Show84
The original airdate of this episode was 02/06/1960. Note the timeframe of the action. They’re contemporaneous! George Livingston (a.k.a. Robert Doniger) apparently opens the bank account on 01/04/1960 because he tells the bank teller when he does so that by the beginning of February he’ll have over $100,000 in the account. Next, we plainly see his withdrawal slip/check for $112,000 is dated 02/02/1960. (One of the few times [the only time?] we see a completely articulated date in the series.) January 1 was a Friday; February 2 was a Tuesday. As an aside, the $112,000 in 1960 would be about $803,770.27 today. Submitted by billp, 1/11/2009.
+ A dating of the action does occur in another episode. The murder date is almost explicit in Episode #216, although by an unusual means: Solar Observation! Added by Gary Woloski, 1/17/12.
+ Articulated Dates. After watching for it, I've noticed six episodes in which the action portrayed in the episode is exactly or approximately articulated, sometimes even specifying the Murder Date:
- Ep#9 TCOT Vagabond Vixen, by means of a fully dated cheque and dialogue; date of the murder is explicit.
- Ep#40 TCOT Corresponding Corpse, by means of dialogue, the cars and the 3-cent postage rate; date of the murder is explicit.
- This Ep#84, by means of the dated bank withdrawal slip.
- Ep#133 TCOT Injured Innocent by means of a dated cheque, although the year has not been written on the cheque.
- Ep#134 TCOT Left-Handed Liar by means of dated cheques (no year entered) and cheque-cancellation perforations with the year "61" (ep airdate also 61).
- Ep#216 TCOT Betrayed Bride by means of Solar Observation (time of sunset in LA), giving three possible days of the year for the murder, assuming year is '64 (year of airdate).
Added by Gary Woloski, 4/27/12.
The days at the bank look inconsistent during the very beginning of the episode, starting with "To-day is Jan. 4". In 1959 it was a Sunday, in 1960 a Monday. But then, 1 second later, we see the calendar page "Jan. 31 Saturday | Feb. 1 Sunday", which are in 1959 as is the immediate next calendar page, "February 2 Monday". I assume that the bank was closed on Sunday and that the producers didn't bother to re-film the first scene to make it "Jan. 5". But, on Feb. 2, one bank teller saying to another, "It's all right Phil. It's okay for cash."? Why did the bank have that much cash on hand to give to only one customer, especially without prior notice of the withdrawal? And why is George Livingston's check #341? Submitted by masonite, 7/11/12.
+ The Jan 31/Feb 1 calendar is different than the Jan 1 calendar. It must have been in someone's office. Kilo 11/16/2019.
For some reason Mason returns to his office through the Law Library door, carrying his coat and briefcase. As this room has no connecting door to the hallway, one wonders about this. Submitted by francis, 3/9/12.
The law library has a connecting door to Gertie's receptionist room. Clients are often taken from the main office entrance, through receptionist, to the law library to wait until someone else in Perry's office (often Tragg) has left, and then directly in to see Perry. In this episode, in fact, client Nelson is brought through that way after his wife leaves. cgraul 4.27.12
In some episodes that room is a bathroom and the library is to the right of the main entrance. There is no testimony on the murder weapon; who it was registered to, or whether fingerprints were found. DOD 08/27/19
Yeah there was. Burger asked Tragg that on the stand; it was registered to Doniger. Of more interest is that there were no questions from Perry to Tragg on cross as to whether fingerprints were found on the briefcase when taken from the car. That would have shown straightaway those of the murderer and accomplice, and the lack of those of Perry's client. Clothears 08-June-2024
There is a strange ending to this episode. Perry receives a call from a woman who may need his help. Like many of the novels, it seems to foretell his next client. Could this have been Paula Wallace setting up the appointment seen in the next broadcast episode The Case of the Wary Wildcatter? Or maybe Gladys Doyle from the next episode produced The Case of the Mythical Monkeys? Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 11/24/13.
Help Wanted: Several job openings at the Nelson Company after this story. The same thing happened in episode 81 TCOT Frantic Flyer. Submitted by H. Mason 10/28/14
"The Case of the Overly-Agitated Actress." Fintan Meyler's line reading of "I WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE KITCHEN" during her courtroom testimony has to be one of the most unintentionally funny moments in series history. Try watching it and not laughing. Submitted by BobH, 30 January 2017.