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#95: The Case of the
Flighty Father
Original Airdate: 06/11/60

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
When word gets out that Louisa Holbrook died leaving her eighteen-year-old daughter Trudy with $10 million, the door is left open for men claiming to be Trudy’s long-lost father.

The first claimant (played by Hayden Rorke, the shrink on I Dream of Jeannie) appears right after Louisa’s funeral, and Trudy falls for him hook, line, and sinker. The rest of Trudy’s family is less than thrilled, especially her blind uncle Lawrence (played by silent screen hero Francis X. Bushman), the only one who knew Trudy’s real father.

Then private investigators locate another man claiming to be Trudy’s father. But before old uncle Lawrence can decide who is the impostor, someone crunches him with a poker. As Trudy’s fingerprints are on the murder weapon, and she admits to having had a fight with her uncle, Tragg arrests her for murder. Naturally, Perry must clear her.

Credits Edit

Opening

Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE FLIGHTY FATHER
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 Jackson Gillis, Sol Stein, and Glenn P. Wolfe
Herbert Hirschman || Producer
Gail Patrick Jackson || Executive Producer
Seeleg Lester || Associate Producer, Story Consultant
Produced by The CBS Television Network in association with Paisano Productions
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

Anne Benton as Trudy Holbrook
Hayden Rorke as Jay Holbrook #1
Francis X. Bushman as Lawrence King
Henry Beckman as David
William Allyn as Wally Harper
Berry Kroeger as Donald J. Evanson
Francis De Sales as Holbrook #2
Dan Riss as Peter Sample
Grandon Rhodes as Judge
Tom Fadden as Gus Nickels
Arthur Hanson as Autopsy Surgeon
Betty Farrington as Housekeeper
Gail Bonney as Maid
Paul B. Kennedy as Court Reporter
George E. Stone as Court Clerk

Uncredited Actors
Lee Miller as Plainclothesman
Robert Wegner as Courtroom Spectator

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 … Morris Harmell
Film Editor … John D. Faure
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 Production

Trivia Edit

After Louise Holbrook’s funeral, watch the roof-line of the early to mid-50s Cadillac (I think) limousine as it moves right to left. On what looks like an otherwise impeccably polished car, there are what appear to be a couple of good-sized dents. This seems out of keeping with the wealth of the family. (I’m estimating $10 million back then would be at least $100 million today).

+ Francis X. Bushman plays Lawrence King. Francis X. Bushman's first movie appearance was in 1911. I would be willing to bet that is a record for any actor appearing on Perry Mason. Submitted by PaulDrake 33.
- It also must be noted that Francis X. Bushman’s most famous role was in the 1925 version of Ben Hur playing the villianous Massala. He certainly was in very good shape back then, sporting an impressive set of “guns.” Submitted by Kenmore 06/25/10.

+ Gail Bonney, who plays the maid, was born Goldi Bonowitz, and she had a twin sister. Submitted by gracep 10/11/2010.

+ Sightings: “Miss Carmody” ambles along in the first scene with the other mourners following the bereaved to her car. The prison guard in the courtroom looks rather like her as well.
Quiet Old Man #1 watches from the front row of the courtroom gallery near Perry Mason. The Cute Young Woman is in the back row. Meanwhile the Little Old Lady in Hat sits inconspicuously behind D.A Burger. A few seats to her right finds the Distingushed Lady #2, and behind her, Distinguished Gentleman #1. Read more about our favorite frequent faces, and help us find more. Submitted by gracep 10/11/2010.
+ Continuity: Sometimes the Gentleman is in the Lady’s seat (the Lady is on the other side of the courtroom, along with the Little Old Lady in a Hat) and uncredited actor Robert Wegner is in the Gentleman’s seat. Added by gracep 10/11/2010.

+Talman’s Troubles: This appears to be one of three episodes filmed before Talman was dismissed in March 1960, after he was arrested. The opening credits once again feature William Talman, whereas in the previous episode he was omitted. Read more about the credits, to get a beter handle on it. Read the trivia items for episodes #87-89 and #96-97 for more information about Talman's woes. Submitted by gracep 10/14/2010.

Comments Edit

+George Stone as the Court Clerk gets 5 or 6 lines in this episode. For most of the 42 episodes where he appears as the Court Clerk, he just sits in the corner of the courtroom minding his own business. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 16 September 2009.

+Jay Holbrook #2 stated that Lawrence King paid Peter Sample by holding a wad of money toward him and asking him to take $1000.00. Most blind people have a system to keep track of their money so that they will know which demonination is in which place. You could not stay in business very long letting people pick money out of a $3000.00 roll. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 16 September 2009.

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