The Case of the Sulky Girl (19 Oct. 1957)

An impetuous niece who demands her trust fund be released comes to Perry Mason for help. But it's her boyfriend who needs defending when he is charged with murdering her controlling uncle.

Director:

Christian Nyby

Writers:

Erle Stanley Gardner (novel), Harold Swanton (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. Arthur Tragg
Olive Sturgess	...	Fran Celane (as Olive Sturgis)
William Schallert	...	Donald Graves
Lillian Bronson	...	Clara Mayfield
Robert Griffin	...	Arthur Crinston
Connie Cezon	...	Gertie
Brian G. Hutton	...	Rod Gleason (as Brian Hutton)
Raymond Greenleaf	...	Edward Norton
Howard Wendell	...	Judge Brian C. Purley
Paul Bryar	...	Police Sgt. George Wilbur
Frank Wilcox	...	Judge Markham

Storyline

An impetuous niece who demands her trust fund be released comes to Perry Mason for help. But it's her boyfriend who needs defending when he is charged with murdering her controlling uncle.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 October 1957 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS Television Network, Paisano Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The framed image on Paul Drake's desk is that of Dick Tracy, perhaps the most famous American detective.

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Quotes

Paul Drake: [after being handed a subpoena by Tragg] Burger would never call me.
Lt. Tragg: He might and then again he might not. But if I were you I'd get some good legal advice. Would you like to have me recommend a good lawyer?

User Reviews

The viewer has to be alert in this entertaining case

This is one where it looks likes Perry's client is in dire straits. But with careful cross examination Perry is able to get to the truth of a murder even though all the evidence points to conviction.

The story starts off when a young woman, Fran Celane, is in a argument with her Uncle Edward Norton over his control of her trust-fund. Uncle Edward refuses to release the fund's money to Fran until she turns 25 years of age. And being a young woman in love she dislikes her Uncle.

But what the Uncle does not know is that Fran has already got married to a young man named Ron Gleason. And when Ron goes over to talk with Uncle Edward, he is seen by Edward's secretary, Donald Graves, inside Edward's room. When he goes back to the room, Edward is dead. Ron Gleason is accused of murder and Perry will defend him in court.

But there is more to this little homicide than meets the eye. The viewer has to be alert as Perry examines the testimony of each witness and finally gets a break in the case. When the pressure gets too great for one person, he cracks and tells the entire story. But not until we as the viewer have been entertained to the fullest.

Raymond Burr is excellent in this episode as he seems more into the character than usual. Ray Collins does his regular nice performance when he is shooting rubber-bands at a picture of Mason. A Good watch for all.

Note- Most TV station now cut out a nice part of the show. The part cut is when Hamilton Burger, in a fedora hat, and Lt Tragg at at Edward's house recreating the crime scene. A good scene that was cut but still seen in the DVD collection.