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#213: The Case of the
Paper Bullets
Original Airdate: 10/01/64

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Politician Jason Foster is considering running against Randolph Cartwell for a state senate seat, but it doesn't look to be a clean race. Foster's rebellious sister Susan has been secretly dating David Cartwell, the son of Jason's opponent. Little does she know she's being used as a pawn in a dirty tricks campaign by Harry Mardig, a political boss.

When David Cartwell turns up dead, Jason's wife Margaret is accused of the crime. Perry comes to the rescue, but he finds his client is not being very helpful. The reason: She believes her husband may have committed the crime.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE PAPER BULLETS
Based upon characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, 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

Music Composed and Conducted by Richard Shores
Music Supervision by Herschel Burke Gilbert

Richard Anderson as Jason Foster
Lynn Loring as Susan Foster
Patrick McVey as Harry Mardig
Jan Shepard as Margaret Foster
Melora Conway as Alma Rice
Ford Rainey as Randolph Cartwell
Arthur Space as Edgerton Cartwell
Frank Marth as Carl Rohr
Booth Colman as Prosecutor
Stewart Moss as David Cartwell
Carl Prickett as Rufus Findley
House Peters, Jr. as Lt. Jeffers
Lou Krugman as Gambling Boss
Joel Fluellen as Bartender
Paul Barselow as Coroner’s Physician
Jason Johnson as Judge
William Tracy as Photographer
Ann Ayars as Woman Reporter
Robert Rothwell as Campaign Worker No. 1
John Truax as Taxi Driver
Barry Brooks as Croupier
Jack Fife as Campaign Worker No. 2
Charles Stroud as Court Clerk

Uncredited Actors
Don Anderson as Parade Participant, Courtroom Spectator
Robert Wegner as Courtroom Spectator

Crew

Director of Photography … John M. Nickolaus, Jr.
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Gordon A. Webb
Film Editor … Richard W. Farrell
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 … George A. Rutter
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

William Tracy makes the final of 3 appearances on Perry here playing a tangential role of the photographer. William Tracy was probably best known for his role as Pepi Katona in the wonderful Ernst Lubisch film The Shop Around The Corner. Sadly this would be Mr. Tracy’s final appearance in either TV or film as he would die much too young at the age of 49 in 1967. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 19 August 2009.

Goof: The sign outside the public house unmistakably reads “Red’s Bar & Grill,” but everyone in the episode calls it “Red’s Reef.” Submitted by gracenote, 3/29/2011.

On the 2012 Paramount DVD, just after the opening credits (46 seconds into the episode), The sign is RED'S REEF [with "REEF" in smaller letters]
BAR AND GRILL
I suspect that a syndication print on a TV screen can make such signage difficult to read. Submitted by masonite, 12/10/12.

Sightings: Through the doorway of Randolph Cartwell’s office we spy “Miss Carmody” as (presumably) his secretary. At the hearing, we find Quiet Old Man #1 has made the field trip to see Perry in action. That might be Distinguished Gentleman #1 as a cheerful pub customer in the opening scene, but it is definitely he as a nameless campaign worker at the end. Submitted by gracenote, 3/29/2011.

Uncredited Actors: Parading down the street and cheering with lots of fellow Foster supporters is Don Anderson, who later turns up to watch Perry defeat yet another prosecutor. Robert Wegner, great uncle of a wiki participant, is also there to see Perry triumph, and at least one session he is sitting in front of Anderson. Submitted by gracenote, 3/29/2011.

Another TR! The "small foreign-built car" with which Margaret dings Rufus Findley's danged truck while she's fleeing "David's house on the Cartwell Estate" is a TRIUMPH TR4 (produced 1961-65). The car has the optional "Surrey Top", a hardtop with a removable central section over the seats (more info here). TR4 was the world's first production car to have such a roof system. The idea was later used by other manufacturers and became more commonly known, perhaps, as a Targa top.
The appearance of a current-production TR in this episode at this time is curious:

• Ford Motor Company had just introduced its new MUSTANG in April 1964.
• end-credits of this episode: "Automobiles Supplied by … Ford Motor Company".
• This episode aired 1 Oct 64. Just four PM episodes earlier, a TR3 was featured. See Trivia at Ep#209 TCOT Drifting Dropout (aired 7 May 64).
• Mustangs and TRs were competitors for many of the same potential buyers.
• A competitor's sports car got exposure but Ford's new model Mustang did not.

It seems to me that someone at CBS/Paisano might have had a preference for TRs over Mustangs! Submitted by Gary Woloski, 10 Jan 2012.

Comments Edit

Jason Foster's arguments against his opponent's conservation views look pretty bad in retrospect to this Southern Californian! In fact, I fail to see what makes Foster a good candidate for state senator. He acts precipitously and violently throughout the episode! Not only that, but he calls his little sister "Kitten" and "Baby," which creeps me out a bit. I for one was sad when he won the election!

Bachelorhood Doomed? In the last shot of the Final Wrap scene, Perry, referring to another male character, says "A good man is worth fighting for." Della, smiling beautifully and cuddling his shoulder, gives Perry a very long-lasting look of admiration/love/etc and utters a single one-syllable word which I couldn't make out at all.

• What was that single word of Della's?
• Did viewers in '64 believe that Perry's Bachelor Days were finally finished forever?

With me, this rates right at the top, along with Della's tears in the final wrap of TCOT Borrowed Baby and a few other scenes in which she gave Perry those looks! Submitted by Gary Woloski,12 Jan 12.

I agree this is one of Ms. Hale's finest moments. What an actress! The word she utters is simply, "Yeah..." Agreeing that a good man is worth fighting for, meaning, of course, Perry! Submitted by dwhite 28 Feb 2012

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