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#86: The Case of the
Mythical Monkeys
Original Airdate: 02/27/60

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
Mauvis Meade, author of the bestseller Chop the Man Down, sends her secretary out to a mountain cabin to pick up a package. Gladys gets lost and her car is stuck in the mud. She walks to a cabin looking for help and meets a mysterious man who seems to know her. While Gladys freshens up, the man leaves and Gladys finds--a dead body.

Perry has to find the mystery man in the cabin in order to clear Gladys, but several things are working against him. First of all, the cabin was rented in Gladys's name. And second, it appears that Gladys was unknowingly working as a courier for the underworld.

Louise Fletcher, one of the stars of the award-winning film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, plays Gladys the secretary. Also, watch for Norman Fell, who starred as the jerky landlord on "Three's Company," as Casper Pedley.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in Erle Stanley Gardner’s
The Case of THE MYTHICAL MONKEYS

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

Trailing

Directed by Gerald Mayer
Teleplay by John Lattimer
Herbert Hirschman | Producer
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer
Produced by The CBS Television Network in association with Paisano Productions
Seeleg Lester | Associate Producer, Story Consultant
Arthur Marks | 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

Beverly Garland as Mauvis Meade
Lawrence Dobkin as Gregory Dunkirk
Louise Fletcher as Gladys Doyle
Lew Gallo as Richard Gilman
Joan Banks as Mrs. Manley
Norman Fell as Caspar Pedley
John Reach as Dukes Lawton
Nelson Leigh as Judge
Bill Erwin as Morrison Findlay
Bill Boyett as Kelton
Frances Morris as Miss Carlisle
Paul Lees as Parking Lot Attendant
Ralph Brooks as Headwaiter
George E. Stone as Court Clerk

Crew

Art Seid, A.C.E. | Assistant to the Producer
Production Supervisor … Dewey Starkey
Director of Photography … Frank Redman, A.S.C.
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Robert G. Stone
Film Editor … Richard H. Cahoon, A.C.E.
Casting … Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Irving Pringle
Hair Stylist … Annabell, S.C.H.
Wardrobe Supervision … William Zacha, Evelyn Carruth
Set Decoration … Charles Q. Vassar
Sound Effects Editor … Gene Eliot, M.P.S.E.
Music Editor … Gene Feldman
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … M.E.M. Gibsone
Sound … Glen Glenn Sound Co.

Perry Mason \ A Film Presentation
A CBS Television Network Presentation

Trivia Edit

+This is Joan Banks’ (Mrs. Manley) third appearance on Perry, (TCOT Negligent Nymph, and Fancy Figures previously) and for the third time she plays the wife of the murder victim. The difference this time is that she is not an alcoholic. Submitted by PaulDrake 33.

Location: About 10.5 minutes in we see a quick shot of Parker Center, 150 N. Los Angeles Street, before they cut to Tragg inside. Submitted by Eric Cooper 23 September 10.

Continuity Error: In the scene where Burr questions Beverly Garland in her apartment Garland has a cigarette in her left hand -cut- the cigarette now is in her right hand -cut-cut- the cigarette is back in her left hand. Submitted by Craig 4/24/10.

Character Names: Mrs. Manley's first name is Viola. (Her brother Caspar Pedley calls her this.) Submitted by gracep 9/30/2010.

Sightings: (and Continuity Error) Several recurring spectators appear in the courtroom gallery. Behind Caspar Pedley, the Little Old Lady in a Hat peeks out at the proceedings, but she disappears in the middle of the trial. Two seats down from her sits a Quiet Old Man, although he ends up in different seats throughout the hearing. A Cute Young Lady looks on with interest, and Distinguished Lady #2 acts very surprised by certain revelations. Submitted by gracep 9/30/2010.

Comments Edit

It is rather amusing how offended Burger seems at the idea of the cabin being used as a “love nest.” His reaction, a whispered “Really!” is almost Victorian. Submitted by gracep 9/30/2010.

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