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#51: The Case of the
Shattered Dream
Original Airdate: 01/03/59

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Sarah Werner (played by the eminent Osa Massen, in one of her several Mason appearances) comes to Perry crying poverty. She begs him to find her husband, Hugo Werner, who ran off with her inheritance. Leave it to Della to wonder out loud why such a poor woman would be wearing "Eternity," a perfume costing $150 an ounce.

Meanwhile, Hugo Werner, alias Hans Breel, is working on a gem scam. But Hugo’s scheme backfires when he is murdered, and wife Sarah is charged with the crime.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE SHATTERED DREAM
Based upon characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins

Trailing

Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen
Written by Robert Bloomfield and 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

Osa Massen as Sarah Werner
Marion Marshall as Irene Bedford
Virginia Vincent as Virginia Trent
Kurt Kreuger as Hans Breel
Chris Alcaide as Jerry Morrow
Ludwig Stossel as Adolph Van Beers
Ivan Triesault as Fred Schoenbeck
Theodore Marcuse as William Walker
Lillian Bronson as Judge
Robert Carson as Lawrence David
Gil W. Rankin as Autopsy Surgeon
Cy Malis as Hilton
Barry Brooks as Dealer
Brandy Bryan as Doris

Crew

Gene Wang | Story Consultant

Production Supervisor … J. Paul Popkin
Story Editor … Alice Young
Director of Photography … Frank Redman, A.S.C.

Art Direction … {	Lyle Wheeler
	Lewis Creeber

Editorial Supervision … Art Seid, A.C.E.
Film Editor … Otto W. Meyer, A.C.E.
Assistant Director … Robert G. Stone

Casting … {	Marvin Schnall
	Harvey Clermont

Makeup … Richard Hamilton
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

Perry Mason
Filmed in Hollywood by TCF Television Productions, Inc.
A CBS Television Network Production

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1958 Ford Thunderbird convertible, black, top down (Drake), 1958 Ford Skyliner retractable, black, top up (Mason), Cameo: 1958 Edsel 4dr hardtop. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

As she did in episode 40 and 41, Della wears her pendant with the initials D.S. in script. Submitted by PaulDrake 33.

In the opening scene, Hans Breel drives a sports car up in front of an apartment building. When he applies the brakes, the front tag of his car has been attached so poorly that it almost comes off. The front tag, DHR 786 is the same tag that is on Carl Reynolds’ Pontiac in episode 44, TCOT Curious Bride. Submitted by PaulDrake 33.

Location: Episode opens looking down Vine street toward the intersection of Hollywood and Vine. Capital Records famous circular “stack of records” building is visible on the left. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 9 December 2010.

Location: About 4:45 into the episode there is a quick shot of the classic clothing store Mulen Bluett at 5570 Wilshire near Ridgeley. Preservationists tried to save this building just east of the La Brea Tar Pits, but sadly it was demolished about 2004. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 9 December 2010.

Sightings: Sitting behind Perry Mason at the hearing is Little Old Lady #2, and two rows behind her, Quiet Old Man #1. We find “Miss Carmody” in the gallery, too. After lunch, Little Old Lady #1 shows up (in a cutaway to Morrow and Schoenbeck), and so does Distinguished Gentleman #1. Submitted by g, 30 January 2011.

Comments Edit

This is the only episode I recall - including the books - in which Paul Drake offers to pick up the restaurant tab! cgraul 4.10.12

Listen closely to the scene in Perry’s office where Paul reads from his notebook and refers to a woman named Bedford. What is her first name? Some will say it’s not the name of the character but the name of the actress that plays her. Submitted by Mitch English, 10/9/04.
+ When I checked this, I heard the character name but, when I listened again later, I was shocked to hear the actress’s name. On listening yet again, the character name returned. It was really quite weird! Submitted by daveb, date unknown.
+ I listened very carefully to the scene described by daveb above (syndication print). Both times I distinctly heard “Irene” (the character’s name) and not “Marion” (the actress’s name). Paul Drake does preface the name with an "Ah...". Submitted by gracep 8/9/2010.
+ This could be an age related thing. Being older than dirt, even in 2004, I have noticed some change in the perception of the speech. Submitted by daveb, 5/4/11.

Maybe I was conditioned by reading the messages above, but I heard Paul say "Marion Bedford" in Perry's office. I heard this on the Hallmark Movie Channel. Submitted by MikeM, 10/25/2012

It would seem to me that after the trial, the ownership of the diamond, Pundit’s Dream, would be cloudy. Since Hans Breel had possession of it when he was murdered, and his rightful heir, his wife, Sarah Werner took possession of it when she found him dead, she might feel that she has a claim on the diamond. Submitted by PaulDrake 33.

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