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#30: The Case of the
Screaming Woman
Original Airdate: 04/26/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Columnist and socialite Mary K. Davis gets herself killed. Was it her shrill voice that prompted someone to do her in? Or was it something the columnist said? Maybe her politician-husband didn't appreciate her refusal to give him a divorce. Or perhaps that doctor didn't like it when Mary threatened to expose his illegal baby-selling scheme.

Perry and Della feel it's an important enough issue to tamper with the evidence in defense of Leona Walsh, the nurse on trial for the crime. Burger's out to put Della on the stand and get Perry for tampering.

Credits Edit

Cast

Ruta Lee as Connie Cooper
Berry Kroeger as Eugene Jarech
Josephine Hutchinson as Leona Walsh
Arthur Shields as Dr. George Barnes
Marian Seldes as Mary K. Davis
Philip Ober as Ralph Davis
Karin Booth as Susan Marshall
Don Gardner as Bob Shroeder
Morris Ankrum as Judge Cameron
Phil Arnold as Apartment Manager
Richard Ryan as Mr. Hill
Jeanne Bates as Miss Clay
Marian Collier as Attendant
Jack Gargan as Court Clerk

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1955 Chevrolet BelAir 4dr sedan, 2-tone: dark color & white, 1958 Buick 4dr Caballero wagon, white, 1958 Cadillac convertible, black, white top up (Mason). From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Anomaly: Berry Kroeger, listed as Eugene Jarech, is identified as Arthur Jarech in a building directory and by other characters.

The same setup shot is used for the "Dr. Barnes Seaside Hospital" as in #54, TCOT Foot-Loose Doll. See here. Submitted by Charles Richmond, 6/2/04

Mary K. Davis (played by Marian Seldes) was a newspaper columnist and socialite. In real life, Marian Seldes was the daughter of journalist/author/editor Gilbert Seldes and niece of journalist George Seldes. Submitted by Charles Richmond, 10/20/08

Anomaly: The doctor in this episode is credited as Dr. George Barnes (played by Arthur Shields). Indeed, in the first part of the episode, Perry refers to him as Dr. George Barnes when talking with Paul. But during the beginning of the first courtroom scene, Mr. Burger refers to him as Dr. Philip Barnes. Submitted by Charles Richmond, 11/20/08.

Dr. Barnes Seaside Hospital is currently the Malibu residence of singer Cher. It has been on and off the market in 2008 for $41 million. Posted by Eric Cooper 17 November 2009 Some pictures here.

When Ruta Lee explains why she killed the victim, Lee's lines are dubbed over, the words don't match her lips. At the end of both sentences the audio says "you" but her lips say "me". Submitted by Craig, 2/20/10.

Comments Edit

+This show is unusual in that Della is sworn in and must testify in the trial. Submitted by PaulDrake 33.

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