Show91
The first scene in this show is of a television emcee interviewing Flavia Pierce. The television emcee was played by Truman Bradley, making his only Perry appearence. Baby boomers will remember that Truman Bradley was the narrator for the syndicated Science Fiction Theater for two years from 1955-1957, for a total of 76 episodes. Amazingly, since he was only 55 years old at the time, this was the final screen appearance for Truman Bradley. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 19 May 2009.
+ Also, Truman Bradley is incorrectly identified as the narrator of the Person to Person-like program when he should have been credited as the host. He also sort of resembled Charles Collingwood who was the actual host of Person to Person at the time (and had interviewed Raymond Burr prior to this episode, as seen in the Perry Mason 50th Anniversary Edition DVD). Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 2/5/14.
Flavia, the murder victim, is played by the great Marie Windsor. Ms Windsor was a wonderful actress who had a great "B-movie" career, including The Narrow Margin (1952), City That Never Sleeps (1953), and The Killing (1956), and transitioned successfully to TV. jfh 20Oct2017.
For the third consective show there is a different Deputy D.A. This time it is Les Tremayne as Stewart Linn. Tremayne would make 8 appearances on Perry in total, but this was the only time he played a D.A. Fans of old-time radio will remember Les Tremayne as one of the giants of the medium. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 19 May 2009.
Star Trek Alert: Two actors in this episode will appear in Star Trek roles, Leslie Parrish and Robert Ellenstein. If the lovely Leslie Parrish looks familiar to Trekkies it's because she is the actress who played Lieutenant Carolyn Palamas in the original series Star Trek episode "Who Mourns for Adonais?", where she not only won the heart of the god Apollo (or an alien who pawned himself off as Apollo to the ancient Greeks), but also wore one of the most revealing dresses in Star Trek history, which took on a life of its own in Trekkie lore and wound up in The Smithsonian's Star Trek exhibit. Purportedly, it made the crew rather uncomfortable, but Parrish said she was perfectly fine with it, which makes sense given she started her career as a model, which she plays in this Perry episode. Parrish appeared in two other Perry episodes, TCOT Impatient Partner, and TCOT Left-Handed Liar. Ellenstein didn't wear a revealng dress, but portrayed the Federation President in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and had a part in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Haven". He also appeared in three episodes of Perry. Submitted by MyFavoritePolarBear, 1/18/22.
Location: About 26 minutes in, there is a quick shot of Parker Center 150 N. Los Angeles Street. Submitted by Eric Cooper, 23 September 10.
That’s right, classic TV fans! That's Darrin’s boss, Larry Tate from Bewitched in this episode. (If you haven’t made the connection yet, it’s David White.) Submitted by gracep, 10/4/2010.
This episode is one of a very few times that George E. Stone speaks in his role as Court Clerk. Submitted by gracep, 10/4/2010.
Sightings: The courtroom gallery is bursting with anonymous regulars. As Lt. Tragg is called to testify, we can see Distinguished Gentleman #1 and Cute Young Lady seated behind the harried deputy D.A. Across the aisle sits a Quiet Old Man (#1) next to Distinguished Lady #3, who is next to Hope Sutherland (Leslie Parrish). At the far end, behind Della and Perry, the Little Old Lady in a Hat and Distinguished Lady #2 watch with interest, as does another Quiet Old Man (#2) behind Perry’s shoulder. Read about all these recurring courtroom spectators here. Submitted by gracep, 10/4/2010.
+ Distinguished Gentleman #1 plays a waiter around the 10 minute mark. Distinguished Lady #4 is in the courtroom behind Perry (back row). And Miss Carmody joins the court after lunch. Submitted by Bill767, 10/31/15.
+ + The waiter (D.G. #1) is Rudy Salinger. In addition to his regular duties as a courtroom spectator, he previously played a waiter named Rudy and an elevator operator named Rudy. Submitted by catyron, February 15th, 2021.
First Sighting: As best I can tell, Madcap Modiste is the first appearance for Mediterranean Woman, nominated to our Who Is That? troupe of background faces as of November 2022. She appears at about 31 minutes in on the DVD, styled in a modish coat and complementing turban. After taking a break for several shows, she reappears in Irate Inventor and closes out the third season with Flighty Father.
Uncredited Actors: Robert Wegner plays a three peat today. He is first a stockboy at the store wheeling in some dresses; He then shows up as a cop after the murder; finally he watches the court proceedings from the DA back row. Submitted by Bill767, 10/31/15.
Costumes: Special mention is given in the credits to real-life costume designer Charles La Maire, who created the gowns and fashion drawings for this episode. La Maire was the executive wardrobe designer for many iconic films, such as The Seven Year Itch, How to Marry a Millionaire, and All About Eve. Submitted by Fifty-Niner, 19 April 2011.
+He has 222 Wardrobe Department & 65 Costume Designer IMDb credits. Mike Bedard 8/4/16
Two cups from the Curious Coffee Set make an appearance in Perry's office during a break in the trial. Via email from Evelyn, posted by daveb, 7/17/11.
+ At the close of the show the set's matching sugar and creamer are brought out, as well. In addition, Della has turned in her old glass coffee carafe for one of those shiny chrome jobs with a bakelite handle. I am not completely sure, but it sure looks a lot like my family's old Sunbeam Coffeemaster. Submitted by catyron, 11/28/2017.
There are NO CAST CARS, but three incidental cars are seen on the street outside the court building in the only outdoor shot of the episode:
- (a) 1956 Pontiac Star Chief 2-Door HardTop 2-tone black-over-medium;
- (b) probable 1953 Ford Country Squire station wagon, white & woody;
- (c) white 1958 Ford Thunderbird HardTop.
Added by Gary Woloski, 9 July 2012.
Syndication cuts: Scene with Mason, Tragg and Deputy DA Linn; Della shows Mason the newspaper headline; scene with Tragg, Leona, Linn, Mason and Hope [this subplot was completely cut from the syndicated version]; Hope's first testimony. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 8/16/12.
Holy 21st Century!: Notice the Truman Bradley character watching a wall mounted wide-screen television. Submitted by H. Mason 10/29/14
Inside: Another show done on interior sets with the use of stock footage exterior establishing shots. Submitted by H. Mason 10/30/14
Definitions? Modiste: One who makes and sells fashionable dresses and hats for women. Madcap: Very foolish or silly...MikeM. 8/5/2016
According to Wikipedia, Leslie Parrish has been very active in political and environmental causes. She was a delegate for Eugene McCarthy at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago...MikeM. 8/5/2016
+ And, according to IMDB, Marie Windsor campaigned for ultra-conservative Barry Goldwater for President in 1964. Rick P 10/4/21
This is the second of three PM writing credits for prolific television writer Harold Swanton...MikeM. 11/11/2016
Taking the Fourth (away) ...in a manner of speaking (there's perhaps a technical term for it, but if so I plead ignorance): while we're watching the show-withn-a show, there's a neat trick where the camera shifts - quite seamlessly - between the POV of the fictional camera, and the actual filming of the episode. Suitably impressed, Notcom 120417.
Flibbertigibbet: A Middle English word referring to a flighty or whimsical person, usually a young woman. In modern use it is used as a slang term for a gossipy or overly talkative person. Kilo 9/23/2019.