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#53: The Case of the
Glittering Goldfish
Original Airdate: 01/17/59

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Tom Wyatt has discovered a cure for a fatal fish disease called gill fever. It’s worth a small fortune, so much so that Wyatt’s boss, Jack Huxley, claims the formula, since it was made in his company.

Wyatt disagrees and tells his story to Perry, flying into a rage in the process, saying Huxley doesn’t have the right to live. Somebody must have heard him, because sure enough, Huxley is later poisoned and dies. Tragg drags out heavy evidence against Wyatt. But despite how it looks, Perry takes the man’s case and wins this fish story. And he gets a chance for a little tale on the side: During Perry’s investigation, Huxley’s secretary flirts with our dynamic lawyer and even invites him home to “question her.”

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE GLITTERING GOLDFISH
Based upon characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner

Barbara Hale as Della Street
William Hopper as Paul Drake
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Trailing

Directed by Gerd Oswald
Story by Milton Krims
Teleplay by Miltron Krims and 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

Cecil Kellaway as Darrell Metcalf
May Wynn as Donna Sherwood
John Hudson as Tom Wyatt
Jacqueline Scott as Sally Wilson
Catherine McLeod as Nora Huxley
Willard Sage as Dan Myers
Gage Clarke as Frederick Rollins
Murvyn Vye as Jack Huxley
S. John Launer as Judge
Rusty Lane as Harry Tiller
Olan Soulé as Clerk
Chuck Webster as Sergeant Brice

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.
Assistant Director … Morris Harmel

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: No cars. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Nora Huxley’s apartment in this episode is the same apartment that was occupied by Grant Reynolds in the previous episode, “TCOT Borrowed Brunette.” They have added different furniture, but the large plant is the same as well as the statuette of the bull on the table by the door. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 25 June 2008.

Gill fever is an actual goldfish ailment. Submitted by Craig, 3/27/2010.

Cecil Kellaway’s cousin is the accomplished Edmund Gwenn, who played Kris Kringle in A Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Kellaway was initially offered this part, but he turned it down. At least they kept in in the family! Submitted by gracep, 8/12/2010.

Sightings: The ubiquitous Little Old Lady in a Hat quietly appears in the courtroom gallery next to Darrell Metcalf. Distinguished Gentleman #1 is in the back row near the door. Submitted by gracep, 8/12/2010.
+ The following day, the Gentleman reappears next to the Lady and behind the victim’s widow. Quiet Old Man #1 is also there to watch Burger play with some fish in court! Submitted by gracenote, 2/21/2011.

Cecil Kellaway received credit on a card all by himself, the way Raymond Burr does throughout the series. (He was rather an important character actor at the time.) Only a few guest stars were honored in this way. Submitted by gracenote, 2/21/2011.

Comments Edit

When Darrell Metcalf discovers Huxley's body, he seems genuinely surprised that Huxley is dead. Since no one else is present in this scene, Metcalf has no reason to be deceptive. Why is Metcalf surprised if he himself did the deed? Submitted by EricM, 12/13/09.

When Lt. Tragg makes his first visit to the suspect’s house, he wistfully flirts with Della Street, uncharacteristically to the point where he forgets himself. Submitted by gracep, 8/12/10.

That rogue Paul Drake! He stole Della’s coffee cup about 2/3 into the episode. He eats her sandwich, too! Submitted by gracenote, 2/21/2011.

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