Over the years, I’ve written about my favorite lawyer-detective, Perry Mason, more times than I really should have – and this time won’t be any different.
Written and published in 1951 by Erle Stanley Gardner, The Case of the Fiery Fingers was adapted twice on the Perry Mason TV show, which ran from 1957 to 1966. The first adaption in 1958 was appropriately entitled, “The Case of the Fiery Fingers.” The second adaption in 1964 was entitled, “The Case of the Woeful Widower.” While the 1964 episode followed the book more faithfully, the 1958 episode bends a great many of the book’s plot points and turns out to be the most fun to watch and the one I’ll be discussing here.
The plot is simple: Louise Gordon believes husband George is having an affair and will not allow him into her room. Only cousin Vicky Braxton and nurse Nora Mae Quincey may see Louise. When Louise dies of arsenic poisoning, Nora Mae is charged with murder. As I said, the plot is simple, but the acting is superb and that makes this worth watching.
Why? Because the chemistry between Raymond Burr (Perry Mason) and Lenore Shanewise (Nora Mae Quincey) comes across the screen and smacks you in the face hard. You can’t help, but smile whenever those two share a scene together. Apparently, Shanewise was a close personal friend of Burr, whom she directed in his first appearance at the Pasadena Playhouse. She served as the staff director there from 1923-1960.
Shanewise’s Nora Mae runs the gamut of emotions from naïve little old sweet grandmother to a semi-lucid and demented nurse. It is terrific acting. There is a scene early on in the episode when Mason first meets Nora Mae in his office. It is apparent to Mason that this woman can’t afford his services, but she looks so crest-fallen when he suggest that legal help may be available to her from the legal aid society, that he relents and gives her an appointment. He serves her tea and chats with her about her case and then one of the most priceless exchanges of the entire series (pictured above) occurs:
Nora Mae (Standing to leave): “I know I’ve taken up a lot of your time, Mr. Mason. And time is money so –“
Mason (looking at Della Street first, then back at Nora Mae): “Oh, my fee? Oh, well what would you say this consultation is worth?”
Nora Mae: “Well I don’t think a man like you ought to work for too little money.”
Mason (smiling): “I couldn’t agree with you more.”
Nora Mae (sheepishly) “Would…five dollars be alright?”
Mason: (slight pause and then smiles): “Just the figure I had in mind.”
Nora Mae (smiling in relief): “Oh good, I’ve got it right here.” (As she counts out 5 one dollar bills to Mason, Della Street looks on grinning at the scene in front of her).
Yes, there is a murder and Mason solves it in true Perry Mason style with a confession on the witness stand. That said, this episode is a gem from the first season and a standout of all of the series’ episodes with a memorable ending. The actors have real chemistry together. That makes this episode pop.
