The Case of the Terrified Typist (21 Jun. 1958)

A terrified typist rushes into Perry Mason's office pretending to be sent by a temp agency. The office of the diamond importers on the floor above has been invaded. Later one of the ... See full summary »

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writers:

Erle Stanley Gardner (novel), Robert C. Dennis (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
Alan Marshal	...	James Kincaid aka Duane Jefferson (as Alan Marshall)
Joanna Moore	...	Patricia Taylor
Joan Elan	...	Mrs. Lumis
Ben Wright	...	Walter Lumis
Connie Cezon	...	Gertie
Jack Raine	...	George Baxter
Kenneth MacDonald	...	Judge (as Kenneth R. MacDonald)
Harold Dyrenforth	...	Henrich (as Harald Dyrenforth)
Hank Patterson	...	Jack Gilly
Jack Gargan	...	Court Clerk

Storyline

A terrified typist rushes into Perry Mason's office pretending to be sent by a temp agency. The office of the diamond importers on the floor above has been invaded. Later one of the partners, George Baxter, is killed, and another partner, Duane Jefferson, is charged with murder. Perry defends Jefferson, but the accused man is too gallant to name his alibi, a married woman. Such chivalry leads to a dramatic twist and an unexpected conclusion.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 June 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

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Hamilton Burger: Your honor, this is just another wild-eyed, dramatic grandstand play for which counsel is so noted.

User Reviews

Head still spinning

Even though this episode has twist at every turn it does delivery a watchable show.

It involves a diamond company, located one floor above Perry's office, where they have a little break-in and then a murder. All the evidence points to Duane Jefferson (Alan Marshall) as being the person that committed such a crime. We even get a boats-man, played by Hank Patterson of Green Acres fame (Fred Ziffel) that actually can ID Jefferson near where a body was dumped.

Mr Jefferson case hinges on a women he was with the night of the murder but he refuses to name the women. Which makes the viewer scramble to find/guess the woman before it is brought out in court. But there is a surprising twist that leads the meeting of two people useless to the crime.

Also this is one where Perry actually loses the case. Hamilton Burger is aglow with excitement as the foreman of the jury reads "guilty". Even the viewer more than likely have voted guilty after Lt Tragg presented evidence from a broken concrete block that I feel sure 'had his mark'.

But hold fast Perry fans. The show still has ten minutes and that means just enough time for Paul and Perry to do some checking on the facts. And from the Chubby Checker recording - It is time to do the twist all over again.

Throw in some lies, photos and a heaping of switcheroo and Perry could get this guy off before the show ends. But in another seemingly endless twist, the person that Perry is defending may not be found innocent of the crime after-all. Perry maybe having dinner with Paul and Della but the man Perry was defending may have his dinner catered by the prison system.

As sore as I was from all the twist of the show- it was enjoyable to watch.