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#64: The Case of the
Petulant Partner
Original Airdate: 04/25/59

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Harry Bright and Chuck Clark were great friends and business partners until Chuck married Margaret. Harry didn’t approve of the union since Margaret was only half Chuck’s age and very much after his money.

When Margaret is shot to death, Harry is sent to jail as a suspect. Perry wants to prove that Harry couldn’t hurt a fly, let alone resort to murder. He starts by digging up some dirt on Margaret and finding she had some skeletons in her closet and enemies from her past.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE PETULANT PARTNER
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
Story by Milton Krims
Teleplay by Milton 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

R. G. Armstrong as Harry Bright
William H. Wright as Chuck Clark
Francis J. McDonald as Salty Sims
Geraldine Wall as Nell Gridley
Nan Leslie as Margaret Clark
Myron Healey as Howard Roper
William Swan as Bill Shayne
Russell Thorson as Mel Topham
Lynne Allen as Louise Dayton
Jamie Forster as Judge
Russ Bender as Sgt. Givens
Stafford Repp as Philip Morgan
Sid Cassel as Waiter
Steve Stevens as Bellboy
Tony Regan as Kellogg

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 … Richard W. Farrell
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 … Roy Meadows
Script Supervision … William E. Orr

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

Trivia Edit

CARS: 1959 Ford Country Sedan wagon, medium & white color, 1958 Ford Thunderbird coupe, white, 1959 Lincoln Continental MkIV, 4dr hardtop, white, 1959 Cadillac series 62 convertible, black, black & white interior, top down (Mason), 1959 Ford Custom 300 4dr sedan, black & white (Police), Cameo: 1955 Oldsmobile 2dr hardtop, medium color & white. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Character Names: Salty Sims’s real first name was Walter, as mentioned in the episode. Submitted by gracep, 8/31/2010.

Sightings: Both Distinguished Gentleman #1 and Quiet Old Man #1 appear among the courtoom audience. More about them and other regulars here. Submitted by gracep, 9/1/2010.
+ The Thin Man appears as an Assistant District Attorney seated at the prosecution table. “Miss Carmody” is seated behind Nell Gridley and Chuck Clark in courtroom closeups. Distinguished Lady #3 is behind Howard Roper near the door. Submitted by alan_sings, 9 Oct 2010.
+ Little Old Lady #2 is seen taking shorthand as Court Reporter, and Distinguished Gentleman #2 is in the the courtroom audience. Submitted by daveb, 3/26/2011.

Neither Ray Collins (as Lt. Tragg) nor William Talman (as Hamilton Burger) appear despite onscreen credit. Submitted by gracenote, 6/20/2011.

Comments Edit

The courthouse used in an establishing shot is clearly something filmed from an earlier era (or it’s a period piece). The cars are too old, and one can barely make out that the fashions as certainly pre-1950s. Submitted by gracep, 8/31/2010. Picture here.

Just after Ms. Gridley gives Mason her business car, the establishing shot of the town shows several cars driving by—but they are all from the 1930s or ’40s as well! Submitted by gracenote, 6/19/2011.

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