Show112

Anomaly: Paul Barselow, listed as John Penner, is called Ben Penner by Amelia Phillips and Deputy D.A. Chamberlin in court. [Submission date unknown]
Character Names: Not anomalous, but related. For the first time, we see the door to the deputy D.A.’s office, and that his full name is Victor Chamberlin. Additionally, the Autopsy Doctor’s name is, presumably, Hoxie, although it is never used, but golden-voiced Michael Fox keeps playing this same role. Submitted by gracep 11/4/2010.

This show is the beginning of Part 2 of the 4th season, as sold on CBS DVDs. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 3 January 2010.

Continuity Error: When Phyllis Hudson bursts into Mason’s offices after the explosion and fire, she is wearing no coat. When Paul drives her to the house to retreive some of her effects, she has acquired a coat from somewhere. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 22 January 2010.
+ Maybe it's Della's. She's not wearing one, and is more warmly dressed in her suit than Phyllis is in her light blouse. As a lady, Della would have insisted Phyllis wear hers as far as the house, where they were going to get some "things" for Phyllis to stay with Della. OLEF641 12/12/16

Sightings: The Thin Man is particularly busy in this episode, appearing in three separate roles. He is one of Paul’s operatives in the street huddle when Paul sends them to check chemist shops. Later, he is in uniform at the wheel of the Harbor Patrol launch that takes Tragg and Chamberlin out to Walter Randall’s research boat. Still later, he is a spectator in court, seated next to the door on the prosecution side. Read more about him and other frequently seen people here. Submitted by alan_sings, 9 Oct 2010.
+ Even more regulars turn up in the courtroom. Next to the Thin Man sits the Quiet Old Man (#1), and next to him, the beloved Little Old Lady in a Hat. Across the aisle, we find Distinguished Gentleman #1. “Miss Carmody” also appears as a courtroom spectator, and then during the wrap-up she reemerges as a waitress serving Della and Paul’s table. So many favorite frequent faces! Submitted by gracep, 11/4/2010.
+ + The Distinguished Gentleman #1 gets a credit as the chemist. He is easy to spot (see the picture above) as we have seen him from every angle both with and without his toupee. This is confirmed in Jim Davidson's Perry Mason Book. This is not only his only credit on the show but the only acting credit of his career... and we don't even see his face. Bill767, 1/3/16.
+ + + Hiding in Plain Sight: Three cheers for Bill767. I had given up hope of ever identifying DG#1. Very thorough research -- a real PM breakthrough. Although it looks as though knowing his name (Rudolph Salinger) will not do us much good, as there is not much information out there on him ... JohnK, 4 January 2016
+ + + + Rudolph “Rudy” Salinger (Distinguished Gentleman #1) also has two named roles in other episodes -- as a waiter and as an elevator operator -- in both of which his character name is Rudy. Submitted by catyron, March 10th, 2021. I'm watching an episode of the Dick Van Dyke show in which the Rob Petrie character sits on a jury, and one of his jurymates is none other than Rudy Salinger! Submitted by Ed Zoerner, 12/8/22

For the second episode in a row, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) does not appear in the wrap-up scene, leaving Paul and Della to explain it all for us. Submitted by gracep, 11/4/2010.

I’m not 100% sure, but I think that the restaurant patron behind Della and Paul in the epilogue just might be sipping from a curious coffee cup. Submitted by Ed Zoerner, 5/24/2011.

CARS. (1) Behind Amelia and Roger Phillips in the Garage Scene is their 1956 Dodge Custom Royal 4-Door Sedan, white/medium, the 3rd '56 Dodge to appear in 3 consecutive episodes.

  • (2) Laura Randall drives to the warehouse in her 1960 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan (4Door), Lic No TJD 598, dark color. Ford made Fairlane its "no frills" base model line in 1960.
  • (3) Paul drives Della & Phyllis to the Randall's in his black 1960 Thunderbird Convertible, top down. Upon arrival, they find that the Randall house is a Murder Scene.
  • (4) Parked in front of the Randall house is a 1961 Ford Fairlane 4-Door Sedan Police B&W. This same car appeared in Ep#110.
  • (5) Behind the Police Fairlane is the nose of a large white luxury car. It's almost certainly a 1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V, the same make/year & color car that Perry drove in ep#s 109 & 110. But Perry is not here (he's gone to the warehouse)! Since Tragg has been using big (black) high-end cars for quite some time, maybe this car is meant as his.
  • (1+) For no reason at all, Roger's '56 Dodge is across the street from the Murder Scene, beyond Cars (4) and (5). Roger is not here and he doesn't live across the street (the dialogue at Laura's dinner-table early in the ep tells us this).

