Show36
Interesting interplay of words at end of the episode. Della asks, “Which one of you handsome gentlemen will take me to lunch?” Perry responds, “I will.” To which Paul asks, “What about me?” Perry jokingly responds, “You’re not my type.” …Or was he? Submitted by Eric Cooper, 13 January 2011.
+ Not everyone is attracted to everyone else, regardless of sexual orientation.
++ Yes, can we please keep the snarky innuendo out of these pages? Certainly, in the Perry-Masonverse, Paul was definitely not Perry's type. OLEF641; 9/15/2017.
Raymond Burr was known for his wicked sense of humor. I bet he loved delivering that line knowing that someday a lot more people would get it.
This show actually has many interesting discussions between characters. We see two between Tragg and Burger, one nice one (shorter) with Della, Perry and Paul. Clearly, the writers were able to distill the clues, which left them more space to develop relationships (such as they are). cgraul 7.6.12
I was hoping for a discussion between Raymond Burr and Fay Wray on their dealings with various movie monsters. DOD 08/03/22
+ That would be settled in 1962s “King Kong vs. Godzilla”. Sadly, I’ve never seen the film, but since it is a Japanese production I’ll assume their Godzilla was the winner. Submitted by Rickapolis 08/18/23
That elaborate staircase makes one of its last appearances in its original configuration, with a slight curve at the bottom. The newel and balusters would later be reconfigured into a straight run staircase that will be become the most used sets in the series.
I think Irene’s apartment is Perry’s apartment redressed. The layout, fireplace, and andirons are the same. DOD 07/03/20
If Ethel Harrison was in hiding, why did she put her return address on the letter she sent? Otto Gervaert, 7/19/21
When this show story occured, LA was a blanket of smog and humidity in August (when it took place -- note Lorraine worked 10 months, since November). Yet all the men retained their suit jackets even inside (where AC was not nearly as prevalent as it is today). cgraul 7.6.12
+ Sharp-dressed men, then and now, have suits with a heavy fabric for winter and a light fabric for summer. Submitted by vgy7ujm 08/30/17
This is the episode that got me hooked on Perry Mason when I first saw it about a year ago. It is unusually dark and intense, both because the murder occurs so early and because of the family secret no one wants to talk about. Irene Collaro's testimony--where that secret is finally revealed--is riveting. When Lorraine Stevens gets emotional in court, so do I. This is one of my favorite episodes. I think it is one of the best. Submitted by 65tosspowertrap, 4-28-2014.
+ It was a very Moving scene & I also felt empathy for both mother & daughter. Mike Bedard 5.20.16 MeTV airing.
This episode does indeed feature some of the finest performances by women of any show. And the fairly straightforward story is a nice change from the almost ludicrous previous show, 'Lazy Lover'. DOD 06/20/19
Knowing Nancy Kulp only from The Beverly Hillbillies, I am impressed with her acting in this episode -- in particular her nervous minutes on the witness stand, bobbing and weaving in her chair. Or maybe that was the product of superior direction by Arthur Marks. JohnK, 6 December 2015
John Hoyt would join PM stalwarts Merry Anders, Dennis Patrick, Berry Kroeger, and Steve Franken in the 1964 sci fi flick "The Time Travelers". DOD 05/06/19
Questions: What was in the envelope Phil Larkin had? Did he have papers showing Lorraine was illegitimate? What happened to the envelope? Did the killer take it after shooting Philip? Submitted by H. Mason 10/9/14
+It would make sense that it was regarding her illegitimacy. He threatened to tell her 'secret' to [Some Guy] III, so maybe she had a society boyfriend who would probably not marry an woman with her background (even though she had no control around the circumstances of her birth.)—yelocab 03DEC19
Having just watched this again, the ‘secret envelope’ doesn’t make sense. Lorraine did not know her background, so would be ignorant of any possible scandal. Just what did she think Phil had on her? DOD 07/03/20
+ And did we ever learn how Joseph Harrison's fingerprints got onto the freshly-polished gun case? JohnK, 24 November 2018
That part didn't make sense to me. Why would he have handled the gun case? You see a dead body, check it, then get the heck out! —yelocab 03DEC19
+There seem to be some strings handing from the courtroom ceiling. Over the defendant's table towards the end.—yelocab 03DEC19
I think they are the cords for the window blinds. DOD 07/03/20
The Case of the Repeated Surname: Secret-Daughter Lorraine STEVENS appears in Episode 36; Secret-Daughter Rikki STEVENS appears in Episode 43/"Sardonic Sergeant" (different seasons). Mike Bedard 5.20.16
When the police officer takes Harrison's fingerprints, he seems to do it very clumsily. —-yelocab 03DEC19
I wondered what the man and his crazy wife had to do with the story. She just kept popping up for no apparent reason. Perhaps more scenes with Mr. Durell were cut from the syndicated version I watched, and their presence fit in better to the whole story? —yelocab 03DEC19
Mrs Durell thought her husband was fooling around with Lorraine, which conceivably could give him a motive for killing the man harassing her. This line wasn’t really developed much. DOD 07/03/20
It's a nice touch that Perry addresses Mrs. Winslow formally when she is on the stand, but Burger just calls her Sarah, as if she were a child. Submitted by vgy7ujm 2 April 2020
Most awful victim - (dis)honorable mention. Mr. Larkin is a controlling, vile, domineering, and probably violent man over his women partners. "If I can't have you, no one can." - red flag!! He is hardly on the screen before his murder so his despicability is not fully fleshed out. I still give the nod to the worst ever to Hans Werner in "TCOT Shattered Dream" Rick P. 11/1/21
+After careful consideration, here's my top 10 list of "Most Villainous Victims" in PM series history (in order of appearance): Uncle Martin Wellman (TCOT Demure Defendant), Stefan Riker (TCOT Desperate Daughter), Mary K. Davis (TCOT Screaming Woman), Milo Girard (TCOT Purple Woman), Donald Fletcher (TCOT Envious Editor), Edward Franklin (TCOT Weary Watchdog), Prof. Ronald Hewes (TCOT Prankish Professor), Austin Lloyd (TCOT Elusive Element), Chick Farley (TCOT Golfer's Gambit), and Jerome Klee (TCOT Unwelcome Well). These characters surpass the "ordinary" bounds of villainy and seem to derive pleasure from ruining the lives of everyone around them. Submitted by BobH, 2 November 2021.
++ I have seen about half of the episodes, so I can't precisely judge who are the worst villians. I am going through all of the episodes via IMDB (highly recommend BTW). I just saw TCOT Wintry Wife; I'll just say the dispicable revenge planned by the victim is extremely awful. A new top contender for a monster. Hard to imagine who could be worse IMHO. Rick P 12/19/21
"And the Ham Goes To . . ." For his overly "intense" performance as the villainous Philip Larkin, Terry Becker wins a well-deserved nomination for the first season's Hammiest Guest Actor Award (Victims' Division). This is the first of two nominations for Mr. Becker; the second is for his depiction of zealous prosecutor Everett Ransome in Episode #80, TCOT Violent Village. Submitted by BobH, 3 December 2021.
Anyone else think he looks like one of those marionettes from “Thunderbirds”? DOD 08/03/22
He chewed the scenery so thoroughly, you can see the lath and studs under the drywall! However, it never ceases to amaze me that these characters are written like this...I guess it was a different time, but my mother's advice to me after a girl dumped me and I was moping around the house was, "What do you want with someone who doesn't want you?" Submitted by MikeReese, 1/20/2022