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Another time that the identity of the murderer is not revealed until the final scene. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 6/26/2008.
Quote of the day: “Blackmail, like cancer, needs radical treatment.” (Said by Paul Drake.) Submitted by gracenote, 8/31/2011.
+ "Blackmail" Etymology: "sp. var. of North ME mal(e) tribute, rent; OE mal agreement; Scand, cf Icel mal agreement" (Webster's Unabr. Dict). Mike Bedard 3.6.15
Della refers to Mr. Brent's GIRL FRIDAY: the term is "Modeled on Man Friday" [after character Robinson Crusoe; WUD]. Mike Bedard 3.6.15
The title comes from the most persistent misquote from Shakespeare. The actual line: "To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, to throw perfume on the violet, to smooth the ice, or add another hue unto the rainbow, or with taper-light to seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, is wasteful and ridiculous excess." King John, Act IV.
Brent is sapped hard enough to knock him out cold, yet this is never brought up in court.
The Duke of Wellington, when approached by a similar blackmailer, famously replied "Publish and be damned!" DOD 06/06/18 I'm blanking on the name of the episode right now, but a similar line is used in another episode involving blackmail.."Publish and go to blazes!" MikeReese, 1/4/2024
This is one of the early shows, in which a jury is present. Normally, Mason disposes of his cases at a "preliminary hearing," or "probable cause" hearing, a favorable ruling at which precludes the need for a jury. So we can assume in this case Mason did not have his usual success at the prelim. cgraul 7.4.12
Why does Binney slug Brent? This makes no sense to me. Submitted by Scarter 1/5/14
+ It makes perfect sense. Binney was no fool. Although Brent had told Binney that he was going to pay the blackmail, for all Binney knew Brent was actually going to kill him. To eliminate that unpleasant possibility, he slugged him, and then took the money. Submitted by 65tosspowertrap, 4-23-14.
Plot Hole: When Binney shows up at Stewart Brentt's office with all the blackmail material, Brentt had only met his wife 3 weeks previously. He told Perry there was a 2 week courtship in Las Vegas, and then a week honeymoon. Binney arrived on Brett's first day back in his office. But the news that Brett and Anne Rowan had married was only known for a week at the most, not nearly enough time to discover that Anne Rowan was actually Anne King, and that she had a prison record. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 6 May 2015.
Barbara Baxley resembles Connie Cezon. jfj 30Oct2019
"Richard Erdman: A Tribute." One of my earliest and fondest memories of the PM series is of watching this episode on WPIX-TV in New York in the mid-1960s. And perhaps the most memorable among its charms was the appearance of bantamweight blackmailer Arthur Binney, played so adeptly by Richard Erdman. In addition to numerous terrific movie and TV performances spanning eight decades--most notably in the 1951 film noir "Cry Danger"--Erdman made five more PM appearances and was one of a group of talented guest actors who contributed substantially to making PM such a pleasurable viewing experience. Mr. Erdman passed away yesterday at the age of 93. R.I.P., Mr. Binney. Submitted by BobH, 17 March 2019.
+ I just watched one of my favorite films noir, "The Blue Gardenia", in which Richard Erdman played a newspaper photographer and Raymond Burr was the murder victim. jfh 18Mar2019.
Frank Ferguson (four PM episodes) makes a brief appearance in “Blue Gardenia” as one of the drunk reporters who accost Richard Conte at the diner, and Jeff Donnell (two PMs) plays one of the roommates. DOD 08/22/22
++Pitkined?? Erdman's bio notes he was born in Enid, OK, which is the first name of Barbara Baxley's character...coincidence?? Perhaps; but if so it's a remarkable one. Wondering, Notcom 111320.
It does seem strange that Lisa Gaye would make her first appearance in the Perry Mason series playing an uncredited role as a juror. This is because according to IMDb, she started playing credited roles years earlier and had appeared in no less than seven episodes of other TV series in 1957 alone also in credited roles. While not unheard of, I still find it strange even if it only took a day to complete the work for chump change compared to a credited role. However, that juror sure does look like Lisa Gaye even if she looks somewhat more frumpy compared to her typical, more glamorous appearances. Submitted by Kenmore 6/10/2021
+I thought I was observant, especially when it comes to Lisa Gaye, but I have to hand it to Kenmore on this sighting. No way we'll prove this, of course, as she doesn't speak or even budge, and is on screen for just a few seconds. But what we do see of this juror - only her face and hairline (with the requisite widow's peak) -does look a lot like Lisa G. Consider, too, that she is striking the somber pensive bearing of a juror, and not showing the flash and fury she often did in her Mason appearances.
Kenmore also makes good points that undercut his own argument. Indeed, Lisa Gaye had appeared in a number of big films in the early 1950s, if in small but credited roles, and teevee too. And she starred in Rock Around The Clock in 1956, easily outshining Bill Haley and His Comets. Likely she did not need the $3 she got for sitting in the jury, nor an impromptu screen test. As for Mason, she did not appear in a credited role until 1961, three years later. Too bad she's not dancing; then we would know right away and for sure. Thank you, Kenmore. JohnK, 11 June 2021
Alright JohnK, how exactly did I make "good points that undercut his own argument"? My argument, for what it's worth, is that the juror in the episode is highly unlikely to be Lisa Gaye, but there is no way to prove it given just how much she does look like Lisa Gaye. So, where is the undercutting happening? Submitted by Kenmore 6/11/2021
+ Hi Kenmore - My apologies; I was just rambling, channeling Hamilton Burger I suppose. I should have said your observations were balanced. It's remarkable that you noticed all this, and thanks for bringing it to our attention. John K 12 June 2021
I believe I can confirm that Lisa Gaye was NOT one of the jurors in this episode. You can see the same woman sitting with the spectators in "The Case of the Lazy Lover". You can see her in the second row sitting behind Bob Fleetwood (Harry Townes) at the 32:34 mark on the video. Same widow's peak, same eyebrows, and same look. Although she is somewhat similar in general appearance to Lisa Gaye, this is a much closer look and her jawline is quite a bit different. This is clearly the same woman who was the juror, but definitely not Lisa Gaye. Submitted by Kenmore 01/08/2022