Show231
I believe this is the only episode Harry Harris directed. I can see why. His camera work in the courtroom is jarring and uncomfortable -- extreme close-ups from low angle, slow camera revolves around the witnesses, all giving the viewer scant opportunity for perspective. One of the worst ever second halves. cgraul 12.19.12
House: The neighborhood and a wide shot of the home used by Dr. Stark was seen in this story. It appeared in tight shots in #213 as headquarters for the Jason Foster campaign and in #186 as part of Manzana Valley Prep School. Submitted by H. Mason 4/23/15
I had been suspicious for some time certain exterior locations were shot at CBS Studio Center on Radford Av., in Studio City (the old Republic Studios). As Betty Kaster crosses in front of the bus @ the 4:50 mark, the exterior of the house we see behind it is indeed the house used on the first two seasons of "Leave It to Beaver", when Revue Productions (later becoming Universal Television) shot on that lot. Indeed, as H. Mason points out, in episode #186, at the 18:24 mark, we see Aaron Stuart approaching a house, which was the exterior of Gilbert Bates house - again from "Leave It to Beaver". (CBS Television became the primary lessee of the lot by 1963, with Revue Productions having left there for the 1959 season). Submitted by S. Stuart 11/21/18.
Paul displays his PI credentials into the camera: we see a badge in the lower flap & an ID card on the upper. Mike Bedard 5.7.15
A young single woman enters her hotel room, closes the door...and sees a hulking big stranger waiting for her. Wouldn't she at least try to scream before the stranger attacks and throttles her? How did she know that he is a semi-clueless PI? And the hotel's bellboy may have apprenticed at the Bates Motel. Submitted by lowercase masonite, 5/23/16.
Hamilton Burger gets a new lettering on his door (43:51) in this episode. However, the two lower-case i's in 'District' are not dotted. And what was that 'ABCD' sign on the mailbox @24:34? Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 9/05/17.
+ I didn't see a mailbox but I did see a mailbox-shaped trash can labelled "TRASH". OLEF641 8/17/21
Frances compares herself to Camille because of her weak lungs, apparently referencing the Greta Garbo film. This is a common mistake. Garbo's character was named Marguerite - the title Camille refers to her signature flower, the camellia.
In the closing scene, we get a rare shot of the back wall of Perry’s office.
Once again, that workhorse staircase set appears. DOD 03/19/20
+ Paul is rather condescending to Della in the wrap-up. Della says, "I still don't understand ... ", to which Paul replies, "Aside from the obvious ... ". jfh 10Jan2024
Unlike the episode's original viewers, we can see in advance the list of all of the credited actors. When I saw that June Dayton is Frances Stark, throughout the episode I was wondering why "Frances Stark" looks nothing like June Dayton. Even the woman in the car at the beginning looked and sounded to me more like a female impersonator than June Dayton wearing a wig. Submitted by lowercase masonite, 5/23/16.
Character Confusion: Then and Now. If I remember correctly, back in the 1960s when there were only three major networks and not that many prime time TV shows, TV Guide would list a substantial number of the members of the guest cast--and the characters they portrayed--for almost every prime time show. It is entirely possible, therefore, that the original viewers of this episode who consulted TV Guide before watching the show saw a listing of both Elizabeth Perry and June Dayton, and their character names, in the guest cast. And they might have been just as confused as today's viewers. Submitted by BobH, 30 June 2018.
While Perry successfully defends only one client against murder charges, an additional death is uncovered and explained by his deductive reasoning skills. jfh 17Feb2017.
As with so many of the (overly) intricate plots on PM, the fraud - as it is finally revealed - doesn't make very much sense. We are told at the end that the remoteness of the accident allowed Stark to hide his wife's death, So problem number one: is it plausible that someone, having just seen his wife killed, and having been nearly killed himself, has the presence of mind to instantly concoct an intricate scheme of deception like that described ?? Hmm.
Problem two: body disposed, then what?? How does he leave?? If he catches a ride, then he would be without belongings, and would presumably have to return home...wouldn't there be questions from friends or neighbors about his wife?? His car?? Even if the car was drivable, would he just continue on his merry way, shattered windshield (and whatever other damage) and all ??
Hmmm; OK, having made it that far we have problem three: if you've somehow pulled all that off, would it make any sense to to call attention to the accident by telling everyone about it ?? Wouldn't it make more sense to tell anyone who asked that his wife was simply ill ??Notcom, 060217.
+Plus he had to assume he would be able to find a willing accomplice to play the wife. It is also hard to believe that accomplice's best friend would fall for a guy using her in such a way. You are so right, we are asked to suspend belief a bit much in this episode.
> Stark was already planning to run away with his girlfriend before the accident, which likely means his only interest in Frances at that point was her money. Seeing her lying there, likely his first and only thought was, "OMG! The Money!" The location was remote, which gave him time to think and plot.
It's possible the fire eventually attracted attention, and Stark was taken away by someone who responded, conveniently neglecting to mention his wife had been in the car.
I'm guessing he knew that his girlfriend's roommate was an unemployed actress, and unlikely to turn down the vast amounts of cash he was offering her ($50,000 then is the equivalent of nearly half a million in 2021 money; she would have cleared over $1.25 million at the end of the scheme)
Which is not to say that I don’t also find certain plot points stretched dangerously close to the breaking point, but it could have happened this way OLEF641 8/17/21
Wow, I really liked that final plot twist and you guys had to ruin it. haha. First, he realized that he had to stay married to inherit the money, but had probably considered various ways around it. His wife died in the accident, so he realized that he lost the inheritance--unless he could pretend she was still alive ... get rid of the body. He had to tell about the accident as the reason his wife was now a bedridden invalid who couldn't have visitors. He could have also returned home alone and said his wife was in the hospital. (It would be strange that he and she didn't have any close friends who would inquire about her/visit her.) But that leaves the problem of finding someone who would do it and not quit/give it away. --yelocab 12AUG19