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#236: The Case of the
Deadly Debt
Original Airdate: 04/01/65

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Danny Talbert is a police detective who leaves the force after his father dies of a stress-related heart attack brought on, Danny thinks, by the fact that dad was into a mobster for $10,000. When the crook in question is killed by Danny’s gun, Perry must step in and attempt to clear the name of the young detective.

Credits Edit

Opening

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

+ interesting here that in the Opening Credits sequence, they are still using images of Burr from several years before (as contrasted with his appearance in the actual eipsodes). Also, that, at Burr's insistence, even though he was no longer able to appear in the series, and hadn't in more than a year, as long he was still alive, Ray Collins was credited as Lt. Tragg.
dwhite 1.20.13

Trailing

Directed by Jesse Hibbs
Written by Robert C. Dennis
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

Cast

Chris Robinson as Carl Talbert
Joe De Santis as Louie Parker
Gregory Morton as Steve Radom
Joan Huntington as Kitty Delaney
Max Showalter as Charles Judd
Robert Quarry as Danny Talbert
Allison Hayes as Stella Radom
Sheila Bromley as Mrs. Talbert
Willis Bouchey as Judge
Madgel Dean as Mrs. Johnson
Emile Meyer as Ed Talbert
Alex Bookston as Station Master
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice
Johnny Silver as Eddie (Waiter in Night Club)
Jimmy Cross as Waiter in Hotel

Uncredited Actors

Don Anderson as {	Man at Train Station
	Courtroom Spectator

(sighted by gracenote, 4/29/2011)

Crew

Director of Photography … John M. Nickolaus, Jr.
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Robert G. Stone
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 … 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

Watch for some unusual camera work in this episode. The director artfully uses an ornamental screen in the High Hat Club as a picture frame in a couple of scenes. Submitted by Mitch English, 4/20/2005.

In the opening scene, when the elder Talbert says, "You know, I'm 65 years old!" Kitty replies, "No! I would've guessed a good ten years younger!"
55 was the actual age of Emile Meyer at the time!
dwhite 1.20.13

Location: The opening scene is Union Station in Los Angeles. It remains relatively unchanged from the way it looked in this episode. Posted by Eric Cooper, August 17, 2009.
+ Although the continuity here is a little hard to swallow. Yes, there is a 3-second stock-footage view of the Waiting Room at LA Union Station (with its wonderful V. S. Pearlman light fixtures!) but the opening scene of the train pulling in outdoors is hardly downtown LA, and obviously the interiors are on the sound-stage.
dwhite 1.20.13

Uncredited Actors: In the opening scene at the railway station, Don Anderson, sporting a spiffy cardigan, hurries quickly by Gregory Morton. Later, he turns up in the courtroom gallery. Submitted by gracenote, 4/29/2011.

Sightings: Three familiar faces turn up to watch Perry at the hearing (and they are all sitting behind him): Distinguished Gentleman #1, the perpetually Quiet Old Man (#1), and the dashing Pencil Mustache Man. (The second one moves behind Kitty Delaney at some point.) Submitted by gracenote, 4/30/2011.

Location: About 10 minutes in Danny sneaks into Carl’s car. The key chain reads “1416 No. La Brea.” It’s an inside joke. That is the address of the studio that Perry was being shot at the time. It might even be where the scene was shot. It was originally Charlie Chaplins studio, and now it’s Jim Henson studios. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 14 September 11.
+ Yes! with the wonderful statue of Kermit the Frog atop the studio gates! Submitted by dwhite 1.20.13

Comments Edit

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