Perry Mason: Season 5
- 1961
- 30 episodes
- 52m
Season 5 of Perry Mason premiered on September 2, 1961 and has 30 episodes, from "The Case of the Jealous Journalist" to "The Case of the Lonely Eloper". The last episode aired on May 26, 1962.
Where to watch Perry Mason
In the United States, you can stream Perry Mason on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Paramount+ Amazon Channel and YouTube TV. It is on streaming services in 3 countries.
Episodes
Episode 1The Case of the Jealous JournalistAired September 2, 1961
The drowning death of a newspaper executive during a fishing trip sets off all kinds of repercussions at the newspaper itself.
Guest stars
- Frieda Inescort Hope Quentin
- Parley Baer Seward Quentin
- Claire Griswold Kerry Worden
- Roxanne Arlen Bonnie Mae
- Irene Hervey Grace Davies
- Denver Pyle Tilden Stuart
- Linden Chiles Joe Davies
- Bek Nelson Miriam Coffey
Episode 2The Case of the Impatient PartnerAired September 16, 1961
Paint manufacturer Amory Fallon suspects that his partner Ned Thompson is behind a mysterious fire and explosion.
Guest stars
- Ben Cooper Frank Wells
- Frank Biro Judge
- Jack Betts Bert Nickols
- Leslie Parrish Vivian Ames
- Dan Seymour Carlos Silva
- Wesley Lau Amory Fallon
- Charles Stroud Court Clerk
- Lucy Prentis Edith Fallon
Episode 3The Case of the Missing MelodyAired September 30, 1961
Perry and Della attend the wedding of Polly Courtland to Eddy King. The ceremony is halted at the altar when Polly begins screaming, "No! No!" and hurriedly exits the church. It seems as though Polly had spotted slimy George Sherwin holding an envelope containing photos of her younger sister checking into a Las Vegas hotel with a musician named Bongo White. Sherwin plans to ruin Polly and her family's reputation unless she gives up Eddy for him. Sherwin's plan comes a cropper when he's found shot to death. Eddy King is arrested for the crime.
Guest stars
- James Drury Eddy King
- Barney Kessel Barney
- Constance Towers Jonny Baker
- Jo Morrow Polly Courtland
- Bobby Troup Bongo White
- Andrea King Enid Markham
- Walter Burke Jack Grabba
- Crahan Denton Templeton Courtland
Episode 4The Case of the Malicious MarinerAired October 7, 1961
During a terrible storm at sea, First Officer Jerry Griffin dumps a million dollars worth of goods into the sea in order to lessen the chances of his cargo freighter sinking. Once on shore, Jerry is hauled before a maritime court which holds him responsible for the loss of the cargo. Captain Bancroft's testimony can clear Jerry but he is murdered before he can give it. Now Jerry stands accused of that crime too. Perry and Paul try to set things right once again.
Guest stars
- Sean McClory Fred Wenzel
- George Sawaya Connor
- Roy Jenson Officer
- Tudor Owen MacLean
- Max Showalter Frank Logan
- Robert Armstrong Capt. Bancroft
- Victor Sen Yung Sheng
- Edward Binns Charles Griffin
Episode 5The Case of the Crying ComedianAired October 14, 1961
Comic Charlie Hatch learns that the woman he loved and lost, Anne Gilrain, has escaped from a sanitarium to which she was forced to commit herself by her husband, Tom. When Tom Gilrain is murdered, Charlie is afraid that Anne did the deed and sets himself up as a likely suspect to protect her. Perry arrives on the scene to try and free Charlie from his abysmal stupidity.
Guest stars
- Sue Ane Langdon Rowena Leach
- Nestor Paiva Nico
- Jackie Coogan Elwood P. 'Gunner' Grimes
- Louis Mercier Remy
- Carl Milletaire Bolin
- John Alvin Assistant Bank Manager
- Gloria Talbott Anne Gilrain
- Liam Sullivan Thomas H. (Tom) Gilrain
Episode 6The Case of the Meddling MediumAired October 21, 1961
Phony psychic Phillip Paisley meets a grisly death when an elevator that has been tampered with crashes. In the climactic scene Perry sets up another fantastic demonstration to prove his client innocent and expose the real culprit.
