Show40
CARS: 1958 Cadillac convertible, black, top down (Mason), 1958 Chevrolet Delray 4dr sedan, black & white (Police), 19?? Packard ambulance. From The Cars by Greg Cockerill.
For some reason the courtroom is flip-flopped in this episode. The witness box is to the judge’s right, not left and Perry and Della sit to the judge’s left instead of right. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 15 June 2008.
+ As noted before, there’s nothing odd about this seating arrangement. Assuming the jury box in this courtroom is to the judge’s right, then Burger would be seated closer to the jury, since the DA would have the burden of proof in this proceeding — submitted by judgebob1, 11/29/20
++ Speaking of flip-flopped, we get to see a flipped view of Perry's office, in the scene we see Della's pendant mentioned below with Paul entering from his usual side door. We see one of those 50's pole lamps in the background. Submitted by HamBurger, 10/1/2017
+++Also the only time I recall a phone at that table. DOD 06/13/18
There sure are a lot of scratches on that witness box. Maybe they should have used the one on the judge's left. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/21/13.
First episode where Della wears a pendant with the initials D S in script. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 15 June 2008.
First episode where Lillian Bronson plays a judge. She had appeared the season before in “TCOT Sulky Girl” as a housekeeper. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 15 June 2008.
Joan Staley makes her first of four appearances on Perry playing Roberta Quinn. Joan Staley was playmate of the month for November 1958 in Playboy magazine. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 12 February 2009.
There is something strange going on with Joan Staley. All the sources I can find list her birthdate as 1940. That would have made her barely 18 when she filmed this episode. If you look at her she definitely looks older than 18. Also she was married for the first time in 1956. That would have made her 16 then. Not impossible, but improbable. Submitted by PaulDrake33, 3 December 2011.
Anomaly: When Laura Beaumont is on the witness stand she calls her secretary by the name of Roberta Walker. The final credits list her secretary’s name as Roberta Quinn. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 12 August 2009.
Goof: When Laura Beaumont is testifying she states that the last time she saw her husband was an hour before his plane crashed on November 19, three years earlier. Earlier when Perry was relating the story to Della, he stated that George Beaumont’s plane crashed into the Atlantic with no survivors. It would be impossible for a plane to get from Los Angeles to the Atlantic in an hour. Submitted by PaulDrake 33, 12 August 2009.
+ Not a Goof: The question Laura Beaumont is asked is when she last saw or heard from her husband. There is no reason he would have been flying from L.A. as trans-Atlantic jet service did not begin until late 1958, and that was NY-London. She could have been speaking with him by phone or with him at a New York airport. Submitted by Fitzt, 3 March 2011.
Goof: When Mason asks McKay a question, McKay makes a speech (which sums up the Perry Mason formula) that Mason not only gets his clients off but he also produces the guilty party. Then he answers the question of did he know Beaumont. But Mason didn't ask that, he asked how well did he know Beaumont. Mason did not object to the wrong question answered. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 7/21/13.
Sightings: Distinguished Gentleman #1, usually an observer in the gallery, plays court reporter today. Submitted by gracep, 10/4/2010.
Syndication cuts: Scene in Mason's office before Tragg calls, with Della telling Gertie to go home, Paul hungry and leaving; Mason arriving at the motel and not speaking to reporters; second scene with Perry, Mrs. Beaumont and McKay where Laura tells Mason she didn't know her husband was alive; shot of the freeway after Paul visits Folsom. Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 8/12/12.
This episode--the first of the second season--is the second of two consecutive episodes featuring Joan Camden. She is also in the last episode of the first season--TCOT Rolling Bones. Her characters were unlucky--in both episodes, her boyfriend is the murder victim. Submitted by 65tosspowertrap, 5-3-2014.
This is also the second (consecutive) season opener featuring Vaughn Taylor...and he isn't a very nice person in either episode. Submitted by Notcom, 090216.
Yes, but I rather enjoyed seeing Taylor play a real skunk of a person for a change; nicely done too.....dped, 12/10/23.
Recycled newspaper: The folded paper Laura Beaumont had in her office came from episode 31 TCOT Fiery Fingers. Submitted by H. Mason 9/28/14
The Beaumont Office Equipment company sells check writers, machines that print check amounts in embossed, multicolored figures that cannot be altered. vgy7ujm 18 July 2020.
This is the first of five PM appearances for Jeanne Cooper, the mother of Corbin Bernsen...MikeM. 9/1/2016
Pinky Rings: Perry, Paul, Della, Harry Folsom, Laura Beaumont...MikeM. 9/1/2016
This is the final of sixteen PM appearances for prolific character actor Jack Gargan (Court Clerk), who was born in England. Jack Gargan passed, aged 58, on 30 September 1958, ten days after this episode aired...MikeM. 6/13/2018
Hmmmm, first episode season one = Villa Espana motel, first episode season two = Villa motel. Villa must be a theme forming.... Submitted by HamBurger, 6/13/2021
1958 Postal Service Notice on the envelope only the name, street address, and "Los Angeles" provided. No Zip codes yet, and they don't even bother to give the state. And practically all mail is sorted manually then. Rick P 10/4/21