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#32: The Case of the
Substitute Face
Original Airdate: 05/10/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
The scene opens with that beautiful shot of Perry and Della on board a luxury liner returning from a case in Vancouver. The dreamy-eyed vision of the two looking out over the ocean is broken by a desperate woman in need of help. Perry must defend her for the murder of her husband. He starts by investigating that “strange man” on board who was in a wheelchair, his face wrapped in bandages.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in Erle Stanley Gardner’s The Case of The Substitute Face
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by William D. Russell
Teleplay by Francis Cockrell
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

Lurene Tuttle as Anna Houser
Maureen Cassidy as Laura Houser
Joan Tabor as Evelyn Whiting
Ralph Dumke as Roland Carter
Theodore Newton as Carl Houser
Maurice Wells as Andrew Dale
Frank Wilcox as Judge Romley
Gavin Gordon as Capt. Walters
Donald Lawton as Daniel James
Noel Drayton as Purser
Stanley Farrar as Accountant
William Quinn as Christopher Walsh
Bobbie Collentine as Marta Lawrence

Uncredited Actors

Don Anderson as {	Bartender
	Courtroom Spectator

Bert Stevens as Officer on Ship
Arthur Tovey as Waiter on Ship

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 … Art Marks
Editorial Supervisor … Art Seid, A.C.E.
Film Editor … Paul Weatherwax, A.C.E.
Makeup … Mel Berns
Hair Stylist … Annabell, S.C.H.
Wardrobe Supervision … Dick James
Set Decorations … Walter M. Scott, Charles Q. Vassar
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Eugene Irvine
Script Supervisor … Cosmo Genovese

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

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1958 Cadillac convertible, black, white top up (Mason). From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Continuity: The case of the “Disappearing Defendant.” At about 28 and 1/2 minutes into the episode, Perry is in Court. Anna Houser is there. She touches Perry’s arm and they talk. Paul Drake comes into Court and goes to the Defendant’s table. If you look next to Perry, it’s obvious that Anna Houser has disappeared. When everyone stands, we see she has reappeared! Submitted by billp, 1/17/2009.

That dictating machine that appears in this episode and several others is a Dictaphone Time Master by the Dictaphone Corporation. For a picture of the device and information about how it worked, see here. Submitted by billp, 1/18/2009.

The vessel Perry and Della are on is called the Westminister, sailing from Vancouver, Britsh Columbia to Los Angeles (I presume). Raymond Burr was born in New Westminister, British Columbia which is in the general region of Vancouver. Submitted by billp, 1/24/2009.

Uncredited Actors: Another doubleheader for Don Anderson. He appears first as a bartender on the cruise ship then later as a courtroom spectator. Submitted by FredK, 2 October 2010.
+ In the same scene in which Anderson is tending bar, King of the Extras Arthur Tovey plays a smiling waiter taking an order, and then he also serves Perry and Della. Bert Stevens also appears as an officer on ship. Submitted by gracenote, 9/3/2011.

Sightings: It’s a quick shot, but around the 13 minute mark as the captain opens the door to collect a couple of witnesses, we see the Distinguished Gentleman #1 walking down the hallway from right to left. Submitted by Kenmore, 1/31/2011.
+ We actually catch an earlier glimpse of him in the same hallway as Perry as the attorney approaches Mrs. Houser’s cabin door. Submitted by gracenote, 9/3/2011.

Goofs: At 9:39, in the passageway of the cruise ship, Perry talks with Mr. Carter, the real-estate man; as the boat is supposed to roll from side to side, the men tilt right along with the walls. And at 9:45 in the cafe, Perry sits at a table with Mr. Carter and his secretary; as the boat is supposed to roll from side to side, the surface of the brandy in their glasses stays parallel to the table top. Submitted by 10yearoldfan, 7 August 2011. See also Comment below.

Sightings: A waiter talking to Anderson (see Uncredited Actors, above) is Pencil Mustache Man, who also carries a tray of drinks. Later he is a courtroom spectator, along with Distinguished Lady #4. They are joined by Distinguished Gentleman #1 and Distinguished Lady #2 in a later court session. Learn more about all the favorite frequent faces. Submitted by gracenote, 9/3/2011.

Comments Edit

The dictating machine in Mr. Dale’s office appears to be the same one on the credenza behind Perry in his office. Submitted by billp, 1/17/2009.

Carl Houser appropriately get his money out of the file drawer labeled M. I presume that’s for “money.” Submitted by billp, 1/17/2009.

At about 6 minutes into the episode, Anna Houser (Lurene Tuttle) tells Perry and Della about a portrait on the stateroom dresser. You can plainly see one of these curious tripod bowls I have previously mentioned in “Corresponding Corpse.” Submitted by billp, 1/17/2009.

“455 Alder Lane in the Palisades.” Does anyone recognize the house Perry and Paul left their fingerprints in? Submitted by billp, 1/17/2009.

Speaking of those fingerprints, note the date on them is 9/12/58. This date clearly occurs during the course of the episode’s trial. However, this episode was broadcast 5/10/58. So apparently we were getting a glimpse into the future. Submitted by billp, 1/18/2009.

Regarding the listing of the ship, at least during the storm, it appears the effect is achieved first by simply filming on the ship normally. Then in post-production, it is optically zoomed. (You may notice the film looks grainier and the shots on people are much, much tighter.) Then the frames are manually rotated one side to the other, and because they are zoomed they still fill the screen. Suggested by BenB & posted by gracenote, 9/3/2011.

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