Show120
Old-time silent star Richard Arlen makes his only appearance on Perry in this episode playing Dr. Harrison. Richard Arlen co-starred in the 1927 production of Wings, the first movie to win an Oscar for best picture. Submitted by PaulDrake33.
Bruce Bennett (Dan Morgan) makes this a classic Hollywood star feast! An Olympic shotputting champion, he was cast by MGM to star in Tarzan the Apeman (1933), under his birth name, Herman Brix. He broke his shoulder filming a football movie and was replaced by Johnny Weismuller (Olympic swimming champion!) Tarzan author Edgar Rice Burroughs then teamed up with another investor to produce his own Tarzan movie--one that would accurately portray the character's dual nature, ape man and sophisticated English gentleman. Brix was their choice. Lots of fascinating (mis)adventures involved in shooting it in Guatemala. It was released as THE NEW ADVENTURES OF TARZAN in both serial and feature form. As Bennett, the actor was in a good number of film noir and detective films, and it's wonderful to see him, more than once, turn up on PM. He passed away at the age of 100. Submitted by JazzBaby, 9/8/2019.
Jeanne Bal makes her first of four appearances on Perry Mason. Her most famous role may have been as Nancy Crater on the first Star Trek episode to air, “Man Trap.” Posted by Kenmore, 12/13/2009.
Star Trek Alert: Not just Bal, but two other actors in this episode will appear in Star Trek roles. William Schallert (of The Patty Duke Show fame), was in the original series Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles." He also had a role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Schallert appeared in three Perry episodes. James Sikking (the Civil Engineer Bert Springer) got to command the starship Excelsior as Captain Styles in the movie Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. This was his only Perry apparence. Submitted by MyFavoritePolarBear, 1/24/23.
Location: There are some great shots of the Vandenberg Air Force Base in this episode. Submitted by gracep, 11/16/2010.
Although listed in the credits, neither Della Street (Barbara Hale) nor Lt. Tragg (Ray Collins) appear in this episode. Hamilton Burger (Talman) also does not appear, but he is not listed in the credits. Submitted by gracep, 11/16/2010.
+ MM is the 2nd of Barbara's 11 Credit-Only Perrys. She "began her professional career as a model for a comic strip called 'Ramblin' Bill,'" IMDb Bio notes. Mike Bedard 3.18.15.
+ When Talman was rehired, his new contract stated that he would only be credited for those episodes in which he appears. Submitted by vgy7ujm 9/17/2020
Character Names: Capt. Caldwell’s first name is Mike. The Civilian Engineer is Burt Springer (and his name is used more than once). Dr. Stanton’s first name is Richard. Submitted by gracenote, 7/10/2011.
CARS. (1) Helen Rand's medium-color 1961 Buick Electra 225 Convertible, top down. Same car appeared in ep#s 115 & 118.
Numerous USAF vehicles are seen around the Base:
- (a) several Willys M38A1 Jeeps, produced 1953-57.
- (b) 1959 Ford Country Sedan 4-door station wagon, parked at Launch Bunker, appears to have USAF paint but could be civilian.
- (c) two 1960 Ford F-Series Crew Cab Pickups, "Flareside" (traditional box), parked at Launch Bunker, another photo here.
Body molding on the USAF Crew Cabs matches the standard 1960 Ford F-Series. These Crew Cabs are unusual in that the Big Three automakers did not offer Crew Cabs for general sale until years after this episode aired. They were, however, available as special orders from specialist truck cab manufacturers. Use the "Previous Photo" button here to reveal the Manufacturer's Plate indicating that the Crew Cabs in this episode were very likely produced by Orville Body Co./Orrville Metal Specialty Co. of Orrville, Ohio. Today these trucks are rare. Added by Gary Woloski, 11/23/12.
Continuity Error: The rocket we see being erected at the launch pad does not seem to be the same one we see being launched (unsuccessfully) shortly thereafter. Submitted by 65tosspowertrap, 9/30/2013.
Viewers will remember William Schallert as "Patty Duke's" dad on The Patty Duke Show. - Submitted by HamBurger 09/21/2014
Out of town: This was the second story of the last four without any scenes in Los Angeles. Submitted by H. Mason 11/10/14
Military Court: This was Perry's third case defending a member of the armed forces. The others were episode 43 (Army) and episode 92 (Navy). Submitted by H. Mason 11/10/14
Air Force: Perry and Bruce mention an Air Force/Navy assault on the O'club in 1944. There was no Air Force in 1944. The Army Air Corp was part of the Army. The Air Force was created in 1947.
+ Perry arrives first in an Air Force T-29 that was used to train navigators. It is the civilian version of the Convair 240. American and Western Air Lines used then in the late 40s and early 50s.
++ Colonel Sloan and Captain Caldwell arrive on the T-29, not Perry.
++ The second time that Perry arrives is is on a C-47B. It is the military version of the Douglas DC-3. It was produced in the late 30s and mid 40's. That tail number was manufactured in 1945 along with a dozen that were sold sold to the USSR (they were briefly our friends). Bill767, 1/6/16
The Case of the Veteran Victims? For the first and only time in his five series appearances, actor George Neise does not play the murder victim. He gives way to another "veteran victim": Simon Oakland, who played the victim in both of his Mason appearances.
Also, about a decade and a half after this episode aired, Simon Oakland again assumed victim status in the Ellery Queen TV series episode entitled "The Adventure of the Pharaoh's Curse." This EQ episode should not be confused with the 1957 grade-Z horror movie "Pharaoh's Curse," which included . . . George Neise (who, of course, did not survive the final credits) in its cast. Submitted by BobH, 25 August 2016.
This is the second of two PM directing credits for John Peyser. Both episodes aired in 1961...MikeM. 9/15/2016
This is the only PM appearance for Stephen Roberts, who would later play President Franklin Roosevelt in two different television productions...MikeM. 12/22/2016
This is the first of two PM appearances for Med Flory, who was a pilot during World War II...MikeM. 9/21/2017
+ Interestingly, Med Flory's second Perry appearance in episode 128 "The Case Of The Crying Comedian" has him again portraying a chardacter named 'McVey'. jfh 23Jan2018.
This is the second of five Perry appearances for Bruce Bennett who, of course, played opposite Joan Crawford in Mildred Pearce. Mr. Bennett lived to be 100 years and 9 months old! jfh 08Feb2019
James Sikking makes an early career(and only PM) appearance as civilian engineer Bert Springer. You make recognize Sikking from "Hill Street Blues" as SWAT Lt. Howard Hunter, or from "Doogie Howser, M.D." as Dr. David Howser, Doogie's dad....BobB, 9/22/2017