Perry Mason (TV)
"Perry Mason" is a classic television series that debuted in 1957, based on Erle Stanley Gardner's novels about a brilliant defense attorney. The show starred Raymond Burr in the titular role, alongside a notable cast that included Barbara Hale as Della Street and William Hopper as Paul Drake. Each episode typically followed a formula where Mason would defend a client initially presumed guilty of murder, utilizing his sharp investigative skills and courtroom tactics to identify the true perpetrator. The series quickly became popular, resonating with audiences in the 1950s and earning critical acclaim, including several Emmy Awards for Burr and Hale.
The unique blend of mystery and legal drama established a lasting television format that influenced many subsequent series. "Perry Mason" not only solidified Burr's status as a television icon but also led to a series of made-for-TV films featuring the character in the 1980s and 1990s. Its legacy endures as a significant part of television history, showcasing the appeal of courtroom narratives combined with detective work.
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Perry Mason (TV)
Identification Dramatic television series about a defense attorney who virtually never loses a case
Producer Paisano Productions
Date Aired from 1957 to 1966
Perry Mason popularized the genre of legal drama as well as adding to the popularity of television in general when the medium was still in its infancy.
After five films and a long-running radio drama had been made from Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason novels, in 1956, the author formed his own production company, Paisano Productions, with family friends Correl Jackson and Gail Patrick Jackson to create a television series that shaped the history of the televised medium. The show, titled Perry Mason, starred Raymond Burr as Mason and had an ensemble cast that included Barbara Hale as secretary Della Street, William Hopper as detective Paul Drake, William Talman as District Attorney Hamilton Burger, and Ray Collins as Lieutenant Arthur Tragg.
The formula for Perry Mason seldom varied: Each week Mason took on a client to whom all evidence pointed as the culprit in a murder and, through both thorough investigation and clever courtroom maneuvers, managed to exonerate the defendant and expose the real murderer. Audiences of the 1950’s made the show a hit almost immediately. Both Burr and Hale won Emmy Awards for their performances in 1959, and Burr took home two additional Emmy Awards for his Perry Mason performances in 1960 and 1961.
Impact
By combining investigative work with courtroom drama, Perry Mason provided a format that captured viewers’ attention and built a loyal audience. Shows with similar formulas would continue to garner large television audiences for the remainder of the twentieth century. The show also established Raymond Burr as a major television star and provided a role that he would reprise in made-for-television films during the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Bibliography
Kelleher, Brian, and Diana Merrill. The Perry Mason TV Show Book. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1987. Detailed history of the show’s creation, including actors’ biographies. Includes synopses of each episode filmed during the show’s nine-year run.
Martindale, David. The Perry Mason Casebook. Las Vegas: Pioneer Books, 1991. Details the creation of the series, summarizes each episode, and comments on subsequent revivals.
Myers, Richard. TV Detectives. San Diego, Calif.: A. S. Barnes, 1981. Places the series in the context of other shows featuring attorneys as detectives.