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#217: The Case of the
Nautical Knot
Original Airdate: 10/29/64

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
Rick Scott runs a mining business that was turned over to him when his uncle Harvey went into retirement. But Rick, injured in an accident, has been out of touch lately, recuperating in Acapulco. Suddenly, Uncle Harvey wants to regain control of the company, and he wants Rick out of the way. That’s why Harvey is paying Rick’s nurse, Joanna, to keep him “occupied” in Mexico—a situation Joanna likes (although she denies it vehemently and never acts unprofessionally), because deep down she’s in love with Rick.

Rick’s brother tips him off that Harvey is up to something, and gets him to come back to Los Angeles by ship, with Joanna, for a stockholders’ meeting. The ship arrives, but Rick disappears. When Joanna lands in jail after finding Uncle Harvey dying of blows to the head, Perry must come to the rescue.

Credits Edit

Opening

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

Trailing

Directed by Jesse Hibbs
Written by Robert Leslie Bellem
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
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg
Wesley Lau as Lt. Anderson

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

Cast

Tom Tully as Harvey Scott
Anne Whitfield as Joanna Monford
Lisa Gaye as Pamela Blair
Arline Judge as Emmalou Schneider
Henry Brandt as Rick Scott
Barbara Bain as Elayna Scott
Mark Roberts as Ben Scott
Whit Bissell as Laurence Barlow
Francis McDonald as Peg-Leg Jasper
Lane Bradford as Rider On Horseback
Renata Vanni as Rosa Martinez
Maurice Wells as Captain Vinson
Fern Barry as Esther Larson
Glen Vernon as Steward
Kenneth MacDonald as Judge
Thomas Hasson as Bellboy
Willis Robards as Banker

Uncredited Actors
Don Anderson as Door Bailiff

Crew

Director of Photography … John M. Nickolaus, Jr.
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Robert G. Stone
Film Editor … Richard H. Cahoon, 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 … 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

Anomaly: Although listed as Emmalou Schneider, Arline Judge’s character is called Snyder. Submitted by gracenote, 4/6/2011.

Although credited, Ray Collins does not appear. Submitted by gracenote, 4/6/2011.

Sightings Several favorite frequent faces appear throughout the courtroom gallery during this episode’s hearing. Distinguished Gentleman #1 boasts an excellent seat in front. Quiet Old Man #1, inconspicuously seated in the back row, makes it into several cutaways. Little Old Lady #1, also in back, is visible in a cutaway to defendant and is as respectably dressed as ever. Submitted by gracenote, 4/6/2011.

Comments Edit

Richard Shores’ incidental music for this episode is especially entertaining and festive. Submitted by gracenote, 4/6/2011.

Is it a rural California thing to greet everyone who comes to visit with a rifle or a shotgun? Submitted by gracenote, 4/6/2011.

Rare event happens 39 minutes in. Perry doesn’t find a parking spot right in front of the courthouse and has to walk. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 18 August 2011.
+ Another rare event in this episode: Burger calls Perry as a Witness for the Prosecution and the judge rules it permissaible. This is an onerous day for Perry! Were the Halloween Spirits out early (aired Oct 29)? A nice touch is Burger concluding his examination of witness Mason with “Your witness, Mr. Mason.” Submitted by Gary Woloski, 18 January 2012.

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