Guest stars
- Kent Smith Dr. Arthur Younger
- S. John Launer Judge
- Virginia Field Sylvia Walker
- Sonya Wilde Bonnie Craig
Episode 7The Case of the Pathetic PatientAired October 28, 1961
Perry finds himself defending Dr. Wayne Edley who has been accused of committing two murders.
Guest stars
- Peter Whitney Roger Gates
- Mort Mills Sergeant Landro
- Skip Homeier Dr. Wayne Edley
- Frank Cady Joe Widlock / Hiram Widlock
- Wally Brown Mr. Morgan - Manager
- Ed Kemmer Leslie Hall
- Maura McGiveney Miss York
- Bill Erwin Autopsy Surgeon
Episode 8The Case of the Traveling TreasureAired November 4, 1961
Perry and Paul are all set to go deep see fishing on a boat owned by their friend, Scott Cahill, but when Cahill's regular customer wants the boat for the weekend they have to charter another. Later, Perry gets word that the Coast Guard has boarded Cahill's vessel looking for stolen gold. They found some of the bullion and the corpse of Karl McGovern. An autopsy reveals that McGovern was killed with a fatal dose of digitalis. Scott Cahill is charged with murder when the police theorize that he and the dead man were partners in stealing the gold. Writer: Robb White
Guest stars
- Jackie Searl Leon Ulrich
- Hardie Albright Jones
- Jeff York Capt. Scot Cahill
- Vaughn Taylor Prof. Sneider
- Addison Richards Smith
- H.M. Wynant Max
- Lisa Gaye Rita Magovern
- Lee Miller Police Sgt. Brice
Episode 9The Case of the Posthumous PainterAired November 11, 1961
Artist Jack Culross fakes his own suicide and sees the sales of his paintings go through the roof. His only problem was that he forgot to inform his wife Edna of the scheme. After Edna sees a completed painting of Jack's that she knows he didn't finish while he was "alive" she gets wise. Edna manages to track down her "deceased" husband but they fight and she knocks him down. Then he's found dead. Edna must stand trial for murder.
Guest stars
- Nelson Leigh Judge
- Stuart Erwin Austin Durrant
- George Macready Dr. Vincent Kenyon
- James Griffith Walter Hutchings
- Jason Evers Clint Robert Miller
- Carol Eve Rossen Linda Burnside
- Wesley Lau Lt. Anderson
- Lee Miller Police Sgt. Brice (uncredited)
Episode 10The Case of the Injured InnocentAired November 18, 1961
A really weird courtroom confession scene highlights this episode about the murder of a race car driver.
Guest stars
- Jess Barker Walter Eastman
- Alejandro Rey Vincent Danielli
- Audrey Dalton Kate Eastman
- Noel Drayton Ellis
- S. John Launer Judge
- Frank Maxwell Mooney
- John Conte Kirby Evans
- Raymond Bailey Dr. Bell
Episode 11The Case of the Left-Handed LiarAired November 25, 1961
Health club instructor Ward Nichols wants to marry the daughter of his employer, Bernard Daniels, but Ward's estranged wife, Veronica, is pressuring him for money and claiming to be pregnant. Things blow up in everyone's face when Bernard is found crunched with a dumbbell at the club. Perry, as usual, arrives on the scene to get at the truth.
Guest stars
- Amzie Strickland Clara Prentice
- Richard Derr Dr. Harrison Berry
- Ed Nelson Ward Nichols
- Alan Baxter Eugene Houseman
- Leslie Parrish Veronica Temple
- Dabbs Greer Buzz Farrell
- Barbara Pepper Mrs. Dwyer - Fat Woman
- Joan Banks Rhonda Houseman
Episode 12The Case of the Brazen BequestAired December 2, 1961
Charles Cromwell, the president-elect of Euclid College, worries that some less than stellar moments from his past will be exposed when Maisie Freitag arrives on the scene to make an unusual beguest to the college. Needless to say, murder eventually finds its way to the campus.
