Product Description: Perry Mason is an attorney who specializes in defending seemingly indefensible cases. With the aid of his secretary Della Street and investigator Paul Drake he often finds that by digging deeply into the facts startling facts can be revealed. Often relying on his outstanding courtroom skills he often tricks or traps people into unwittingly admitting their guilt.System Requirements:Runtime: 1000 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 097368878143 Manufacturer No: 887814
Amazon.com: There was a time when the defense attorney was a heroic everyman, not the butt of bad jokes; think Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and, of course, Raymond Burr's incomparable Perry Mason. The first season of Perry Mason, which launched in 1957 on CBS, shows just how dramatic a "law and order" show could be. Shot in lush black and white, on film, the episodes have been lovingly restored (including lost minutes hacked from reruns to accommodate commercials). The story arcs and atmosphere feel more like film noir (Perry Mason + Philip Marlowe = separated at birth?) than early TV. The cast was stellar, including Burr's Emmy-winning Perry Mason, the indefatigable lawyer who takes tough cases no one else will touch. Burr's chemistry crackles from episode 1 with his costars, including Barbara Hale as secretary Della, William Hopper as private detective Paul Drake, and William Talman as Hamilton Burger, the well-meaning but overmatched district attorney. While it's true that the last-minute witness-stand confessions strain some credulity, the case-cracking, character development, and dialogue set a high bar for the legal shows that followed. "The Case of the Negligent Nymph," for instance, involves a comely young woman--and murder suspect--fished out of the Pacific; Mason deadpans to Drake, "Call off the search, Paul; we've landed our mermaid." The shows unfold at a leisurely pace, and yet don't rely on the overly expositive dialogue that, say, Law & Order does; the viewer learns a lot about each case simply as it happens. The set contains the first 19 episodes of the first season and will hook you, even if you're not a procedural buff. --A.T. Hurley
Perry Mason the all time great! ^ I have always loved Perry Mason. I have so far bought every one of the seasons that have come out on DVD. The bad thing is having to buy the show in two parts on each season. If they are not going to give us the full seasons all together like I think they should,at least let us have each season in one bulk instead of two. You also are making us wait too long in between seasons for us to be able to buy them. This show is so great and I remember watching it as a kid. I love it so my rating has nothing to do with the poorness of how the seasons are given to us. My five stars is for the show itself and the great quality of the DVD collections.
Brings back memories! ^ I remember watching Perry Mason with my family when I was younger. Putting in a disc is like being back home. Wonderful nostalgia and I am so glad the good guys always win!
the start of a legendary legal career . . . ^ A California lawyer who turned author, Erle Stanley Gardner began writing Perry Mason novels in the 1930's, and continued for about 40 years. Mason was a most unusual attorney, proactively investigating, getting involved in open cases, at times skirting the law, and specializing in homicide cases. The adventures of the intrepid lawyer were featured in movies and on radio, before coming to television in 1957.
With well established characters, Perry Mason benefitted from superb casting, with Raymond Burr as Mason, Barbara Hale as superloyal secretary Della Street, William Hopper as droll private investigator Paul Drake, William Talman as the combative Hamilton Burger, and Ray Collins as the determined homicide detective Lt. Tragg. While Gardner had indeed 'laid the foundation', it was this magnificent cast and the series writers, that got things correct from the start, and made the formula a prime time success for many years.
Mason did not spend his time in an office behind a desk. He was more like a detective, often at the front line of the action, working with the help of Della and Paul to discover the truth, staying one step ahead of the police, and doing whatever it took to solve the case.
The episodes from the first season are mostly adaptations of the novels Gardner had completed up to that time. The cases are usually complex, demanding the viewer's attention if they hope to follow along, and figure out the solution. Those that have read Gardner's novels might already know the solution, but the well executed performances still make for interesting viewing. Similarly, the episodes are very rewatchable, even when the culprit is known. Episodes typically featured talented actors in the guest cast, and the stories often reflect the variety of settings in southern California, with Mason's clientele come from all levels of society.
While the entire regular cast was stellar, Raymond Burr was magnificent as Perry Mason, and truly made the character his own. Raymond Burr is inextricably linked with the character, and when in 1985 Burr again resumed the role of the iconoclastic lawyer, it insured that additional generations of viewers would forever indentify Burr with Perry Mason.
This set contains a nice slice from Mason's caseload, with nineteen of the thirty nine episodes in the first season. Mason's proactive approach, and courtroom theatrics, may not have been too realistic, but it certainly makes for extremely compelling, classic television.
Superb quality ^ Would that all films & TV shows of this vintage look this good. Flawless, and worth every penny.
Perry Mason First Season ^ Does not get any better than best quality and timing perfect. Perry is always the favorite.
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