White Lincolns have served as Perry's car in many previous episodes. The Lincoln's presence says "Perry's here!" - but it wasn't his car this time. The '56 Dodge was linked to Roger Phillips in the earlier Garage Scene. Its presence at the Murder Scene could cause some viewers to pick up an unintended & spurious "clue" about Roger. Cars (5) & (1) should not have appeared at the Murder Scene. Paisano's '61 Buick Electra 4-Door HardTop could have been used instead of the Lincoln (it appears again in Ep#117) and the scene could have been done without the Dodge or any other car across the street. Added by Gary Woloski, 10/26/12.

Martian Sighting ? This episode features Barney Phillips who we all remember as Haley the Bartender (third eye hidden in cap) in the Twilight Zone episode: "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?" (1961) - Submitted by HamBurger, 8/10/2014
+ Since the setting of that episode was a diner not a bar calling him a bartender doesn't appear to be accurate. I don't know exactly what I would call him but the book The Twilight Zone Companion by Marc Scott Zicree calls him a soda jerk. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 8/16/14.
+ Well the inaccuracy resides with IMDb as he is listed as "Haley the Bartender" there. If someone sees the credits in this episode they can inform us as to his real casting name. - Submitted by HamBurger, 09/13/2014
+ Don't believe everything you see at IMDb. That site is a good reference source but there are many omissions and mistakes (one seen above). The Phillips character [a Venusian not a Martian] was called (Mr.) Haley in one scene. In his closing remarks Rod Serling called him a "counter-man". In the story there was no soda fountain and no alcohol in the Hi-Way Cafe. Zicree's description of the character is inaccurate. I have Zicree's book and every episode of The Twilight Zone - all three versions. Enough about that - this is a PERRY MASON web site. Added by H. Mason 11/11/14

Hit...er, acting for the cycle This is the fourth (of five) of June Vincent's appearances; so far she has been an accomplice, uninvolved party (not even suspected for a minute!), murderess, and, now, victim...will she ever get to be the defendant? She's got one chance left ...Go Girl !! Submitted by Notcom, 120115.

This is the second of four PM appearances for Alan Hewitt. He was a Dartmouth graduate, and some of his personal papers were donated to Dartmouth...MikeM. 9/5/2016

This is the third of five PM appearances for Sue England, who appeared in six episodes of the television series Bracken's World...MikeM. 12/12/2016

I'm very curious about something. Is it a prerequisite for all DA's in LA to be over-zealous, arrogant fools who can NEVER be wrong, but always are? Every substitute for Ham Burger tries to act just like him, as if he's the best DA ever. Of course, they always lose just like Ham Burger as well :p . Submitted by Arisia, 03/13/18

The piece of electronic equipment seen on the boat is an Eico model 368 TV-FM Sweep Generator & Marker, circa 1958. It was used in the alignment of TV sets and FM radios. Notice there is a knob missing on the left side. Submitted by Kilo 6/13/2018.

One would think that the Los Angeles Port Police would know better than to come within 300 feet of a boat supporting a diver, particularly since Walter Randall is using a standard diving dress that completely depends on an airline and lifeline. In reality, the LAPP would have stopped at a safe distance and ordered the boat to bring Randall up, and then approached. Submitted by vgy7ujm, 7 November 2021

I OBJECT During the first day of the preliminary hearing, after the prosecution moves to bind the defendant over for trial, Perry objects (of course). His grounds? "The defense has been given no opportunity to present a case challenging the *credulity* or accuracy of the prosecution's evidence." Say what?!? We are accustomed to the scriptwriters mixing up the words "imply" and "infer", but CREDULITY for credibility? I give Burr a pass; he was overworked and sleep-deprived, so it slipped past him. Shame on the writers and producers, though, for making Perry sound so ignorant! Submitted by JazzBaby, 9/5/2019.
SUSTAINED as I've commented a number of times, I generally don't see a wrongness in failing to re-shoot scenes containing minor faux pas; whether a deliberate decision or not, the fact that the performers (apparently) didn't notice suggests their characters wouldn't have noticed either...hence - and somewhat paradoxically - the blemish actually adds to the realism. But this seems excessive: in a court filled with professionals versed in parsing language, surely someone would comment...dare we say it tests our credulity ?? Notcom, 090619.

The $250k that Walter is to get for his invention would be just over $2 million today (2021) OLEF641 3/3/21