Guest stars
- Dick Whittinghill Jerry
- Will Wright James Vardon
- Elvia Allman Julia Slovak
- Strother Martin Pete Gibson
- Barbara Stuart Maizie Freitag
- William Allyn Robert Haskell
- Mort Mills Sergeant Landro
- Karl Weber Charles Cromwell
Episode 13The Case of the Renegade RefugeeAired December 9, 1961
A journalist is murdered while tracking an ex-Nazi war criminal who may be posing as an executive at a company called Space Associates, Ltd.
Guest stars
- Frank Overton Father Paul
- Ronald Long Arthur Hennings
- Victor Izay Mr. Jones
- William Boyett Buck Osborn
- Denver Pyle Emery Fillmore
- Paul Lambert Lawrence Vander
- Dick Foran Harlan Merrill
- Jennifer Howard Winifred Dunbrack
Episode 14The Case of the Unwelcome BrideAired December 16, 1961
Wealthy Walter Frazer has always blamed his daughter-in-law Sue Ellen for his son Gregson's failures. You can only imagine how he feels when Sue Ellen is accused of Gregson's murder.
Guest stars
- Torin Thatcher Walter Frazer
- Emile Meyer Patrolman Joe
- Willis Bouchey Judge
- George E. Stone Court Clerk
- Gerald Mohr Joe Medeci
- DeForest Kelley Peter Thorpe
- Diana Millay Sue Ellen Frazer
- Wesley Lau Lt. Anderson
Episode 15The Case of the Roving RiverAired December 30, 1961
Perry is hired to help settle a land dispute in the Manzana Valley but the key witness is blown up by a homemade bomb. As usual, Perry's client is accused of the crime.
Guest stars
- Harry Carey Jr. District Ranger Frank Deane
- J. Pat O'Malley Seth Tyson
- Philip Ober Harvey Farrell
- Bruce Bennett Matt Lambert
- Paul Fix Prosecutor
- Karl Held David Gideon
- Sarah Marshall Judy Bryant
- Sherwood Price Ralph Ordway
Episode 16The Case of the Shapely ShadowAired January 6, 1962
Naive secretary Janice Wainwright carries out boss Morley Thielman's orders and places a briefcase containing more than $100,000.00 in a train station locker. Then she waits for the arrival of Thielman's ex-wife but Lt. Tragg arrives instead with an arrest warrant for Janice on the charge of murdering her boss. It seems as though witness Fred Carlyle saw a woman's shapely shadow through the shades of Thielman's office window shortly before the murder occurred.Carlyle believes the silhuette belonged to Janice. Perry manages to get to the bottom of things once the courtroom proceedings begin.
Guest stars
- Phil Arnold Smitty
- Willis Bouchey Judge
- Elaine Devry Janice Wainwright
- John Zaremba Autopsy Surgeon
- George N. Neise Morley L. Theilman
- Robert Rockwell Cole B. Troy
- James T. Callahan Fred Carlyle
- Hal Smith Moulage Man
Episode 17The Case of the Captain's CoinsAired January 13, 1962
Historian Phillip Andrews tries to make a case that his fiancee, Evelyn Faraday, is entitled to a share of a shipping company fortune. Phillip then finds himself accused of murdering the company's top man.
