<< Dubious Bridegroom | Episodes | Spurious Sister >>

#69: The Case of the
Lame Canary
Original Airdate: 06/27/59

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Ruth Prescott wants to divorce her husband Walter so she can be with true love Jimmy MacLaine. After a brush with death, Ruth is convinced her husband is trying to kill her. When Walter turns up dead instead, the police believe Ruth shot him, but Perry doesn't think so. A lame canary and unusual bruises on the victim puzzle our young lawyer, if only momentarily.

Credits Edit

Opening

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

Trailing

Directed by Arthur Marks
Teleplay by 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

James Philbrook as Harry Jonson
Stacy Graham as Ruth Prescott
Biff Elliot as Jimmy McLain
Susan Cummings as Margaret Swaine
William Kendis as Walter Prescott
Berry Kroeger as Ernest Wray
S. John Launer as Judge
Michael Fox as Dr. Hoxie
Emerson Treacy as Dr. Fowler
Chet Stratton as Hotel Clerk
Ray Phillips as Police Officer
Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice
George E. Stone as Court Clerk
Richard Wessel as Transfer Man

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 H. Cahoon, A.C.E.
Assistant Director … Morris Harmell

Casting … Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Irving Pringle
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: 1949-50 Ford 2dr sedan, dark color, Late 40s Ford (?) COE moving van, Late 40s Dodge extended length 4dr sedan, light & medium color (Taxi), 1958 Ford Thunderbird convertible, black, top down & white top up (Drake), 1959 Cadillac series 62 convertible, black, top down & white top up (Mason), Multiple 1959 Ford Custom 300 4dr sedans, black & white (Police), Cameos: 1955 Chevrolet Nomad, medium color Early 50s Ford pickup. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.

Sightings: Several recurring courtroom spectators appear in this episode. Distinguished Gentleman #1 sits behind the prosecutor, while across the aisle, Quiet Old Man #1 and the Little Old Lady in a Hat sit next to each other. She is especially visible in a close-up of Miss Swaine. DG #1 also plays an elevator operator named Rudy at the Westwood Arms. He doesn’t speak a word, only nods. But we get a better look at him than ever, for he actually accompanies the Transfer Man to an apartment. Submitted by gracep, 9/05/2010.
+ “Miss Carmody” can be seen among those filing out of court at adjournment while Tragg is speaking with Perry near the defense table. She can also be seen when court resumes, seated at the right end of the second row behind the defense table. Submitted by alan_sings, 3 Oct 2010.
+ The distinctive visage of Quiet Old Man #2 peers over the shoulder of Ernest Wray in a cutaway. More about all these folks at Who Is That? Submitted by gracenote, 7/25/2011.

Character Names: We learn that Ruth Prescott’s maiden name is Jiuvenal. Submitted by gracenote, 7/25/2011.

Comments Edit

<< Dubious Bridegroom | Episodes | Spurious Sister >>