Show31
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#31: The Case of the
Fiery Fingers
Original Airdate: 05/03/58
Summary Edit
From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
A nurse is accused of poisoning a wealthy woman but Perry suspects the dead woman's husband instead. Why? Because the man's first wife died of a poisoning also.
Credits Edit
Cast
Mary La Roche as Vicky Braxton
Edward Norris as George Gordon
Lenore Shanewise as Nora Mae Quincey
Susan Dorn as Louise Gordon
Fay Spain as Charlotte Lynch
Robert Burton as Dr. W. Fremont
Charles Lane as Dr. Williams
Sydney Smith as Judge
Connie Cezon as Gertie
Charles Davis as Dr. J. Meecham
Gilbert Frye as Detective
Jack Gargan as Court Clerk
Uncredited Actors
Bess Flowers as Woman Dining in Restaurant (added by gracep 10/6/2010)
Don Anderson as Courtroom Spectator (spotted by FredK, added by gracep 11/3/2010)
Lee Miller as Courtroom Spectator
production number 035
Trivia Edit
CARS: No cars. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.
Sightings: Our dark-complected friend who attends so many of Perry’s trials is again present in the gallery at the trial. He sits just over Perry’s left sholder. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 6 August 2009.
+ Read about the Pencil Mustache Man and all the other favorite frequent faces here. Submitted by gracep, 11/3/2010.
++ In court, we find the Distinguished Gentelman #1 as the court reporter and Sasha Magaloff and Little Old Lady #2 are in the Jury. Distinguished Lady #4 and Little Old Lady #1 appear on Perry's right side. Submitted by BigBill767, Nov 11, 2016.
+++ "Sasha Magaloff" is now known to be the actor Mitchell Rhein. Submitted by catyron, November 16, 2020.
Uncredited Actors: Don Anderson once again plays a spectator at the trial. As in the last episode, he’s in the last row on Burger's side. Submitted by FredK, 3 Nov 2010.
Nora Mae Quincey fluctuates wildly between lucid and demented, playing checkers with chessmen and speaking to an invisible companion. I would say that dementia is not a good trait for a nurse. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 6 August 2009.
+ I think she was just lonely. Submitted by 65tosspowertrap, 4-18-14.
+My mother has been evaluated with early signs of dementia: it's definitely not the easiest thing to deal with, but she doesn't talk to herself...more like forgetting things. Submitted by MikeReese, 11/13/2023.
This episode of Perry Mason (TCOT Fiery Fingers) is based on an Erle Stanley Gardner novel of the same name. The season seven episode titled TCOT Woeful Widower (#204, 7.23) is also based on this same ESG novel. So this seventh season episode is often considered to be a "re-make" of TCOT Fiery Fingers. See repeated episodes here. Submitted by Charles Richmond, 25 April 2013.
Major movie actor Edward Norris makes his first of two appearances on Perry here playing George Gordon. Shortly after his second appearance on Perry in 1962 at the age of 51, Edward Norris retired from acting and lived out the last 40 years of his life out of the limelight. Lucky man, Edward Norris was the first husband of the beautiful Ann Sheridan. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 6 August 2009.
Veteran character actor Charles Lane makes his only Perry appearance here as Doctor Williams. When he died in July 2007, Charles Lane was 102 years and 6 months old, making him, as far as I can ascertain, the second oldest Perry alumnus. Charles Hamilton, (still living), “TCOT Posthumous Painter,” at 106 is the oldest alumnus. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 10 December 2009. + NOTE: Chuck Hamilton died the day before Christmas, 1978, at age 75. Submitted by cgraul, 11/3/2011.
The short establishing shot presumably of Sierra City after Paul’s flight appears identical to that of Pinewood seen in #26, “TCOT Half-Wakened Wife,” and Sierra City in #45, “TCOT Buried Clock.” Pinewood here. Sierra City here. Submitted by daveb, 3/6/2011.
+ This is a short film clip of the hill overlooking Petaluma, California. Submitted by catyron, December 4, 2020.
Syndicated cuts:
* Nora Mae telling Perry she put the pills (with tonic and honey) in the milk because she was afraid Gordon would call the police if she didn't
* Mason asking Vicky if someone could have gone in Mrs. Gordon's room after she was asleep and added the arsenic to the milk, Vicky answering yes
* Gertie answering a call and eating chocolates and Drake entering
* Drake flies to Sierra City, sees Dr. Fremont about Grace Gordon's medical history.
Additional Hallmark cuts:
* Nora Mae asking Perry isn't it a pity about the Gordons, Mason asking her why she hasn't told the police, Nora Mae saying they were busy and she never got a chance to show the pills to a Sgt. Wallace
* Mason asking Vicky if George would have been penniless if the will had been changed, Vicky answering that was the intention, Mason asking if he was faithful, Vicky answering he had a girlfriend named Charlotte (last name unknown) and she didn't think he has seen her in months because he rarely left the house
* Mason reading aloud Drake's report "Grace Gordon deceased"
* Burger's opening statement
* Mason's cross-examination of Dr. Williams
* Tragg testifying that he found nothing to indicate Mrs. Gordon took the arsenic herself
* Mason asking if Tragg agreed that Nora Mae would have handled the household chemicals in the course of her duties, Burger objecting, judge sustaining and telling jury to disregard
* Gordon testifying that Nora Mae was quite anxious to help him with Burger stating that she did it so she could later blame Gordon, Mason objecting, judge sustaining
* Mason asking if he saw "Mary Smith" a good deal, Gordon answering no, only a few times and that it was casual
* Mason finishing his question to Dr. Meecham that there was no trace of arsenic or other poison, doctor replying that was also correct; asking the doctor if he was incorrect when he said there was no trace of arsenic or other poison, the doctor responding he was correct just not asked if we could have found other poisons, Mason stating he has been asked now and the doctor saying he's been asked and he answered.
Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 8/01/12.
It's for you, Mr. Mason: Perry's at the stately Gordon residence when the maid tells him Paul Drake's on the horn -- but he doesn't take the call this time. Submitted by francis, 6/16/14.
This is the second of six episodes where the three main characters (defendant, victim, killer) are all female. the first was episode 30 TCOT Screaming Woman. The others are episodes 37,143,153,204. Submitted by H. Mason 9/26/14
According to IMDb, this is the third of three PM teleplays by Laurence Marks...MikeM. 8/19/2016
According to IMDb, this is the first of 76 PM directing credits for Arthur Marks. Arthur Marks was listed as assistant producer on 43 PM episodes and producer on 101 PM episodes...MikeM. 8/19/2016
This was the only PM episode for prolific character actor Robert Burton. Burton was born in Georgia in 1895 and passed in Los Angeles in 1962,,,MikeM. 8/19/2016
Lenore Shanewise was born in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1887. She passed in San Diego in 1980...MikeM.8/19/2016+This is the first of two PM appearances for Lenore Shanewise. She would also appear with RB in two episodes of " Ironside ". Lenore Shanewise became a mentor for RB when he performed at the Pasadena Playhouse. They remained close personal friends. There is an extensive biography of Lenore Shanewise online at the library of the University of Northern Iowa...MikeM. 6/1/2018
This is the first of five PM appearances for Mary La Roche, who starred with Richard Denning in all 27 episodes of the 1964-1965 NBC sitcom " Karen "...MikeM. 6/1/2018
Gavel Tally - Twice. When Gordon reveals he will receive one million dollars (just over 9.5 million in 2021) from his wife's estate, and the gallery begins to murmur, the judge gavels the court to order; he gavels later to adjourn court before Vicki Braxton's testimony. OLEF641 12/18/21
Comments Edit
Cinematography: Perhaps one of the most powerful camera shots in the entire series comes at the end of the final courtroom scene, as the camera, from the point of view of the judge, slowly and silently pans the entire room. Submitted by francis 1/18/12
There is excellent cinematography throughout this episode. Submitted by Rickapolis 8/11/16
+Interesting that the camera "slowly and silently pans the 'entire room'" but stops short of showing Della. jfh 22May2017.
--- update: In today's airing of this episode on MeTV, Della is shown in the final courtroom pan. jfh 13Jun2019.
A very similar setup to “Demure Defendent” - a wealthy person poisoned on the eve of rewriting a will, with a houseful of likely suspects. DOD 07/27/22
Distinguished Gentleman makes another appearance as court reporter. We get a good look at Della’s unique filing system - a separate drawer for each of the first twelve letters of the alphabet. When Paul makes his second entrance into Perry’s office, there is a large plant left of the door. In later episodes there would be a table with painting above here. After consulting Perry, Nora Mae wears the stolen rings through the house to her room. Odd, indeed. DOD 06/01/18
Della and Perry handle the pills with their bare hands, apparently unconcerned that they might be poisonous.
Second episode in a row--and at least the sixth so far--featuring an affluent, childless, unhappily-married couple. Submitted by 65tosspowertrap, 4-18-14.
In some shots Lenore Shanewise's facial expressions look a lot like Ray Collins'. They could have played brother and sister. Wiseguy70005, 5/14/24
Apparently the possibility that only one of the pills was poisoned never occurred to any of the characters (and perhaps the writers) and that the pill that Drake had analyzed wasn't the one with the poison. Of course we know now that George wasn't the killer but nobody knew it then. The pills could have been replaced by lookalikes and all the pills could have been tested. Perhaps that's
too complicated and time-consuming for a 1958 TV episode. Wiseguy70005, 5/14/24
The Mason office is prepared to serve high tea at short notice? vgy7ujm 19 July 2020
+ With an entirely new English bone chine tea set featuring footed cups decorated with small clusters of flowers and gold banding. Submitted by catyron, December 4, 2020.
The scene of Nora Mae carrying the tray of milk to Mrs. Gordon is reminiscent of Cary Grant carrying a glass on a tray in the 1946 film Suspicion, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Submitted by H. Mason 10/23/14
"Arsenic Trioxide" is defined as "a white, tasteless, amorphous, slightly water-soluble, poisonous powder used chiefly in the manufacture of pigments and glass, as an insecticide, weed-killer, etc." [Webster's Encyc. Unabr. Dict.]. Mike Bedard 5.1.15
Testy-mony Perry's cross-examination of Dr. Meecham seemed remarkably pointed, with each seemingly trying to out-snark the other; it's always a small joy to find people who can go toe-to-toe with Perry's aggressive courtroom tactics, rather than be intimidated by them. Notcom 112421.
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A rare episode with what appears to be a jury. That paneling with the oval insets appears yet again. DOD 08/11/23
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