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#65: The Case of the
Dangerous Dowager
Original Airdate: 05/09/59

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Only the rich could have the problems that trouble the Benson family. Daddy is dead, and Matilda Benson rules her children with an iron fist and the promises in her will. Imagine the shock Matilda suffers when her little brood gets involved in a potential gambling scandal and later the unspeakable—murder!

Matilda hires Perry and he finds this a tough case. Watch for Ellen Corby (Granma on The Waltons) as a gambler.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
In Erle Stanley Gardner’s
The Case of THE DANGEROUS DOWAGER
Barbara Hale as Della Street
William Hopper as Paul Drake
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg

Trailing

Directed by Buzz Kulik
Teleplay by Milton Krims
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

Robert Strauss as Danny Barker
Patricia Cutts as Sylvia Oxman
Kathryn Givney as Matilda Benson
Barry Atwater as Robert Benson
Michael Dante as Arthur Manning
Gene Blakely as Frank Oxman
Leo Gordon as Charles Duncan
Ellen Corby as Old Lady
King Calder as Dr. Ralph Caldwell
Frederic Worlock as Judge
Joey Faye as Walter Cobb
George E. Stone as Court Clerk
Perry Cook as Old Man
Barry Brooks as Policeman
Shirley Monticue as Maid

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 Cahoon, A.C.E.
Assistant Director … Morris Harmell
Casting … 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 Sunliner convertible, medium & white color, top down, 1958 Ford Thunderbird convertible, black, white top up (Drake), 1959 Ford Skyliner retractable, black, top down (Mason), Cameo: 1959 Plymouth 4dr hardtop, medium color & white top. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Anomaly: Michael Dante is listed as Arthur Manning but is called Bill Manning by a witness on the stand. At other times, he is called Manning or Mr. Manning. Confirmed by rpdmhunt, 12/21/2007.

Robert Strauss makes his first of two appearances on Perry Mason. He would also appear in the 1965 episode #227, TCOT Thermal Thief. Robert Strauss was nominated for an Academy Award in 1953 for his role as Stanislas Kasava in Stalag 17. He would lose out to Frank Sinatra playing Maggio in From Here to Eternity. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 7/29/2008.

Sightings: Distinguished Gentleman #1 sits in the back row of the court gallery, on the prosecutor’s side. He‘s visible in a shot with Burger. More about him and other recurring courtroom observers here. Submitted by gracep, 9/2/2010
+ When Sylvia Oxman first enters the Clover Club, “Sasha Magaloff” is in a visor is dealing at the foreground poker table. Later, sans visor, he walks by in the background when the Old Lady (Ellen Corby) demands to see Paul’s cards. “Miss Carmody” is seated next to Charles Duncan and in front of Dr. Caldwell in courtroom closeups. Submitted by alan_sings, 9 Oct 2010.

Comments Edit

When Perry is told that Sylvia Oxman has been gambling in Gardena, Perry mentions that gambling is legal there. This is true; Gardena was issued the first legal card club license in the State of California, in 1936. Casinos provide the principal employment in Gardena to this day. Submitted by Fifty Niner on 2/23/2011.

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