Show32
CARS: 1958 Cadillac convertible, black, white top up (Mason). From The Cars by Greg Cockerill. (& more)
Continuity: The case of the “Disappearing Defendant.” At about 28 and 1/2 minutes into the episode, Perry is in Court. Anna Houser is there. She touches Perry’s arm and they talk. Paul Drake comes into Court and goes to the Defendant’s table. If you look next to Perry, it’s obvious that Anna Houser has disappeared. When everyone stands, we see she has reappeared! Submitted by billp, 1/17/2009.
+ She hasn't disappeared; she's just leaning forward in her chair. You can see her shoulder and arm as Paul sits down. Submitted by francis, 6/4/13
That dictating machine that appears in this episode and several others is a Dictaphone Time Master by the Dictaphone Corporation. For a picture of the device and information about how it worked, see here. Submitted by billp, 1/18/2009.
+ This link observes, "The actual Dictaphone machine used by President Kennedy in the White House. It's a Dictaphone 'Time-Master' Model 117000 type P6. It was manufactured in New York and measures 2 3/4 x 12 x 10 1/2 in. It is now in the collection of the JFK Library and on display in the museum. The recording was made on a plastic belt that went around the drum at right and into which grooves were made." Mike Bedard 4.30.15
The vessel Perry and Della are on is called the Westminister, sailing from Vancouver, Britsh Columbia to Los Angeles (I presume). Raymond Burr was born in New Westminister, British Columbia which is in the general region of Vancouver. Submitted by billp, 1/24/2009.
+ Actually, it's "Westminster" in both cases. Submitted by 65tosspowertrap, 18 April 2014.
++ unless I'm on a TZ version, the opening shot is of a ship called the Princess Irene, and again just before Ms Houser tries to join Perry and Della in the bar. Asta69 29.08.2024
++ Canada's 3 Best Imports to the US: Raymond Burr, William Shatner, James Doohan. Mike Bedard 5.4.15
Uncredited Actors: Another doubleheader for Don Anderson. He appears first as a bartender on the cruise ship then later as a courtroom spectator. Submitted by FredK, 2 October 2010.
+ That Don Anderson really got around. Turner Classic Movies showed The Wild One recently, and I caught sight of DA in a group still photo showcasing Marlon Brando. Anderson, uncredited of course, was looking delinquent, wearing a Brando-style officer's cap. JohnK, 13 July 2021
+ In the same scene in which Anderson is tending bar, King of the Extras Arthur Tovey plays a smiling waiter taking an order, and then he also serves Perry and Della. Bert Stevens also appears as an officer on ship. Submitted by gracenote, 9/3/2011.
++ Arthur Tovey (1904-2000) has 294 IMDb "Credits" for mostly UNcredited roles: 14 Perrys (5 Courtroom Spectator), 3 Wild, Wild Wests; 3 Quincys, 2 Columbos + 1 CREDITED Ironside (Professor). Mike Bedard 5.4.15
Sightings: It’s a quick shot, but around the 13 minute mark as the captain opens the door to collect a couple of witnesses, we see the Distinguished Gentleman #1 walking down the hallway from right to left. Submitted by Kenmore, 1/31/2011.
+ We actually catch an earlier glimpse of him in the same hallway as Perry as the attorney approaches Mrs. Houser’s cabin door. Submitted by gracenote, 9/3/2011.
++ A waiter talking to Anderson (see Uncredited Actors, above) is Pencil Mustache Man, who also carries a tray of drinks. Later he is a courtroom spectator, along with Distinguished Lady #4. They are joined by Distinguished Gentleman #1 and Distinguished Lady #2 in a later court session. Learn more about all the favorite frequent faces. Submitted by gracenote, 9/3/2011.
+++ We see the Distinguished Lady #4 cashing a check in the opening scene. The Distinguished Gentleman #1 and the Pencil Mustache Man make multiple appearances in the background in the halls of the ship. Submitted by BigBill767, Nov 12,2016.
Goofs: At 9:39, in the passageway of the cruise ship, Perry talks with Mr. Carter, the real-estate man; as the boat is supposed to roll from side to side, the men tilt right along with the walls. And at 9:45 in the cafe, Perry sits at a table with Mr. Carter and his secretary; as the boat is supposed to roll from side to side, the surface of the brandy in their glasses stays parallel to the table top. Submitted by 10yearoldfan, 7 August 2011. See also Comment below.
