Show222
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#222: The Case of the
Latent Lover
Original Airdate: 12/03/64
Summary Edit
From The Perry Mason TV Show Book (Revised)
Investment broker Eric Pollard is apparently losing his mind. He’s done everything from violently accusing his wife Sybil of having affairs to attempting to stick up a bank. Probation office supervisor Roy Galen, a friend of Sybil’s, gets Eric a suspended sentence based upon his obvious incompetency. This only convinces Eric that Roy is Sybil’s lover. Later, Sybil is accused of mishandling $250,000; then she is murdered. When Roy is arrested for the crime, Perry, determined to find out why Eric Pollard is acting so crazy, agrees to defend the beleaguered civil servant.
Credits Edit
Opening
Starring Raymond Burr
in The Case of THE LATENT LOVER
Based upon characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner
Barbara Hale, William Hopper, William Talman, Ray Collins
Trailing
Directed by Jesse Hibbs
Written by Samuel Newman
Arthur Marks \ Art Seid | Producers
Gail Patrick Jackson | Executive Producer
Jackson Gillis | Associate Producer
Samuel Newman | Story Consultant
Raymond Burr as Perry Mason
Barbara Hale as Della Street
William Hopper as Paul Drake
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins as Lt. Tragg
Welsey Lau as Lt. Anderson
Music Composed by Richard Shores
Music Supervision by Herschel Burke Gilbert
Cast
Lloyd Bochner as Eric Pollard
Jason Evers as Roy Galen
John Lasell as Dean Franklin
Gilbert Green as Harlan Talbot
Marion Moses as Sibyll Pollard
Charlotte Fletcher as Aimee Wynne
Douglas Dumbrille as Judge Robert Adler
Alexander Lockwood as Autopsy Surgeon
Armand Harrison as Nat Rudick
Emory Parnell as Leo Mann
John Matthews as Dr. Richard Jenkins
Charles Irving as Judge No. 2
Harold Gould as Lawrence West
Olan Soulé as Court Clerk
Henry Travis as 1st Spectator
Richard Reeves as Taxi Cab Driver
Robert J. Stevenson as Police Officer
Patricia Joyce as 2nd Spectator
Uncredited Actors
Don Anderson as Courtroom Spectator
Crew
Director of Photography … John M. Nickolaus, Jr.
Art Direction … Lewis Creber
Assistant Director … Gordon A. Webb
Film Editor … Richard W. Farrell
Casting … Harvey Clermont
Makeup … Irving Pringle
Hair Stylist … Annabell
Wardrobe Supervision … Ed McDermott, Evelyn Carruth
Set Decoration … Carl Biddiscombe
Properties … Ray Thompson
Production Sound Mixer … Herman Lewis
Script Supervision … Marshall Schlom
Theme Composed by … Fred Steiner
Automobiles Supplied by … Ford Motor Company
Perry Mason
Produced by the CBS Television Network in association with Paisano Productions
Trivia Edit
Say What? - When Perry questions Dean Franklin about a specific law in the penal code, Franklin says his practice doesn't include criminal law. Yet earlier he represented Ballard at his hearing for the armed robbery case. Was that a mistake in the writing or were they trying to save money on cast members? DM 1/24
Harold Gould (pictured) makes his only Perry appearance here playing Lawrence West. Harold Gould is probably best known for his role as Rhoda Morgenstern father in the 1970s sitcom Rhoda. He also had a prominent role in the sitcom Golden Girls. Mr. Gould recently celebrated his 59th wedding anniversary to actress Lea Vernon. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 26 August 2009.
To me he's best known as Kid Twist in The Sting. Submitted by Clothears 14th Aug 2020.
Sightings: In the very first shot of the courtroom gallery we see two regulars, Pencil Mustache Man and Quiet Old Man #1, sitting near each other and behind Pollard and friends. Later we see Distinguished Gentleman #1 in the back row, but he “teleports” from one side of the courtroom to the other. And that just might be the Thin Man next to the aisle. Now, you may well wonder, just who are these people? Submitted by gracenote, 4/13/2011.
+ The Thin Man also appears in the courtroom gallery. He’s visible in shots of Burger questioning various witnesses. Submitted by gracenote, 8/2/2011.
++ Early in the episode when the cabbie is describing what happened to his vehicle to a skeptical police officer, there appears to be Miss Carmody lurking in the background, though admittedly I can't be sure. Submitted by Kenmore 8/19/2012
+++ Yes it looks like her on the sidewalk, with the skinny neck and nose, at 6:13 on the 2012 Paramount DVD. Finally, live action for her is more exciting than just another run of the mill lurid court case. Submitted by (lowercase, with a comma and period) masonite, 12/14/12.
++++ Thanks for noting her -- i would have missed that sighting without the heads-up. Submitted by catyron, June 24th, 2018
Ray Collins did not appear despite onscreen credit. Submitted by gracenote, 4/13/2011.
