Show55
This episode seems to include a higher than usual number of scenes requiring background extras, and thus many opportunities for Sightings of our usual favorites. Writing from memory, I noted the rooming house (twice), restaurant (twice), newspaper office, grand jury proceedings, and the courtroom as scenes requiring background extras. Was it “sweeps week” that week, and thus the lavish casting budget? Submitted by alan_sings, 16 Oct 2010.
The episode may also set a record for the number of additional people facing charges - DuClerc, Milton, Castleton, and Mathews. DOD 07/17/19
And several of those background extras wear dark suits that contrast strikingly with the white profile faces of the principal characters. There is a good deal of striking, high-contrast photography in this episode. The recurring music suggests espionage. Both film style and music seem quite apt as Perry uncovers reckless building construction and public graft as well as solving a murder case. Submitted by 10yearoldfan, 12 May 2012.
Does anyone else think it odd that Lt. Tragg would show up at the scene of the crime, even though the murder apparently takes place in Waring County? Submitted by Ed Zoerner, 2/14/2011.
+ I was wondering the same thing myself. Seems fishy to me. Submitted by gracenote, 3/28/2011.
-The murder took place in Los Angeles County, it is explained in the scene between Burger and Perry that was cut from the syndicated episodes, it is on the DVD. Submitted by Joel, 9/16/2013
++ Tragg is also very sarcastic when Perry asks, "Is that the murder weapon?" Tragg answers, "That's confidential, Counsellor!" jfh 29Jul2020
I love that Little Black Dress Della is wearing in the final scene. At first I thought, "Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Then I realized that the large strategically-placed flower creates an amazing R-rated optical illusion. Submitted by DellaFan, 5-23-2014.
When Perry drops Harris at the police station to report to Tragg, the background shows a very 30’s, Deco style building. In other episodes Tragg’s office is in a 60’s glass and steel structure.
The establishing shot of the Waring City courthouse is obviously old stock footage - not a car in sight much later than 1935. DOD 07/17/19
+ It's the Van Nuys substation (see above, Trivia): perhaps Lt. Tragg was on a field trip that night. Notcom 121220.
Why?: The whole phone deception appears to have been unnecessary. The phone in Leora's room had no dial. It seems that any outgoing calls had to be placed by the operator. They didn't have to trick her into using the pay phone. Paul could have gotten the number Loera called when it was dialed at the desk. Submitted by H. Mason 10/16/14
+ Cuz: But Paul wouldn't know that (unless, of course he'd stayed in one of the rooms); nor would the operator be likely to tell him "Oh that's not necessary..." since his only question to her was "How do you make it look like the line is out of order." And without it, we'd be deprived of one of the more clever tricks (and realistic, too, considering how the plan nearly goes awry). Rebutted by Notcom, 061616.
+Missing the last 2 digits of a telephone number does not seem to be such a big problem. There would be only 100 possible numbers. A search through a reverse directory would quickly eliminate most of them. Even if Marshall Scott has an unlisted number, Paul should have no problem discovering that the number could be his. Submitted by vgy7ujm 08/30/17
Blackmail and a blackjack: In the early scene where the Fraudulent Foto is taken, Brander Harris gets whacked over the head, and the conniving secretary seems to get a real kick out of it. Lovely woman. JohnK, 20 December 2018
What's in a (Strange) Name? Taking a cue from ESG's penchant for creating improbable character names, this episode's writers came up with at least three characters who would be right at home with ESG's Hartwell Pitkin (TCOT Cautious Coquette) and Banner Boles (TCOT Lucky Loser). Brander Harris, Cleveland Blake, and Marshall Scott all have easily reversible--and thereby more probable--first and last names. And Theophile Duclerc sounds like he jumped out of the pages of a Golden Age mystery novel. Submitted by BobH, 26 June 2016.
Between the Waring Hotel and the Scott house, the set designers went a little overboard on the Victoriana. Really, some of the most cluttered and unattractive sets in any episode. DOD 07/04/18
+ And 'Marchands', a fussy, overstuffed Salle de Manger, with an upstairs, no less...and props for the props: I thought the "Reception" sign was a nice touch (tho unnecessary: perhaps it was left over from another production?) Seconded by Notcom, 071719.
+ + I loved the all of the great Victorian hotel and home sets in this episode. They were obviously from another production -- very likely a film -- and they were just simply swank! Not only were the furnishings grand, but at the opening of the dining room scene, the music department threw us "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls" from "The Bohemian Girl" and at the end we had a live violinist! Honestly it was like a series of sets from the kind of movie where S. Z. Sakall plays a head waiter and half the cast members have European accents. WOW! Submitted by catyron, December 29th, 2020.
Location confusion: Where was the Waring House Hotel? Was it in L.A. or Waring City? After Paul and Perry tricked Leora into making a call from the lobby pay phone they were in the Brent Building. Perry then said he had to make a 45 minute drive to Waring City. Submitted by H. Mason 10/16/14 //
Perry says there was No PREMEDITATION: the Hittites, the "People of 1000 Laws," were the 1st society to consider Premeditation; "The basic principle of Hittite law was one of restitution instead of retribution," observes web.clark.edu...Lecture-HittitesPhoenicians.pdf. Mike Bedard 6.16.16.