Show55
CARS: 1959 Cadillac series 62 convertible, black, black & white interior, white top up (Mason). From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.
Perry's Caddy could use a windshield; none is seen when Perry pulls up to the police station with his client. (Doubtless it had been removed for interior shots of the car, and as that scene was shot in the studio, using rear projection, re-installing the windshield must have been deemed inessential.) Submitted by francis, 2/8/12.
In the third office scene, dictating to Della, Perry says “U.S. Code, Annotated, Section 454, U.S. against Thomas, D.C. Washington, 1943.” This is very likely a real case. Submitted by Steve Fox, 10/8/2004.
In that same scene, while Della is taking dictation the phone rings, Perry answers it and puts out his hand to take Della's pencil -- as if he and Della had only one writing implement between them (even though there are two pens in the stand right in front of him). Submitted by MoHansen, 8/4/2012
For this case Perry brings to the task a different briefcase -- made of alligator, rather than his usual light-colored leather model. 21 December 2018 JohnK
There are three district attorneys in this episode: Hamilton Burger, Brander Harris, and Perry Mason. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 8/3/2008
+ Raymond Burr played DA R. Frank MARLOWE in the 1951 movie "A Place in the Sun" [IMDb] Mike Bedard 6.16.16.
Herbert Anderson makes his only Perry appearance in this episode as Eugene Milton. Of course Herbert Anderson was best known for his role as Henry Mitchell, the father of Dennis The Menace. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 22 December 2009.
In addition to appearing in six Perry Mason episodes, Hugh Marlowe was one of five actors to portray Ellery Queen in TV series in the 1950s. Marlowe's series, the second of three, was the only one to have only one actor play the part. Both the first and third series had two actors each playing Ellery. The best known Ellery Queen was the fourth series in the 1970s starring Jim Hutton. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 6/25/12.
Eugene Milton is a county inspector. Theophile Duclerc is a building inspector. Submitted by gracep, 17 August 2010.
Sightings/Uncredited Actors: The Little Old Lady in a Hat sits in the courtroom next to Castleton. There is a very good shot of her when the camera cuts to Paul Drake while Mason is questioning Mathews. The Lady is also more easily seen in a few shots after Castleton takes the stand. Submitted by gracep, 17 August 2010.
+Some dubious sightings among the certain ones in this episode: Do we see Don Anderson and “Miss Carmody” sitting together in the back of the first restaurant scene about eight minutes in? That is certainly Distinguished Gentleman #1 as one of the waiters. In the newspaper office, is that DG#1 again with his back turned at the next desk behind Jimmy Castleton’s? In the Grand Jury scene, is that Bert Stevens as the Grand Juror at the top left end? In the courtroom scene, we certainly see LOL#1 as already noted, plus Distinguished Lady #1 and Pencil Mustache Man. Is that DG#1’s hairline yet again just behind Pencil Mustache Man next to the courtroom door? In the tag ending, we definitely see DG#1 again as the waiter, and “Miss Carmody” dining at the next table in the closeup shot of Brander Harris. Submitted by alan_sings 16 Oct 2010.
+ Don Anderson is at Marchand’s and DG #1 is in the courtroom gallery (not only when Alan saw him but also other times). Neither “Miss Carmody” as Anderson’s partner nor DG #1 as the man in the newspaper office are clear enough to determine. Bert Stevens is not a grand juror, although the man in question resembles him in one angle. The rest of the sightings are verifiable. Well done! Submitted by gracenote, 3/28/2011.
++ In this episode and a few others of this vintage, there is a guy in the courtroom who looks sort of like a young Bob Dylan. JohnK, 21 December 2018
Syndicated cuts: Harris sees Mason and Della in the restaurant when leaving and asks to meet the attorney later; scene in Burger's office with Perry; Mason on phone with Paul who tells him Duclerc was the hospital inspector; Blake meeting with Mason in the court hallway. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 8/13/12.
+ MeTV wisely restored all 4 cuts in Today's airing. Mike Bedard 6.16.16
Phone call: Leora Martin tried to call Marshall Scott at DAkota 6-7054 from the phone booth at the Waring House Hotel. She really dialed that number. (see comments below) Submitted by H. Mason 10/16/14
+ correction: Leora's last name is "Mathews", same as the actress portraying the character. As a matter of fact, the character's first name, Leora, is only one letter short of an anagram of the actress's name, Carole. jfh 11Dec2020.
This is the second of two PM appearances for Carole Mathews, who passed in Murrieta CA in 2014 at the age of 94...MikeM. 9/22/2016
This is the first of six PM appearances for Bartlett Robinson (Marshall Scott), who was the first radio voice of Perry Mason. Robinson later appeared in a single episode of "Ironside". Bartlett Scott passed in 1986 at the age of 73...MikeM. 7/4/2018
Van Nuys: the building at which Perry surrenders Brander Harris is the Valley Municipal Building, aka Van Nuys City Hall; it originally contained a police substation, and apparently still did when this was filmed (or at least was still signed as such). The area may or may not have been familiar to Perry, but it should have been for Raymond Burr: a decade earlier he filmed scenes for a movie only a block away. Notcom 121220.
Another late night in Perry's office. It's almost 10 and they haven't eaten dinner yet and by the ensuing scene it will be even later after they convince the defendant to give himself up to the police. Submitted by HamBurger, 7/6/2021