And Andy’s appearance is so brief as to be almost superfluous. DOD 03/22/21
Star Trek Alert: Two actors in this episode will appear in Star Trek roles. Jason Evers plays a central character in the original series episode, "Wink of an Eye," where in a reveral of his Perry role, he's the jealous lover. Gilbert Green played a SS major on an alien planet that took up Nazism due to the rather imprudent idea by a Star Fleet Captain that it would help the inhabitants get organized. Submitted by MyFavoritePolarBear, 11/27/22.
Music composed by Nathan Van Cleave from no fewer than three Twilight Zone episodes can be heard in this episode: Music from "Elegy," "A World of Difference" and "Two" (see trivia note episode 170). The complete "Elegy" track can be found on the LP The Twilight Zone Original Television Scores Volume Four (STV81192) and "A World of Difference" on Volume Three (STV81185). Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 6/16/12.
The pistol removed from Pollard's pocket by the police officer investigating the taxi accident was a Japanese Nambu Type 14 semi-automatic, of 1944 or 1945 production, in caliber 8mm Nambu. This was the design that inspired the popular Ruger Mk I, II, and III series of .22 caliber pistols. Submitted by oldgray, 1/23/2013.
Cars: Since there are no listings of cars for this episode as of yet, I thought I would throw one in. Just before the first court room scene, in an establishing shot outside the courthouse, there is a VW Beetle plainly visible parked in front of the courthouse. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 12 January 2015.
+ Yes, it is a medium-dark VW Beetle, and then, behind it another car pulls up, which appears to be a fancy white taxi. Then two medium-darkish American-looking cars roll by, followed by another foreign car behind them just as the scene cuts -- but what it is, i cannot tell. A PV444 Volvo, perhaps? submitted by catyron, missing Gary Woloski and his series on "The Cars," September 25th, 2021.
+Marion Moses is the mother of William R Moses who played Perry's assistant/detective, Ken Malansky in 21 of the later made for television Perry Mason movies. Submitted by BigBill767, 6/17/2016.
Murder Method: Mrs. Pollard was the ninth current murder victim that was strangled. That number includes the first victim in #92 who had been killed three weeks before the second person. Submitted by H. Mason 4/14/15
This is the first of five credited, but unnamed, PM appearances for Patricia Joyce...MikeM. 2/6/2017
This is the only PM appearance for Lloyd Bochner. You may remember him for his role in the "To Serve Man" episode of "The Twilight Zone", or as Cecil Colby on "Dynasty".. ..Bob61571, 2/12/2018
This is the only PM appearance for Charlotte Fletcher (Aimee Wynne) and the last entry on her brief IMDb Filmography. Charlotte Fletcher had married in 1963 and in 1964 gave birth to a daughter, just three months before this episode was filmed. She would later have a son. It appears that she gave up film and television to raise a family. Charlotte Fletcher passed in 2003 at the age of 75...MikeM. 6/18/2018
+Gilbert Green and Jason Evers would later appear as father and son in Season 4 of 'The Rockford Files' in the episode 'Requiem for a Funny Box.' It was a rather avant-garde episode (for its time, at least) that depicted the great lengths homosexual men often took to hide their relationships. Third_Generation_Fan, 3/22/2021
Location and Set: That Tudor house, that staircase. Need i say more? Submitted by catyron, June 24th, 2018
+Has anyone ever supplied an accurate tally of the number of PM episodes in which that house and/or that staircase appear? It's most certainly a discouragingly high number. Submitted by BobH, 25 June 2018.\\
+ At least they switched it up a bit - what is usually the door to a room is the entrance. DOD 03/22/21
Comments Edit
Lt Anderson testified that the officer chasing Roy Galen followed him to try to discover what Roy was running away from. He found Galen leaving the house where Sybil was murdered. Considering the chase happened BEFORE the murder, how did Andy reconcile his testimony? Did he think Galen murdered Sybil, ran away, and then returned to the scene of the crime? Poor, nonsensical writing. DM 1/24
+That isn’t exactly what was described. They said the officer following his car lost him. Another officer found his car while searching, so presumably there was plenty of time between the two for the murder to have been committed.
- HPW 9/24
Eric Pollard has dizzy spells, like he is almost fainting from painful headaches, and no one is recommending a thorough physical examination for him? No one wonders about brain tumors or if his wife or someone is slowly poisoning him? Not even a psychiatrist, a physician, recommends such an exam. And they still let him drive a car. Well, maybe the taxi drivers steer clear of him. Submitted by (lowercase, with a comma and period) masonite, 12/14/12.
+Exactly! Pollard had a history of dizzy spells that coincided with his erratic behavior. He even lost consciousness in front of the judge! At that point, wouldn't they have called a doctor to help? And wouldn't that doctor have ordered a battery of tests to see what was going on? Even the psychiatrist kept harping on Ballard's "delusions" when none of that explained why he took a gun to a bank and smashed up a cab. Even if he did believe his wife was cheating or even if she really was cheating, it didn't excuse his behavior! My wife cheated so I'm going to rob a bank? DM 1/24
Ballard's behavior at the probation office would have been more than enough to get him re-arrested. Making threats against a public service officer is a violation of the terms of his probation. If his probation officer had done his job, he would have detained and arrested him. Ballard was far too arrogant for someone facing 5 years hard labor if he messed up. DM
Slo-Mo Was it just me or did Paul's recording of Ballard's voice sound like the batteries were running down? It sounded like a very slow version of the real guy's voice.
