Show157
Stuart Erwin does an excellent job portraying a man in the grip of greed and guilt in this episode. This is quite a change from his earlier comedic roles. Personally, I will always associate him with the role of the unlucky-in-love hypochondriac Tommy Nash in the 1933 W.C. Fields film, International House. It's amazing that he had the range to seemingly have a total breakdown, complete with sweat and tears, in this Perry Mason episode. Submitted by Fifty-Niner on 23 April 2012.
+ His (Stuart Erwin) acting in this episode is certainly notable ... I can think of few PM villains who have made me dislike them more, while also finding them darkly funny. Erwin's 'Clem Sandover' is a nasty piece of work, disloyal to wife and his employer all at once. But I had to laugh at his dialogue as well .. "I bought a sport coat!" Wow!
Submiited by MikeReese, 2/13/2017.
++ I love Stuart Erwin in almost any role, comedic, dramatic, or villainous. He did not disappoint his time either. Submitted by catyron, 04/22/18.
+++ This episode is airing on MeTV on the morning of 12/21/2020. Stuart Erwin died on December 21, 1967 in Beverly Hills, California of a heart attack, so this is on the 53rd anniversary of his death. Submitted by k2m 12/23/2020
Beth tells Clem that he had talked in his sleep, "something about water-skiing, of all things!" Water-skiing? Watterton? anybody? Clever. jfh 20May2024
Does anyone else feel that TCOT Double-Entry Mind belongs in the Twilight Zone? The eerie night scenes in the Bradbury Building, culminating in the ironic sound of Sandy's tape recording as he sidles down the stairs, seems inspired by Perry's friend Rod Serling. Submitted by 10yearoldfan, 13 September 2013.
Blonde Della: I enjoyed seeing Della (briefly) as a blonde. Is this the only time in the series when she wears a wig? Submitted by DellaFan, 10/11/2014.
+ In the final episode (#271, TCOT Final Fadeout), Barbara Hale appears in a blonde wig as an unnamed southern belle in a bar. TriviaSleuth 8/14/19
++ For Della Devotes: If you like seeing Barbara Hale as blonde, you should seek out The Houston Story (1956, directed by William Castle, B & W, distributed by Columbia Pictures). Della stars as a night club chanteuse bravely singing a few hot numbers (apparently herself) and capably filling out great evening and swimwear outfits (certainly herself). The posters on Wikipedia show her as a redhead, but in the film she looks more platinum blonde as fits the era. I've seen it several times, and while it's not great cinema, I enjoyed seeing Barbara Hale in a more forceful role. I don't recall seeing any of the Curious Coffee Cups, though, the connection to Columbia notwithstanding. JohnK, 5 January, 2022.
> To demonstrate that gibberish text (in newspapers) isn't peculiar to PM, this is what follows under the headlines in said movie (it pertains to the discovery of a body) An immediate investigation is assured and indications are that some new light will be she on the situation in the near future. Available facts seem vague but authorities feel that time will disclose some means of arriving at a solution. Future plans will, of necessity, have great bearing on the situation... Questions ?? Notcom 010622.
I loved the portrayal of Steven Banks by Paul Tripp. He spouts oily cliché after cliché as he brandishes his putter. Wick 01/05/2022
Original Airdate: Does anybody know why there is a discrepancy in the date this episode was first shown? Somebody changed the date for this page. The CBS / Paramount DVD series says it was November 1, 1962. The Kelleher and Merrill book, TV.com and other sources say it was originally broadcast October 18, 1962. Submitted by H. Mason 12/18/14... IMDb and Wikipedia both give an original airdate of 18 October 1962...MikeM. 2/13/2017
I had to edit the original summary, it contained spoilers. Read the original summary if you want by clicking on the TV Show Book link at the top, but preferably after you've watched this episode. Submitted by DyNama, 1/20/2015
To my mind, this is by far the best episode of Season 6. It's Stuart Erwin's episode (and he takes it and runs with it), but he is assisted by a couple of neat plot twists and the truly noirish atmosphere of the Bradbury Building, as mentioned above by 10yearoldfan. Add Kathleen Hughes as a terrific (and, of course, duplicitous) femme fatale and what's not to like? Submitted by BobH, 20 March 2017.
I concur. It is certainly one of the most neatly and logically plotted episodes, with none of those gaps in logic we so often must ignore. Our villain is responsible for two deaths; our victim is "killed" twice; there are two thefts; and there are two blondes in furs - double entry, indeed! DODay 11/13/17
That ubiquitous staircase set makes a brief, partial appearance when Frank Sellers takes a call from a frantic Clem - I believe that is four episodes in a row. DODay 11/13/17
Anyone else think Jack Betts looks like a young Clark Gable? DOD 12/21/20
+ I do! Submitted by catyron, June 8th, 2021.