The Case of the Fugitive Nurse (15 Feb. 1958)

The wife of a prominent physician is arrested for drugging her husband, causing him to crash his private plane. But then he turns up alive, living in Mexico with a beautiful nurse.

Director:

Laslo Benedek

Writers:

Erle Stanley Gardner (story), Gene Wang (teleplay),

Stars:

Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, William Hopper

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Raymond Burr	...	Perry Mason
Barbara Hale	...	Della Street
William Hopper	...	Paul Drake
William Talman	...	Hamilton Burger
Ray Collins	...	Lt. Tragg
Shepperd Strudwick	...	Dr. Morris (as Sheppard Strudwick)
Bethel Leslie	...	Janet Morris
Dabbs Greer	...	Dave Kirby
Maxine Cooper	...	Gladys Strome
Jeanette Nolan	...	Mrs. Kirby
Woody Chambliss	...	Philip Connors (Phil) Reese (as Woodrow Chambliss)
Helen Brown	...	Mrs. Strome
Al Lettieri	...	Arthur Strome (as Anthony Lettier)
Arthur Hanson	...	Lt. Brewer
Larry J. Blake	...	Smith (as Larry Blake)

Storyline

Janet Morris knows her husband, a doctor, is having an affair with his nurse Gladys Strome but up to now has refused to agree to a divorce. He's about to fly off in his own airplane when Janet meets him at the airport to tell him she will give him the divorce he wants. She also gives him a thermos of coffee for his trip. When the plane crashes, there is little left but the autopsy on the remains shows Morris had been drugged. Janet is charged with her husband's death and Perry defends her. When Dr. Morris is found alive in Mexico living with Gladys, the case takes a sudden twist.

---

Plot Keywords:

mistaken identity

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 1958 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 4, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paisano Productions, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Dave Kirby describes having steel implants as a result of reconstructive surgery. Yet after a fatal plane crash, his corpse is confused with that of Dr. Morris, who presumably had no such steel implants.

User Reviews

Lt Tragg at his best

I really liked this episode. Good storyline and some good acting makes this an enjoyable watch.

This involves Dr Morris (Sheppard Strudwick) and his wife Janet (Bethel Leslie) and their marriage that has hit the rocks. Dr Morris wants a divorce so that he can be with his nurse and Ms Morris refuses to divorce him.

Dr Morris has a friend named David Kirby (Dabbs Greer who's face is well know to sitcom watchers) that helps him out in certain situation. Mainly helping the Doc run around on his wife. Mr Kirby is married to Ms Kirby (Jeanette Nolen) and has just opened a drive-in restaurant outside of town.

Dr Morris's plane crashed and it is proved that the good doctor had been drugged by another person. The last thing a witness saw was Ms Morris putting a thermos of coffee into the plane. And with all the Morris's problems Lt Tragg and Hamilton Burger charge ms Morris with the death of her husband. The show continues from that point with some twists and revelations that are classic to the 'Perry Mason' mystery machine.

In this episode we have some characters that are properly casted. Sheppard Strudwick, casted as the doctor, is well prepared for the part. He plays a part where he has disdain for his wife because she will not file for divorce. In fact I am not sure that in real life he had disdain for Bethel Leslie- who played his wife in the episode. His acting seemed to be natural and came across on screen that he really hated even the sight of Bethel Leslie--oh his wife.

Jeanette Nolen, casted as Ms Kirby, is another good casting success. She is to play a women that is running a drive-in and gets no help from her husband. She plays the part of a women that is in full control of any situation and will do anything to make the drive-in work.

Ray Collins (Lt Tragg) gets some good lines in this episode. From his meeting with Paul at the crash scene and his exchange with Perry on the witness stand- it is Tragg at his best. He even gave me a few laughs during the show.

This episode has everything that makes "Perry Mason" a great series. Good acting from nearly everyone in the cast. Heated courtroom exchanges between Burger and Perry. Judge ruling on testimonial evidence. And a humorous ending between Perry, Paul and Della.

Show is a very good watch for any mystery fan.