Guest stars
- Jay Novello Nickolas Trevelian
- Don Beddoe Carter Farraday
- Herbert Rudley Ben Farraday
- Henry Beckman Sidney L. Garth
- Parley Baer Edward Farraday
- Arthur Franz Evans
- Eddie Quillan Photographer
- Allison Hayes Jane Weeks
Episode 18The Case of the Tarnished TrademarkAired January 20, 1962
Axel Norstaad sells his much respected furniture trademark to Martin Somers, described by some as the slide trombone of the furniture business. Somers immediately begins stripping the company of its assets and churning out inferior products. Axel protests these developments vehemently and when Somers is found murdered he gets arrested for the crime. To complicate things, Axel is in love with Edie Morrow whom he suspects might be the actual killer.
Guest stars
- William Tracy Motel Manager Swetson
- Karl Swenson Axel Norstaad
- Tommy Farrell Salesman
- S. John Launer Judge
- Morgan Woodward Carl Pedersen
- Ted White Foreman
- Harry Strang 2nd Workman
- Lisa Davis Secretary
Episode 19The Case of the Glamorous GhostAired February 3, 1962
Eleanor Corbin pleads amnesia after police find her running and screaming through the woods near her apartment building. Her loss of memory is of little help to her when she is later charged with murder.
Guest stars
- Mary Murphy Eleanor Corbin
- Coleen Gray Olga Corbin
- Vinton Hayworth Homer Corbin
- Jon Lormer Dr. Oberon
- Merry Anders Sadie Hepner
- Jeanne Cooper Ethel Belan
Episode 20The Case of the Poison Pen-PalAired February 10, 1962
A casual pen pal relationship leads to insider information and murder.
Guest stars
- Marshall Reed First Officer
- Everett Sloane District Attorney
- John Litel Judge
- Wright King Lee Gregson
- Diana Darrin Mrs. Thatcher
- Patricia Breslin Karen Ross
- Bert Freed Carl Holman
- Naomi Stevens Agnes
Episode 21The Case of the Mystified MinerAired February 24, 1962
Mason tries to clear his young, naive woman client, a corporate executive secretary, as a twisting and wheeling plot of murder, kidnapping, and embezzlement unfolds.
Guest stars
- Carlos Rivas Alfredo Gomez
- Kathie Browne Susan Fisher
Episode 22The Case of the Crippled CougarAired March 3, 1962
Mike Preston is a bitter man who despises Hugh Jamison because he mistakenly believes Jamison stole $100,000 from him and is responsible for him being crippled. Trying to entrap Jamison, Preston makes a mistake and is set up for murder by the real thief.
Guest stars
- Bill Williams Mike Preston
- Willis Bouchey Judge
- John Howard Hugh Jamison
- Noah Keen Harlow Phipps
- Mort Mills Sergeant Landro
- John Bryant Arnold Keith
- Rita Lynn Lydia Reynolds
- Simon Scott Elliot Dunbar
Episode 23The Case of the Absent ArtistAired March 17, 1962
Cartoonist Pete Manders is elated when the owner of the comic strip "Zingy" offers to sell him the strip for a song. Pete is less than elated when he learns that his girlfriend Leslie is running away to Europe with Gabe Phillips, the strip owner. When Phiilips is murdered, Pete is charged with the crime and retains Perry's services. Investigating the case, Perry soon discovers that the deceased Phillips was leading a double life.
Guest stars
- Zasu Pitts Daphne Whilom
- Arlene Martel Fiona Cregan
- Victor Buono Alexander Glovatski
- Lane Bradford Det. Arnold Buck
- Barney Phillips Newburgh
- Mark Roberts Otto Gervaert / Gabe Phillips
- Richard Erdman Charles (Monty) Montrose
Episode 24The Case of the Melancholy MarksmanAired March 24, 1962
Ted Chase discovers that his second wife, Irene, might have killed his first wife and contemplates revenge but someone else gets to Irene first. In his defense of Ted, Perry discovers that Irene's past was even more sordid and corrupt than previously believed.
Guest stars
- Peter Baldwin Tony Benson
- Mari Blanchard Irene Chase
- Jeff Donnell Sylvia Dykes
- S. John Launer Judge
- Ann Rutherford Ellen Chase
- Jesse White Cecil
- Paul Richards Ted Chase
- William Schallert Len Dykes
Episode 25The Case of the Angry AstronautAired April 7, 1962
Astronaut Matthew Heller is suspected of killing his old service rival, General Addison Brand, after Brand is put in charge of the astronaut program.
