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#31: The Case of the
Fiery Fingers
Original Airdate: 05/03/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
A nurse is accused of poisoning a wealthy woman but Perry suspects the dead woman's husband instead. Why? Because the man's first wife died of a poisoning also.

Credits Edit

Cast

Mary La Roche as Vicky Braxton
Edward Norris as George Gordon
Lenore Shanewise as Nora Mae Quincey
Susan Dorn as Louise Gordon
Fay Spain as Charlotte Lynch
Robert Burton as Dr. W. Fremont
Charles Lane as Dr. Williams
Sydney Smith as Judge
Connie Cezon as Gertie
Charles Davis as Dr. J. Meecham
Gilbert Frye as Detective
Jack Gargan as Court Clerk

Uncredited Actors
Bess Flowers as Woman Dining in Restaurant (added by gracep 10/6/2010)
Don Anderson as Courtroom Spectator (spotted by FredK, added by gracep 11/3/2010)
Lee Miller as Courtroom Spectator

Trivia Edit

CARS: No cars. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Sightings: Our dark-complected friend who attends so many of Perry’s trials is again present in the gallery at the trial. He sits just over Perry’s left sholder. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 6 August 2009.
+ Read about the Pencil Mustache Man and all the other favorite frequent faces here. Submitted by gracep, 11/3/2010.

Uncredited Actors: Don Anderson once again plays a spectator at the trial. As in the last episode, he’s in the last row on Burger's side. Submitted by FredK, 3 Nov 2010.

Nora Mae Quincey fluctuates wildly between lucid and demented, playing checkers with chessmen and speaking to an invisible companion. I would say that dementia is not a good trait for a nurse. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 6 August 2009.

Major movie actor Edward Norris makes his first of two appearances on Perry here playing George Gordon. Shortly after his second appearance on Perry in 1962 at the age of 51, Edward Norris retired from acting and lived out the last 40 years of his life out of the limelight. Lucky man, Edward Norris was the first husband of the beautiful Ann Sheridan. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 6 August 2009.

Veteran character actor Charles Lane makes his only Perry appearance here as Doctor Williams. When he died in July 2007, Charles Lane was 102 years and 6 months old, making him, as far as I can ascertain, the second oldest Perry alumnus. Charles Hamilton, (still living), “TCOT Posthumous Painter,” at 106 is the oldest alumnus. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 10 December 2009.

The short establishing shot presumably of Sierra City after Paul’s flight appears identical to that of Pinewood seen in #26, “TCOT Half-Wakened Wife,” and Sierra City in #45, “TCOT Buried Clock.” Pinewood here. Sierra City here. Submitted by daveb, 3/6/2011.

Comments Edit

Cinematography: Perhaps one of the most powerful camera shots in the entire series comes at the end of the final courtroom scene, as the camera, from the point of view of the judge, slowly and silently pans the entire room. Submitted by francis 1/18/12

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