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#56: The Case of the
Romantic Rogue
Original Airdate: 02/14/59

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Stacey Chandler intends to marry young heiress Helen Harvey (played by Marion Ross, Mrs. Cunningham on "Happy Days") for her money. That is, until he goes and falls in love with her. Stacey's old girlfriend, Irene, wants him back, along with a piece of the pie. Irene has the goods on Stacey and tries to put the finger on him. When she is murdered in the process, an innocent Helen Harvey is wrongly accused of the crime.

There is more than one sordid past to investigate as Perry tries to clear a confused Helen.

Watch for a rare look at Burger's office in this episode.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of the Romantic Rogue
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 William D. Russell
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

Marion Ross as Helen Harvey
Albert Linville as Harry West
Sara Haden as Florence Harvey
John Bryant as Stacey Chandler
Peggy Maley as Margo Lawrence
Jean Willes as Irene Wallace
Jack Daly as Pete Daniels
Frederic Worlock as Judge
Pitt Herbert as Autopsy Surgeon
Don Dillaway as Robert Riley
Lee Miller as Sergeant Brice
Robert Bice as Faulkner

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 Creber
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

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

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1959 Plymouth Fury 2dr hardtop (roof & interior only), 1958 Ford Thunderbird convertible, black, black & white interior, top down (Drake), 1957-8 Ford F100 Styleside pickup, white, 1959 Plymouth Savoy 4dr sedan, black & white (Police), Cameos: 1958 Edsel 4dr hardtop, medium color w/ white top, 1955 Oldsmobile 2dr hardtop, medium color & white. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Gary Lockwood seems to have appeared (for just a few seconds) in this episode, as a policeman in the final outdoor scene. He has no lines and is not listed in the credits. Submitted by Allan Barnie, 9/20/01.
Maybe not! "On close inspection I believe it more likely the actor is Dick Davalos." Submitted by Ted Parker, 9/28/02.
Pictures of all three here. Decide for yourself.

Hamilton Burger on crutches! He must have slipped at a wild pot party. [Ouch!] Submitted by Patrick Herlihy, 11/8/05.

Sara Haden (Aunt Millie in the Andy Hardy series) makes her only Perry Mason appearcnce playing a character quite unlike Aunt Millie. In this episode she is mean, petty, and vengenful. Submitted by PaulDrake33.

Sightings: There's a very close shot of Pencil Mustache Man as Stacey Chandler sits down next to him in the courtroom. You can see our nameless extra several times throughout the trial. And right behind him is our beloved Little Old Lady in a Hat, who can also be seen clearly in a shot next to Margo Lawrence. And Distinguished Gentleman #1 is the court reporter!

Location: About two and half minutes into the DVD, there is a quick establishing shot of the historic Culver Hotel. It's still there. Read more about the place at their site here. Posted by daveb, 8/18/10.

Comments Edit

The hotel where Stacey Chandler is staying is the Culver Hotel. We see an establishing shot of it in the episode. The hotel is at 9400 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA. You can find a picture and some history here. billp 2/9/09.

IIRC the establishing shot for the Harvey home looks to be the same as used for the Jerry Heywood residence in "Haunted Husband." billp 2/9/09.

+ This episode is somewhat instructive about mineral rights and land ownership. We are facing some of that here on the East Coast now with the gas companies wanting to drill in the Marcellus Shale against the will of landowners. Seems a little shocking to me how property rights, very revered in this country, can be so discarded in this fashion. While I am glad of course Perry Mason won his case, I am sad that he was able to win it that way. Submitted by gracep 18 August 2010.

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