Perry Mason – “The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather”

by Ted Davis

Original Air Date: May 27, 1961

Directed by: Bernard L. Kowalski

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: Young and credulous David Gideon (Karl Held) is romantically involved with the experienced and wily Dorine Hopkins (Patricia Barry), who is married to the obnoxious Tony Montgomery (Fred Coby). After Tony is found murdered, D.A. Hamilton Burger (William Talman) charges David with the crime, and David’s grandfather J.J. Gideon (Otto Kruger) hires Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) to defend his grandson.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): During a nighttime excursion, in an attempt to recover Dorine’s money, David creeps into the yard of her husband, and upsets a passel of cats that are being kept in outside pens.

Perry Mason - The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather - cats in outdoor kennel at night
Perry Mason - The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather - cats in outdoor kennel at night

A quick cut from a swinging shot to a stable one has the cats in completely different places in the cage. It also appears that the cats were aggravated by something like a fan to make them react. A dubbed in Poor Cat Screech completes the effect of the cats being startled by David coming through the bushes.

Perry Mason - The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather - cats in outdoor kennel at night
Perry Mason - The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather - cats in outdoor kennel at night
Perry Mason - The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather - cats in outdoor kennel at night being scared by David Karl Held animated gif

Final Mewsings: Caging cats is a crime.

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