During his second questioning of the coroner, Perry refers to t t's "muscuLĀTure" (long "A" sound). jfh 08Jun2022.
In his office, Talbot serves coffee in the Curious Coffee set.
Looks like Galen has borrowed Della’s file cabinets - you know, the ones with a separate drawer for letters A through H.
I can understand how Sybil could be given power of attorney for her husband in personal matters, but it makes no sense she would be given such power in business matters. DOD 03/06/20
+Yes! What experience did she have with investments? It seemed as though her signature was nothing more than a formality. It was presented as though others would handle the actual work and she would just need to sign off on it. When they started accusing her of embezzlement, it really seemed like something she would not have the experience or knowledge to do. Unless she was a financial advisor herself, it made no sense that she would even be accused of the crime. It was very obvious that someone way more experienced with the firm's accounts set her up. Yet none of the investigators seemed to catch this discrepancy or even ask the question about how she would have known how to do this.
Wedding Rings; Eric Pollard said he loved his wife but didn't wear a ring. Sibyll Pollard wanted a divorce but appeared to be wearing a wedding ring. That seems backward. Submitted by H. Mason 4/14/15
+ While double-ring ceremonies are more common now, single-ring marriage ceremonies, symbolic of the man giving his reproductive seed (I kid you not) and the woman receiving it, have been the norm. Some religions still prohibit double-ring ceremonies. It could be that Eric Pollard never wore a wedding ring, regardless of his feelings toward his wfe. jfh 06Feb2017.
Question: What happened to Dean Franklin? Submitted by H. Mason 4/14/15
Original viewers may have heard the News that day: "Berkeley Free Speech Movement: Police arrest over 800 students at the University of California following their takeover and sit-in at the administration building in protest at the UC Regents' decision to forbid protests on UC property [takemeback.to/03-December-1964]"; the 1st Amendment: "the Right of the people peaceably to Assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." Mike Bedard 4.20.15
That was fun, let's do it again: Roy and Sibyll are embracing on a bench at night when an unexpected photographer takes one flash photo of them (24:49 of the 2012 Paramount DVD). When the photographer shows the photo in court (37:24), the positions of Roy and Sibyll have changed (Roy's hands, Sibyll's face), and they are no longer closing their eyes during the flash. The KEEP CLEAN container behind Roy also disappeared, possibly from the angle of the photo. lowercase masonite, 4/22/16.
During his testimony under oath, Larry West says that, in the park, he heard Roy Galen say to Sibyll, "Right now, if anybody's going to kill you, Sibyll it'll be me." In the MeTV syndicated version of this episode, the audience wasn't priviledged to hear the conversation after Mr. West "doubled back", but was it shown in anyone else's version? jfh 01Sep2022
Discussing Pollard’s case in the judge’s chamber, Burger reminds the judge he planned to charge Pollard with armed robbery. Not sure how he could do that if the banks weren’t even open. Seems to me the proper charge would be grand theft auto. DOD 03/22/21
Unobjectionable testimony?: The doctor testifies in court (35:41 onward) that "the murderer used his forearm or the palm of his hand to exert pressure...". Perry only listens attentively, without any objection about assuming facts not in evidence or even asking if a woman could have exerted the pressure. lowercase masonite, 4/22/16.
Another episode where a "Texan" uses the term "John Henry" instead of "John Hancock" for the word "signature". see episode 192. jfh 06Feb2017.
The Talbot and Pollard office doors, at the beginning (about 3 minutes in on the broadcast version), appear to have no glass. It's interesting to see what older TV shows could get away with, as far as sets. Granted, I am watching on a 50" TV, and 50 years ago, most people — I assume — would have had a 20" or smaller TV set. Also, is anyone else bothered by Perry's office desk? it seem to just be cheap peg board around the sides. Also, someone should be keeping track of the metal 'cone' wall sconce (Richard Jenkins office, around 9 minutes in on the broadcast version) I have been seeing those a lot on the sets. —yelocab 03JUL18
No wonder the investor whose $250,000 went missing was so upset, in 2021 money that would be just over $2,000,000! OLEF641 8/4/21
The writers seem to have done a good job of setting up likely (red herring) suspects with the secretary and disgruntled investor, but - disappointingly - nothing was done further to develop those angles; indeed - again, disappointingly, as it is so often the case - the resolution is one of those out-of-the-blue no-real-evidence suppositions; without the obligatory confession, the case would be unresolved. Notcom, 071019.
Agree - and it’s difficult to believe someone could do that tape recorder trick in a busy office building, and then hide it somewhere without being spotted. Also, if Pollard cared so little for his wife that he was willing to set her up to take the blame for his crime, why should he care she was having an affair? DOD 03/06/20
Yet another episode where the victim was not "deserving", so to speak. And, like in the previous episode where that was the case, #217/Nautical Knot, apparent mental derangement is also a plot point, though unlike here, it was the victim who appeared impaired. OLEF641 8/4/21
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