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#43: The Case of the
Sardonic Sergeant
Original Airdate: 10/11/58

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
If Major Frank Lessing was murdered, then why did his wife, Helen, find a suicide note near his body? Helen hires Perry to defend Sergeant Joseph Dexter (Paul Picerni--best known for fifties war movies) against false charges, of killing her husband.

Credits Edit

Trailing

Directed by William D. Russell
Written by Sam Neuman
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

John Dehner as Major Lewis
Robert Armstrong as Walter Haskell
Lori March as Helen Lessing
John Archer as Major Frank Lessing
Larry Jackson as M Sgt. William Smith
Grant Richards as Capt. Kennedy
Paul Picerni as Sgt. Joseph Dexter
Wendell Holmes as Howard Evans
Barbara Luna as Rikki Stevens
Kevin Hagen as Sgt. Burke
Russell Thorson as Lt. Col. Brice
George E. Stone as Bartender
Lee Torrance as Sgt. 1st Class McKnight
Rand Harper as Lt. Walker
Hal Torey as Mr. Blake
Helene Heigh as Mrs. Agnes Haskell
Vance Howard as Court Clerk

Crew

Technical Advisor | Allison A. Conrad, Lt. Col. U.S. Army

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 … Morris Harmell
Editorial Supervision … Art Seid, A.C.E.
Film Editor … Otto W. Meyer, 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, Charles Q. Vassar
Properties … Ray Thompson
Sound Editor … Gene Eliot, M.P.S.E.
Production Sound Mixer … Robert O’Brien
Script Supervision … William E. Orr

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

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1958 Cadillac convertible, black, top down (Mason), 1956 Chevrolet 150 4dr sedan, dark color. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Anomaly: Actor Larry Jackson in the credits is really Harry Jackson.

+Multi-ethnic Barbara Luna makes her only Perry appearance as Rikki Stevens. Barbara Luna was married to Doug McClure for two years in the early 60s. Submitted by PaulDrake33.

+ For the second time, George E. Stone plays a bartender in this Perry episode. He also played the bartender in episode #24, “TCOT Deadly Double.” George E. Stone would appear in Perry 42 more times, all as the Court Clerk, the final time being in November 1962. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 21 October 2009.

Lt. Walker (Rand Harper) appeared with Raymond Burr in Rear Window, one of my all-time favorite movies. He was one of the newlyweds. Submitted by billp. 15 November 2009.

Comments Edit

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