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#41: The Case of the
Lucky Loser
Original Airdate: 09/27/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
A twisted plot ensues when Perry is hired to reopen a murder case after the defendant has already been declared guilty.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in Erle Stanley Gardner’s The Case of THE LUCKY LOSER
Barbara Hale as Della Street
William Hopper as Paul Drake
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Trailing

Directed by William D. Russell
Teleplay by Seeleg Lester
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

Patricia Medina as Harriet Balfour
Bruce Bennett as Lawrence Balfour
Heather Angel as Florence Ingle
Douglas Kennedy as Steven Boles
Tyler MacDuff as Ted Balfour
Richard Hale as Addison Balfour
Woodrow Chambliss as Fred Haley
John Eldrege as Thurston
Morris Ankrum as Judge Cadwell
Guy Rennie as Roger Faris
Paul Genge as Sergeant
John Bleifer as Schmidt
Jack Holland (aka John Holland) as Ballistics Expert
Len Hendry as Policeman

Crew

Gene Wang || Story Consultant
Story Editor … Alice Young
Assistant Producer … Robert Wechsler
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.
Film Editor … Richard Cahoon, A.C.E.
Casting … Marvin Schnall, Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Mel Berns
Hair Stylist … Annabell, S.C.H.
Wardrobe Supervision … Dick James
Set Decoration … Walter M. Scott, Bertram Granger
Properties … Ray Thompson
Sound Editor … Gene Eliot, M.P.S.E.
Production Sound Mixer … Alfred Bruzlin
Script Supervision … William E. Orr

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

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1956 Chevrolet 150 4dr sedan, light color (Taxi), 1958 Buick 4dr hardtop, white & light color, 1958 Chevrolet 4dr (?), black, 1958 Pontiac Bonneville convertible, white, top down, 1958 Chevrolet Delray 4dr sedan, black & white (Police), 1958 Corvette, medium metallic, top down, 1958 Cadillac convertible, black, white top up (Mason). From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Goof: In the scene where Bruce Bennett is hiding outside a cabin and his wife leaves through the front door and then goes down some steps and gets into her car, closely watch the rear window of the car as she backs out. If you're quick enough, you will see the reflection of a cameraman in the window. Submitted by Allan Barnie, 10/10/01.

Goof: Bruce Bennett’s wife leaves the cabin she has entered only a short time before. There is now a strange car parked in the yard of the cabin. She drives right past the car and does not seem to notice. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 15 June 2008.

Second consective episode in which Della wears her D S pendant in script. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 15 June 2008.

Bruce Bennett makes the first of five appearances in Perry. Bruce Bennett was born Herman Brix and used that name until the mid thirties. In 1926 Herman Brix played running back for Washington in the Rose Bowl and in 1928 he won the silver medal in the shot put in the Olympics. Herman Brix was also a screen Tarzan in 1936. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 11 Feburary 2009.

John Eldrege makes his only Perry appearance here playing Thurston. John Eldrege was an actor that everyone knew by sight, but no one knew his name. There seemed to be no 50s television show in which he did not appear. He passed away in 1961 much too early. He appeared in almost 200 different movies and shows, almost always playing the villain. Every time he walked into the scene, I always said, “There is the guilty party.” Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 21 May 2010.

Sightings: In the courtroom gallery, we find even more familiar faces, including Distinguished Gentleman #1 and a Pencil-Mustached Man on the defendant’s side (during the initial trial, sans Mason). The Pencil-Mustached Man reappears on the prosecutor’s side during the habeas corpus hearing, and both he and the Little Old Lady in a Hat are startled at Mason’s audacity. During the second trial, the mustachioed spectator reappears on the defendant’s side, along with Distinguished Lady #1, and after lunch he is seated near the re-emergent Distinguished Gentleman #1 on the defendant’s side, along with the Little Old Lady. (Did you follow all that?) Submitted by gracep, 10/10/10.
+ A man who appears in the opening credits is seated behind Mason during the second trial. We now know him as Distinguished Gentleman #2. Read more about all these favorite frequent faces. Submitted by gracep, 10/11/2010.

Character Names: For some reason, the Deputy D.A. title is left out of Mr. Faris’ billing. Submitted by gracep, 10/11/2010.

Comments Edit

Lt. Arthur Tragg, played by Ray Collins, does not appear in this episode even though he is listed in the credits. His absence is not explained, nor do I believe he is even mentioned. Submitted by gracep 10/10/10.

At one point during this episode there is a question about who actually was killed. Given the obvious and basic means of identification available even in 1958, I wonder if this plot point was meant to suggest activity that was less than ethical for all those involved. Submitted by masonite, 12/03/11.

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