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#35: The Case of the
Lazy Lover
Original Airdate: 05/31/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
When a man named Bertrand Allred is found dead in a car at the bottom of a cliff, the evidence points to his wife Lucille…sort of. There is also Allred’s business associate, Bob Fleetwood, Fleetwood’s girlfriend, even the old buck who lived near the murder scene—all of them suspicious.

Fans of the Batman TV show will note that the murdered man, Bertrand Allred, is played by Neil Hamilton, who went on to star as Commissioner Gordon on the caped crusader’s show. Coincidentally, Yvonne Craig, who plays Allred’s daughter in this episode, would later play Gordon’s daughter (a.k.a Batgirl) on the same series.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in Erle Stanley Gardner’s The Case of The Runaway Corpse
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

Harry Townes as Bob Fleetwood
Frances Helm as Bernice Archer
James Bell as P. E. Overbrook
Yvonne Craig as Patricia Faxon
Neil Hamilton as Bertrand Allred
Ann Lee as Lucille Allred
Kenneth R. MacDonald as Judge
Len Hendry as Officer

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 … Richard Cahoon, A.C.E.
Makeup … Mel Burns
Hairstylist … Annabell
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 Pontiac Bonneville 2dr hardtop, 2-tone: medium color & white, 1958 Buick convertible, white, top down, 1958 Cadillac convertible, black, all-white interior, top down (Mason). From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

In this episode, Bertrand Allred (played by Neil Hamilton) is the stepfather of Patricia Faxon (played by Yvonne Craig). In the Batman TV series of the 60s, Neil Hamilton (as Commissioner Gordon) again portrayed the father of Yvonne Craig (playing Barbara Gordon, alias Batgirl). Submitted by Charles Richmond, 12/10/2008.

Len Hendry who plays a police officer in this episode also appeared with Raymond Burr in Rear Window, where he played a policeman. Hendry appears in six Perry Mason episodes, always portraying a police official. Besides the instant case, Hendry appeared in “Lucky Loser,” “Treacherous Toupee,” “Capering Camera,” and “Blonde Bonanza.” Submitted by billp, 15 November 2009.

With 8 actors, this episode has the smallest credited cast of any in the series. And, Len Hendry’s role appears to be only a whisper unless I missed him somewhere. Submitted by daveb, 3/7/2011.

When Mason visits Bernice Archer in her apartment, we see above the mantel a copy of Renoir’s Girl with a Watering Can. We’ve seen this picture before in another episode, yes? Submitted by 10yearoldfan, 8 August 2011.

Sightings: Sitting on the defense side of the courtroom are some familiar faces, Pencil Mustache Man and Distinguished Lady #4 (in a feathered hat). The court stenographer is Distinguished Gentleman #1. When court reconvenes, Little Old Lady #2 is visible in the corner of the gallery. Submitted by graccnote, 9/6/2011.

Comments Edit

It’s a bit unfair for Patricia and her mother to blame Bertie for parking too close to the driveway. Although he did, Patricia, a.k.a. “Batgirl,” could have negotiated it easily if she weren’t driving a bit like a “bat out of hell.” Submitted by billp, 1/18/2009.

After the murder, when Lt. Tragg is at the Faxon-Allred home to arrest Mrs. Allred, there’s a knock at the door. Tragg tries to open it by pulling it towards him. This is wrong; the door opens the other way. He recovers nicely, though. Submited by billp, 1/18/2009.

There’s a fair amount of humor in this episode. Some of it seems to poke fun at the Mason “formula.” When Patricia Faxon tells Perry that after retaining him she thinks it is foolish to (1) not fully inform him, (2) not do what he says, and (3) not go to the police if he advises it, Perry says she's “a singular person.” And so she is since almost all Perry’s clients violate at least one of the above causing quite a bit of unnecessary difficulty. I also like the scene in Tragg’s office where Perry tells the lieutenant he’d like his cooperation noted. Tragg then asks him how he’d like it noted: carved in stone or etched in bronze. Perry replies “whichever is more expensive.” The whole “wife” scene with Della is hysterical, too. Submitted by billp, 1/18/2009.

Perry wore his spiffy raincoat again, but, alas, we get no glance at his checked lining. Submitted by gracenote, 9/6/2011.

Another appearance as judge by Kenneth R. MacDonald, who may have been trying to live down his roles in various Three Stooges shorts such as con man Ichabod Slipp. Doubtless there was talk of old times on the set with Connie Cezon, another Stooges veteran. Submitted by francis 1/20/12.

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