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#33: The Case of the
Long-Legged Models
Original Airdate: 05/17/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Glenn Falkner owned a small motel in Las Vegas but fell prey to the gambling tables. When he wouldn't pay up, bigtime thug George Castle shot him.

Now Falkner's daughter is alone and she must deal with dad's debts and George Castle's designs on her newly inherited land. She has a motive to kill Castle but someone beats her to it. Tragg arrests her on suspicion anyway. Enter Perry for the defense.

Credits Edit

Cast

Peggy McCay as Stephanie Falkner
Alix Talton as Eva Elliott
Joe De Santis as George Castle
Lyle Talbot as Michael Garvin Sr.
William Swan as Michael Garvin Jr.
Russell Thorson as Glenn Falkner
Frank Wilcox as Judge
Ann McCrea as Margo Garvin
Ray Walker as Salesman
Jack Harris as Court Clerk
Billy Snyder as Stickman
Joey Ray as Policeman
Carol Anderson as Model

Trivia Edit

CARS: Cameos, many on used car lot: 1958 Ford Thunderbird coupe, white, 1958 Ford Thunderbird convertible, black, white top up, 1958 Ford Skyliner retractable, black, top down (Mason), 1958 Chevrolet Delray 4dr sedan, black & white (Police), 1958 Chevrolet Delray 4dr sedan, all black, 1958 Lincoln Continental, medium color. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Location: At about 4:56 into the episode, we see an exterior of Stephanie Falkner's apartment building. That's really the Bryson Apartment Hotel at 2701 Wilshire. See here. Submitted by billp, 1/19/09
+ Based on Billp’s info we can see that the Bryson Apartment Hotel is also used about 6:36 into #62, TCOT Howling Dog. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 5 January 11.

When George Castle shoots Glenn Falkner with an automatic pistol at the beginning of the show, the slide on the pistol does move. With a real automatic pistol the slide has to move to the rear to re-load the pistol and re-cock the hammer. Submitted by PaulDrake33.

Michael Garvin, Jr. has four automobile salesmen working for him: Murphy, Tribe, Gillson, and Finley. Finley has sold the most cars this month, 5, as evidenced by the chalkboard behind Michael’s office desk. Even though Michael does his best to sell Perry the Thunderbird, he is not listed on the board as a salesman. Submitted by PaulDrake33.

When Perry tells Paul to go Las Vegas to check out some people, we see Paul open one of the file drawers in his office. Starting from the back of the drawer and moving toward the front, Paul reads off the file labels. “Las Palmas, Las Tunas, Las Vegas.” Which would strongly suggest that Paul’s files are in reverse alphabetical order. Submitted by cobolpoet, 11/20/09.

Russell Thorson makes his initial appearance here on Perry as Glenn Falkner. In the oldest surviving radio broadcast of The Tom Mix Show from 1939, Russell Thorson plays the part of Tom Mix. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 18 December 2009.

About 17 minutes in you can see a Dick Tracy cartoon behind Paul Drake. See PaulDrake’s post on Episode #5. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 12 January 11.

This was the last first-season appearance as a judge for Frank Wilcox. Tall, lanky and handsome, Wilcox began his career as a contract player for Warner Brothers in the 1930s, including several films with Errol Flynn. He appeared in seven Mason episodes (of the 37 in which there was a judge), making his the most-used actor in that role. Unfortunately, he was in only one more episode, # 96 TCOT Treacherous Toupee. Submitted by FredK 21 April 2011.

Comments Edit

At about 29:30 into the episode, we see Della fiddling with the Dictaphone Time Master (cf., Substitute Face et al.). You can see the belt-shaped recording medium which was made of acetate. The acetate could be quite colorful, e.g., blood-red. A stylus was used to inscribe the audio. Later models used magnetic media. I wonder if this was an example of product placement? Submitted by billp, 1/19/09.

Mr. Garvin, Sr.’s alligator briefcase is identical to Mr Brent's briefcase in the Gilded Lily. Submitted by billp, 1/19/09.

Joe De Santis was both a murderer and a victim. Submitted by daveb, date unknown.

Joe De Santis has the unique distinction of getting murdered twice, here in this episode and in Episode #54 TCOT Borrowed Brunette, in the same motel (the same exterior shot of the motel was used in both episodes). Submitted by Kenmore 2/02/11

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