Show3
The purchasing power of $1.34 in 1957 would be $19.87 in 2007. What's the price of a rib-eye, porterhouse, or New York strip today? Submitted by billp, 12/26/2008.
How much did Lutts sell that stock to Perry for? About $32,727.27. That means Sybil Granger came up with about $241,056.40 in 2007 dollars. Not bad. Her $2.95 taxi ride(s) would be about $21.73. Taxis were clearly a lot more economical back then. And the drivers spoke English, too! A million dollars would be $4,365,612.79 in 2007 dollars. No wonder Roxy is so upset!! Submitted by billp, 12/27/2008.
Sybil Granger is the second person whose gun is stolen from the glove compartment of her car. (Do all Americans keep their guns there? Why?) Submitted by evelyne, 2/4/2011.
+ I think it’s just Californians, who also (according to this series) buy rifles at office sopply stores so they can shoot the Man when he comes onto their orange grove / dying farm / oil field / salted mine.
1957 Headlight Oddities. Until 1957, US federal and state laws only permitted two headlights on automobiles. For the 1957 Model Year, each of the Big Three automakers planned to introduce Quad Headlights on some models. However, by Sept 1956 (debut time for the '57 models) about eight states had not yet amended their regulations to permit these headlights. The automakers' fallback for the non-quad states was to install one conventional pre-57 High/Low-beam unit on each side and to install Parking, Driving or Turn-Signal lights in the two left-over headlight stations. These "Quasi-Quads" ended up looking like this on the Plymouth and this on the Lincoln. I have read one account that California was the last state to legalize Quad Headlights, apparently doing so in Dec '56. The next appearance of a car affected by this headlight confusion is in Ep#5 (Frances Celane's '57 Chrysler Imperial Crown Convertible). Added by Gary Woloski, 5/17/12.
Classic Perry Tough-Love line: "If you pick someone to lie to, Mrs. Granger, never choose your doctor or your lawyer: in both cases, it could be fatal*." Mike Bedard 3.24.15
+ Had to add a comma before Mrs. Granger's name; otherwise, your doctor or lawyer could be lying to Mrs. Granger. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 3/29/15.
If Albert Tydings (TCOT Baited Hook, #14) is the most compliant corpse in series history, George Lutts is the most courteous. Just seconds before he's shot in the open field, he meets Sybil Granger with his hat in his hand. After being shot, he manages to hold on to his hat, even after dropping to the ground. Sybil rewards his extraordinary display of gentlemanliness by immediately fleeing from the scene. Submitted by BobH, 25 December 2015.
California's 9 executions accounted for 13% of the US Death Penalties carried out in 1957* [deathpenaltyusa.org]; the US Supreme Court ruled in 1972 that current Death Penalty laws violated the 8th & 14th Amendments (Furman vs. Georgia: 9 separate opinions, a 5-4 majority) [pbs.org]. Mike Bedard 4.14.15
The 14th Amendment: "No State shall...deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without DUE PROCESS OF LAW; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS [Ratified in 1868: the 2nd of the 3 Reconstruction Amendments]." Mike Bedard 4.18.15
Perry At His Best: "I'll Do Everything I Can To Help," he tells Client Sybil: he did the Same in the other 270 cases. Mike Bedard 7.12.16 MeTV viewing.
This was the first instance in the series - and one of very few, eventually - where we actually see the murder take place...more to the point, we see it can't be Ms. Granger who is the murderer. Although that can't be said to be much of a spoiler - given the format of the show - it nevertheless eliminates a small amount of dramatic tension, and certain possibilities for dialogue.
As with many PM shows, one must forgive certain gaps in logic: Why, on the eve of a multi-million dollar oil deal, would Lutts sell any of his stock to anyone at any price? Roxie testifies that she thought Sybil was the intended target because she was the one blocking the oil deal. But Roxie knew the stock was in Perry's name - it was Perry who was blocking the deal, not Sybil. Finally, if Lutts was the intended victim all along, how could our killer know Lutts would ever be in just the right spot at just the right time?
Frankly, I'm surprised Perry got involved with Mrs. Grainger in the first place. So often he makes clear he doesn't do divorce work, and this certainly comes close. In these early shows Perry has a taste for lighter patterned jackets that almost rival Paul's. As Perry gets a bit heavier, he tends to stick to dark suits and jackets. Considering from where the fatal shot was fired, the trajectory of the bullet should have been a vital clue. As in many episodes, our villain has a rather esoteric knowledge of firearms. DOD 04/24/18
Guns: Seems like the courts back then were pretty lax about firing off guns in the courtroom. Perry fires the blank in this episode and in at least one other episode a gun was fired in the courtroom. The ballistics expert Mr. Redfield was careful to push away the barrel of the gun Perry was holding so that it wasn't pointing at him. However, just a few minutes earlier Burger had the gun pointed directly at Redfield's chest but he made no similar correction of Burger. Kilo 11/25/2018.
In the final courtroom scene, it seems strange that the bailiff is just watching as the murderer tries to leave the courtroom. The witness has just fingered the murderer. So, the bailiff would know that he/she was the murderer. But when he/she bolts for the door (following their spouse), the bailiff just stands there. The judge has to yell, "Bailiff, hold that man/woman". (I'm trying hard not to provide a spoiler!) I think they need to hire a new bailiff. Submitted by Paul's Operative. 1/13/2024.
MAJOR SPOILER: the murderer is (Robert Cornthwaite as) Herbert Dean. jfh 08Jun2024