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#36: The Case of the
Prodigal Parent
Original Airdate: 06/07/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Philip Larkin is found shot to death. His stepfather, Joseph Harrison, is the chief suspect. The two men quarreled over business and over a girl. In fact, a home movie shows the men fighting. Perry is called on to defend Harrison and delve into the family's strange lineage.

Fay Wray, the woman who drove the big monkey crazy in the 1933 monster classic King Kong, plays the defendant's wife in this episode. Nancy Kulp, Miss Jane of "The Beverly Hillbillies," also appears.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of The Prodigal Parent
Based Upon Characters Created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by Arthur Marks
Written by Seeleg Lester and Gene Wang
Ben Brady Producer
Produced by CBS Television in association with Paisano Productions
Teleplay by Russell S. Hughes
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

Virginia Field as Irene Collaro
Herbert Rudley as George Durell
Fay Wray as Ethel Harrison
Andra Martin as Lorraine Stevens
Ann Doran as Claire Durell
John Hoyt as Joseph Harrison
Terry Becker as Philip Larkin
Morris Ankrum as Judge
Nancy Kulp as Sarah Winslow
Chet Stratton as Mr. Alcorn
Michael Fox as Dr. Samuel Anders
Richard Bull as Court Reporter
Dean Casey as Det. Sanchez
Leo Needham as Officer Norton

Uncredited Actors added by gracep 22 August 2010
Fred Aldrich as Courtroom Spectator
Charles Perry as Courtroom Spectator

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 Robert G. Stone
Editorial Supervision Art Seid, A.C.E.
Casting Marvin Schnall, Harvey Clermont
Makeup Mel Berns
Hair Stylist Annabell
Wardrobe Supervision Dick James
Set Decoration Walter M. Scott, Charles Q. Vassar
Properties Ray Thompson
Sound Editor Gene Eliot, M.P.S.E.
Production Sound Mixer Robert O'Brien
Script Supervision Lew Jarrard

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

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1958 Chevrolet Delray 4dr sedan, black & white (Police). 1958 Chevrolet Delray 2dr sedan, black (Police), 1958 Pontiac Starchief 4dr hardtop, 2-tone: medium color & white. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Anomaly: Michael Fox is listed as Dr. Samuel Anders but is, as he often is, Dr. Hoxie. [Allan Asherman]

Dr. Hoxie (Michael Fox) testifies that death was "caused by the passage of the bullet through the rib cage, the peritoneum and left ventricle of the heart." Oops! He should know that it's the pleura in the chest cavity. The peritoneum lines the abdominal cavity. Note that Michael Fox is credited as Dr. Samuel Anders. Submitted by Thomas Grossman, 3/9/04.

Sightings: Pencil Mustache Man is in the second row of the gallery on the defense’s side, on the first day of the hearing. Diagonally behind him sits Little Old Lady in Hat. On the second day, we can see Distinguished Gentleman #1 and our mustachioed friend in the same back row. George E. Stone appears mutely throughout, uncredited, as the court clerk. Submitted by gracep 23 August 2010.

Comments Edit

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