pelham
Regina Gleason as Mary Manning
Tudor Owen as Capt. Horatio Jones
Ron Kennedy as Joe Velvet
Gale Gerber as First Girl
Francie Karath as Second Girl
Pamela Baird as Third Girl
Gilbert Gardner as Boy
Garland Thompson as Lab Expert
Barbara Fuller as Maid
Harry Stanton as Judge
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice

Trivia Edit

The Lumberlady, that “abandoned freighter by the old pier,” was a U.S. Army Transport during World War II. She was at dock in Long Beach (CA) in October 1941 and delivering troops to San Francisco in December 1945. Back in the Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor, her “businesslike” name got her mentioned in a tourism ad for southern California in 1955. Research by daveb, submitted by Steve Fox, 1/14/2005.

Anomaly: When John Lathrop answers his car phone, he identifies himself as “Lanthrop,” and Perry calls him that in the courtroom. Submitted by gracenote, 3/21/2011.

Sande Lukins revives a hungover David Pelham with a rather familiar and unquestionably Curious Coffee Set. Submitted by gracenote, 3/21/2011.

Although credited in both the opening and closing titles, the beloved Lt. Tragg fails again to appear in this episode. Submitted by gracenote, 3/21/2011.

Sightings/Uncredited Actors: In the courtroom gallery, Distinguished Gentleman #1 strains his neck to see the witnesses testify. Meanwhile, Don Anderson sits comfortably behind Mrs. Pelham, and Quiet Old Man #1 sits…quietly behind Lt. Anderson. Robert Wegner guards the door. Submitted by gracenote, 3/21/2011.
+ And the Little Old Lady in a Hat sits in awe behind Della Street (we see her when Della gets up at one point). Submitted by gracenote, 8/14/2011.

Comments Edit

We are used to seeing Perry’s clients try to manipulate and hide evidence even in accidental death cases (to their later chagrin), but this pushy, wife-bullying, know-it-all defendant is one I actually wished would have been found guilty. Submitted by cgraul, 10/29/2011.

<< Antic Angel | Episodes | Drifting Dropout >>