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#27: The Case of the
Desperate Daughter
Original Airdate: 03/22/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Lisa Bannister is ready to kill herself after Stefan Riker (played by Werner Klemperer—Colonel Klink of Hogan’s Heroes) arrives in the United States from East Germany. He knows that Lisa is the daughter of the head of the Communist party in that country and has been in the United States illegally. Lisa’s stepdaughter Doris vows to help Lisa and takes up a romantic relationship with Riker. Her plan works so well that the police use it as a motive when Riker is murdered.

Perry has to use kid gloves on this case. He not only has to clear Doris, but must keep Lisa's dirty laundry out of the courtroom.

We learn in this episode that Perry’s office address is Suite 904 in the Brent Building.

Credits Edit

Opening

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

Trailing

Directed by Arthur Hiller
Teleplay by Gene Wang
Story by Donald S. Sanford
Ben Brady | Producer
Produced by CBS Television in association with Paisano Productions
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer Sam White | Associate Producer

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

Cast

Gigi Perreau as Doris Bannister
Robert F. Simon as Edward Bannister
Osa Massen as Lisa Bannister
Werner Klemperer as Stefan Riker
Don Durant as Gary Marshall
Pierre Watkin as Judge
Wendell Holmes as Dr. Forbes
Robert B. Williams as Det. Quincey
Gere Craft as Helene
Ivan Bonar as Det. Marlowe
Paul Genge as Det. Davis
Patricia Mowry as Waitress
Jack Gargan as Court Clerk

Crew

Gene Wang | Story Editor

Production Supervisor … J. Paul Popkin
Director of Photography … Frank Redman, A.S.C.
Art Direction … Lyle Wheeler, Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Robert G. Stone
Editorial Supervisor … Art Seid, A.C.E.
Film Editor … Otto W. Meyer, A.C.E.
Makeup … Mel Berns
Hair Stylist … Annabell
Wardrobe Supervision … Dick James
Set Decorations … Walter M. Scott, Charles Q. Vassar
Properties … Ray Thompson
Rerecording Mixer … Robert O’Brien
Script Supervisor … Cosmo Genovese

This has been a CBS Television Network Production
Filmed in Hollywood by TCF Television Productions, Inc.

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1957 Mercury 4dr hardtop wagon, 2-tone: medium color & white, Late 50s Triumph TR3, white, top down, 1957 Ford 4dr sedan, black & white (Police), 1957 Ford Skyliner retractable, black, top down (Mason), Cameo: 1955 Chevrolet Nomad. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Don Durant makes his first of two appearances on Perry (He would appear in season 2 in “TCOT Jilted Jockey”). Fans of 1950s westerns will recognize Don Durant as the star of Johnny Ringo for 38 episodes during the ’59-60 season. Submitted by PaulDrake 33.

Location: About 18 minutes in, there is a quick exterior shot of County USC Hospital. Submitted by Eric Cooper 11 January 11. More info here.

The Mason team racks up another rare loss in the course of this episode: the Hudson case. Perry and Della first appear dispiritedly preparing a writ to try to keep “Mr. Hudson” out of the gas chamber that Friday. No further mention is made of this; it’s good to know Perry never let the occasional execution bother him too much. This scene has not appeared in all formats; it occurs at 11:16 on the DVD. Submitted by Dennis Bell, 2/14/2011.

Sightings: A number of favorite frequent faces appear in the courtroom gallery today, including Distinguished Lady #2, the Pencil Mustache Man, and our beloved Little Old Lady in a Hat. Find out more about these favorite frequent faces. Submitted by gracenote, 8/29/2011.
+ (Also Continuity Error:) “Sasha Magaloff” appears in some shots and not in others (and the Little Old Lady wanders a bit, too). Submitted by gracenote, 8/29/2011. + Also notice Distinguished Lady #4 among the courtroom spectators. Submitted by gracenote, 9/6/2011.

Comments Edit

This is an very unpleasent episode. It is somehow creepy to see the young beautiful Gigi Perreau lust after a man old enough to be her father (21 years her senior), Werner Klemper. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 12 July 2008.

When Doris Bannister arrives in Perry’s office, she has messed hair, no earrings, and a metallic necklace. Perry takes her to the hospital, and in the next morning’s paper a “do you know this girl” picture that must have been taken from the hospital appears with Doris in a glam shot—perfect hair, pearl earrings, and a pearl necklace! Submitted by Ed Zoerner, 5/25/2009.

Something I’ve noticed about the series is that photos of characters in the story are often “glam shots.” To me, these appear to be the sort of photo an agent would shop around to the studio to get an actor consideration for a role. For example, consider “Nimble Nephew”: When Adam Thompson gets his picture snapped opening the safe, we are shown a totally unrealistic “glam shot.” Curious. Submitted by billp, 29 October 2009.

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