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#39: The Case of the
Rolling Bones
Original Airdate: 06/28/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Perry defends Daniel Reed on a murder charge and against his nephew, who wants to put the old man away in an insane asylum.

It’s shades of Perrygate, when the lawyer thinks Burger has bugged his office. How else could it be that every time Perry mentions something either in his office or over the phone, Burger has the information almost immediately?

Credits Edit

Opening

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

Trailing

Directed by Roger Kay
Written by Gene Wang
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

Joan Camden as Donna Knox
Mary Anderson as Arlene Scott
Edgar Stehli as Daniel Reed
Arthur Space as Willard Scott
King Calder as Maury Lewis
Kitty Kelly as Millie Foster
Simon Scott as George Metcalf
Richard Gaines as Judge Treadwell
Sid Tomack as Victor Kowalski
Morris Ankrum as Judge Morrisey
Richard Aherne as Dr. Norris
Alan Lee as Dave Kemp
William Remick as Herbert Walker
James Nolan as Attendant
Ted Stanhope as Court Clerk
Olan Soulé as Teller
Lee Miller as State Trooper

Uncredited Actors
Don Anderson as Metcalf’s Assistant

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 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 Production
Filmed in Hollywood by TCF Television Productions, Inc.

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1956 Buick Century 4dr hardtop, 3-tone: dark color, white, black top, Cameo: 1958 Chevrolet 4dr wagon, 2-tone: medium color & white. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Mary Anderson, who was probably best known for her role of Alice MacKenzie in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Lifeboat, makes her only Perry Mason appearance. She plays the wife of Arthur Space even though she is 12 years his junior, and looks more like 20 years his junior. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 7/22/2008.

In this episode we see Perry and Della walking into the courtroom before the trial starts. This is one of the few times we see this, as usually they are walking out of the courtroom. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 7/22/2008.

Alan Lee (Dave Kemp) was the newlyweds’ landlord in Rear Window, a classic Hitchcock film that Raymond Burr played in. Submitted by billp, 15 November 2009.

Location: About 35 minutes in, Paul and Perry arrive at the airport from Reno Nevada. This is Burbank Airport, now Bob Hope Airport, in Burbank. The tower has been modernized but the basic shape and horseshoe layout around the parking area is still the same. Burbank Airport also appears in Episodes #39, #99, #165, #220, and #258. Posted by Eric Cooper, 31 December 2009. Some pictures here.

Airliner: And the plane carrying them is a Douglas DC-4; it first saw service during WWII as the C-54 Skymaster and later was widely used by civilian carriers, as originally intended. This one is operated by American Airlines. (submitted by francis, 1/24/12)

Sightings: A man known as Distinguished Gentleman #1 serves as the court reporter during the habeas corpus hearing. Distinguished Lady #1 sits in the second row during the hearing regarding Lewis’s murder. When the hearing reconvenes, we can see the man with a pencil mustache in the front row, prosecutor’s side, whispering now and then. Can you spot them? Read more about recurring but inconspicuous and anonymous actors here. Submitted by gracep, 10/2/2010.
+ Uncredited Actors: Additionally, the ever-uncredited Don Anderson wears a white suit as Mr. Metcalf’s assistant during the habeas corpus hearing. Submitted by gracep, 10/3/2010.
+By my count, Anderson appeared in 23 of the 39 episodes in the epic first season of Perry Mason. Of course, in several episodes he had more than one role. Submitted by FredK, 15 Nov 2010.

Now we know where Sgt. Brice started his career: as a Nevada state trooper! Submitted by francis, 1/24/12.

Comments Edit

Thus ends the first season of one of the greatest shows in television history. Thirty-nine hour-long shows in 41 weeks. Raymond Burr appeared in every show, carrying the action each time. Could you imagine the movie stars of today working such grueling hours? I have read that Perry felt he owed it to the others in the cast to work this hard. Submitted by PaulDrake 33.

This feels like one of the more film-noir episodes: lots of tough-talking men and women, including Kitty Kelly, with scads of 30s and 40s slang, such as when Kemp threatens Mason. Submitted by gracenote, 10/2/2010.

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