Guest stars
- John Marley Matthew Owen
- James Coburn General Addison Brand
- Jeanne Bal Dr. Linda Carey
- Steve Brodie Eddie Lewis
- Paula Raymond Terry Faye
- Robert Bray Mitch Heller
- Patricia Donahue Bonnie Winslow
Episode 26The Case of the Borrowed BabyAired April 14, 1962
A baby who mysteriously appears in Perry's office has a rare St. Christopher medal, which could help identify the baby's parents. If only the suspected father wasn't dead.
Guest stars
- Corey Allen Lester Menke
- Hugh Marlowe Jarvis Baker
- Kaye Elhardt Ginny Talbot
- Lee Miller Sgt. Brice
- Jack Gordon Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- Kenneth MacDonald Judge
- Charles Stroud Court Clerk
- Maria Palmer Florence Wood
Episode 27The Case of the Counterfeit CrankAired April 28, 1962
A crazy man (or is he?), his dead nephew and a military base are tangled up in a confusing Perry Mason episode.
Guest stars
- John Larkin Jay Fenton
- William Keene Bank Teller
- S. John Launer Judge
- Burt Reynolds Chuck Blair
- Otto Kruger August Dalgran
- Connie Hines Sandra Dalgran
- Don Dubbins Kenneth Dalgran
- Jeanette Nolan Martha Blair
Episode 28The Case of the Ancient RomeoAired May 5, 1962
Perry and Della go out for a night at the theatre to see Perry's actor friend, Steve Brock, perform as Paris in Romeo and Juliet. The lights mysteriously go out during the dueling scene between Romeo and Paris and when the lights are restored the audience is shocked to see that leading man Franz Lachman, playing Romeo, has been stabbed to death. When Steve is accused of the murder Perry decides to have the cast re-enact the final scene that was played before Lachman's death.
Guest stars
- Harry von Zell Phil Scharf
- Rex Reason Steve Brock
- Willis Bouchey Judge
- Jeff Morrow Franz Lachman
- Antoinette Bower Ellen Carson
- Donald Curtis Amos Martin
- K.T. Stevens Margit Bruner
- Patricia Huston Claire Adams
Episode 29The Case of the Promoter's PillboxAired May 19, 1962
Aspiring screenwriter Herbert Simms submits his first teleplay to producer Charlie Corby who tries to use the manuscript as his own. Corby's scheme comes a cropper when he gets fatally whacked over the head with a whiskey bottle after a party. Herbert happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and is seen running from the scene of the crime. Guess who gets arrested for murder?
Guest stars
- Ivan Dixon Maurice Parness
- Dianne Foster Nelly Lawton
- Geraldine Brooks Miriam Waters
- Michael Fox Dr. Hoxie
- Edmon Ryan Jerome Stokes
- George Mathews Mike Flint
- John Gallaudet Judge
- Dan Seymour Markett
Episode 30The Case of the Lonely EloperAired May 26, 1962
Merle Telford is a naive and maladjusted young woman who is about to turn 21 and receive a substantial inheritance. She plans to run away from her guardians and elope with Danny Pierce as soon as she receives her money. Yep, you guessed it already, Danny is a greedy schemer and Merle's supposed friend, Gina Gilbert, is his accomplice. Merle's guardians know of her plans and hire Paul Drake to keep Merle from fleeing on the night of her 21st birthday party. When a murder is committed during the party Merle becomes the prime suspect.
Guest stars
- John Dall Julian Kirk
- Billy Halop Corbett
- Holly Harris Mrs. Comstock
- Joan Staley Gina Gilbert
- Paul Tripp Howard Langley
- Jack Ging Danny Pierce
- John Zaremba Dr. Wales