When the Captain visits Mrs. Houser he states "You say you did not go out on deck with your husband?" But she didn't say and he didn't ask. What he asked earlier (and she didn't answer) was "Where did you and your husband go when you left the dining room?" Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 8/20/13.
The purser is identified by the name "Buchanan." Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 8/20/13.
Because the murder investigation takes place aboard the ship, Lt. Tragg was not involved and does not appear in this episode. [Note I didn't use the unnecessary and over-used phrase although credited. Credits have nothing to do with whether a regular appears or not. If it's stated in the actor's contract he will be credited for every episode while he's a regular, he will be credited regardless of whether he appears or not. Contrast that with William Talman's "new" contract after his return that stated he only be credited on episodes he appears in. This was an exception used only rarely in TV series. Other examples of actors not being credited include Gale Gordon in episodes of The Lucy Show where he didn't appear, Adrienne Barbeau in the final season of Maude and the final season of The West Wing where, as a cost-saving measure, many of the normally-credited regulars were not when they didn't appear. It all depends on the contract.] Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 8/20/13.
Lt Tragg, although credited, doesn't appear. [Note I did use the "over-used" phrase. Contrary to Wiseguy70005's comment, this is actually useful information. The PM team kept Lt Tragg in the credits of dozens of episodes out of admirable loyalty and respect--how the phrase got over-used--but it'd be nice if somebody noted the episodes he is not in, somewhere...I know, in the PM wiki! Where else? Gracep wanted to know and decided to note that right here. I want to know too, so thanx, Gracenote! Wiseguy70005, please post a copy of Ray Collins' contract.] Submitted by DyNama, 11/3/2018
+ I don't have to provide a copy of Ray Collins' contract since I know what I'm talking about and you just don't like to be told facts. You haven't thought things through clearly. If what you say is true (it's not) then William Talman would have been credited for every episode after he returned after he was fired as he was before. Why wasn't he? Because he got a new contract after he returned, a contract that specified he would only get credited for episodes he appeared in. What you said is irrelevant anyway because Ray Collins was not ill in the first season when "Substitute Face" was filmed/aired and besides, he was credited after he could no longer appear and before his death because it was still in his contract. He was paid because he was credited. Do you think the producers paid him under the table? No, he had a contract. Credits are legal matters; they're not there because someone wanted to do something nice for someone.
Next time do some research before you tell someone who knows what he talking about is wrong. Wiseguy70005, 5/14/24
Sadly, Joan Tabor who played Evelyn Whiting in this one, died of an accidental overdose of flu medicine at the young age of 36 on December 18, 1968 in Culver City, California. She was last married to (and divorced from) Broderick Crawford ("10-4, 10-4"!!!), who was 21 years her senior. Submitted by mesave31, 05/04/15.
This is the first of six PM episodes for Lurene Tuttle...MikeM. 8/22/2016
* And she is splendid in every one of them. Her friendly chemistry with Raymond Burr always stands out. They positively *twinkle* as they read their lines together. Submitted by catyron, December 5th, 2020.
- Lurene Tuttle's most famous role would happen a few years later. It was a small part in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho". She played the wife of the sheriff, Mrs. Chambers, who spoke the memorable line, "I helped Norman pick out the dress she was buried in. Periwinkle blue." Submitted by Kenmore 01/002022.
This was the only PM appearance for character actorStanley Farrar, in a brief scene as an accountant. He was a long-time radio actor, as was Lurene Tuttle. Raymond Burr brought many radio actors to the Perry Mason series. Submitted by catyron, December 5th, 2020.
This is the second of four PM teleplays for writer Francis Cockrell....MikeM. 8/22/2016
This was the only PM appearance for Maureen Cassidy...MikeM. 8/22/2016
The epilogue is memorable. Paul says the complete name of the episode, "The Case of the Substitute Face", and Paul chokes on his sandwich and has to receive forceful back slaps from Della...MikeM. 8/22/2016
+ "It floored me too"....one of my favorite endings. Submitted by HamBurger, 9/17/2017
This is the first of two PM appearances for Ralph Dumke. He was born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1899...MikeM. 8/22/2016
This is the only PM appearance for Theodore Newton (Carl Houser), who worked steadily on stage, screen, and television until he passed in Hollywood in 1963 at the age of 59...MikeM. 6/4/2018