@@billlindsay473 Don't have a favorite; too many were great, though several lame stories over the nine season run were hardly surprisingly. Case of the Howling Dog was a shocker. I also like Ruinous Road, Paul Drake's Dilemma, Petulant Partner (got a kick out of that music in the opening scene) and Telltale Tap (one of the good ones from the last two seasons).
In my opinion, this was the absolute greatest TV show of all time. Fantastic acting by burr and cast no actors today could memorized the pages and pages of complicated legalese speech like this cast did
I always have admired Raymond Burr's portrayal of Perry Mason. I also like how Willliam Talman played Hamilton Burger. He could appear SO worked up when he yelled' "INCOMPETENT, IRRELEVANT, and IMMATERIAL"! I also love Ray Collins' clear enjoyment of playing Lt. Arthur Tragg.
I remember seeing Burr as a guest star on the Flip Wilson show in the 70s. He was a hoot! It was really something, seeing the normally serious "Perry Mason" acting silly and funny, and obviously having a good time while doing so.
@@FactsVerse Okay, here's a couple. You mentioned how Raymond Burr tested for the part of Hamilton Burger, but actually won the coveted part of Perry Mason. How that happened is rather interesting. Author Earl Stanley Gardner was not happy with the way his creation was depicted in a series of movies which were produced in the 30s and 40s. As a result, when approached about doing the television series, he agreed, but only if he had complete approval control - including the casting. Gardner has provided little description of Mason in his books, so the producers were shooting blind to find a suitable actor. But when Gardner was viewing Burr's screen test, he jumped up, pointed at the screen, and shouted "That's him, that's him! That's Perry Mason!" You showed a clip of Ray appearing on the Jack Benny show. I saw that clip in a tribute to Burr, and it is absolutely hilarious. The scene is that Benny has to go to court, with Burr defending him. Things did not go well during the trial, with Benny obviously on the verge of losing. He complains to Burr during the proceedings, saying "I thought you never lost a case." To which Burr snapped back, "Is it my fault that I obviously have better writers than you!" Great times.
@@cister30328 I believe the question was being asked from a parallel point of view. If both Perry Mason and Ben Matlock were to present both their clients' cases before the District Attorney, who would be more likely to win their case? We're being asked who's the better lawyer.
Perry Mason would win - absolutely! Also, Raymond Burr was a great champion for his co-stars, who all loved him. He is the one who insisted that they keep Ray Collins' name in the credits to, as you said, keep his spirits up, and keep him insured. He led the other cast members and crew in the fight to get William Talman reinstated on the show, which he eventually was. Barbara Hale and he were great friends their entire lives. Thank you for posting this!
I grew up watching Perry Mason I love that show and it's a show I'm not afraid for my children to see. It was always decent and non graffic. Barbara Hale was a babe all her life. Perry Mason and it's cast were first class.
I grew up in the late 50s and early 60s. Perry Mason was not miss TV in our family. My parents had a passing resemblance to Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale, so watching the reruns is very nostalgic for me. I own seasons 1 through 4 on DVD.
The entire cast of the Perry Mason series were terrific. I always enjoyed the interaction between Perry and Hamilton Burger and Lt. Tragg. Paul Drake always added humor and Della added a serene but very competent character to compliment Perry. I watch the 9 seasons and then start over again.
Google Barbara Hale's images and publicity photographs when she was in her youth, late teens and early twenties. She was beyond beautiful.....and remained so until her death at age 90 plus !! What a classy and elegant lady.
@@christinedomingue1319 I don't remember her husband's name. He had a western in the 50's. Of course his last name is Katt because of actor William Katt, their son.
He had such expressive eyes, and sly witty smile.I watch the show on MeTV every weekday morning. I still have a crush on him! Perry Mason beats Matlock. Sorry, Andy.
I remember his commercials. He talked about how many cases his character lost to Perry but the added that he was fighting the greatest war of his life - he had lung cancer. He said if you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke - QUIT. Don't be a loser. I'm sure that saved many lives.
Sadly, some people know the consequences of smoking but do it anyway, there can be a psychological motivation unique to an individual beyond the facts. This extends to all forms of addiction.
i just started watching Perry Mason this year during the Covid lockdown...I enjoy these episodes so much I subscribed to the CBS app so I can watch them before bed every night...I love old Hollywood and Mystery so Perry Mason is right up my alley...However if you are into this kind of Genre you really would like the Mentalist...I feel like the Mentalist is a Modern Day Perry Mason. Great show! Perry to me was a "slick guy"...He seems to have something in his eyes and smile that I could tell he was a prankster...lol...George Clooney is another prankster. George Clooney would make a good Raymond Burr!
Ah, Perry, Perry dahling!! What more can I say!!??!! Love these lawyers, both are like a Canadian (wink-a nod to Raymond's homeland) Mountie- won't give up until they get their man!!
@@jgatkinson744 I think it's horrible that society back then made it ruin the career if you were honest about your private sexual orientation. It isn't anyone's business
The scripts of Perry Mason were very complex, with many characters, all of whom could be suspects. The ridiculous part about all the Perry Mason episodes, is that Perry not only would win his cases, but he would "out" the actual killer, and then get that killer to confess why he/she committed the murder, in a passionate heartfelt way at the end of the hour. Impossible !! Also, Paul Drake and the police often quote certain clues they read in newspaper articles about the people involved in a murder and the murder itself. Ridiculous ! Newspapers only write about legal cases after they are on-going cases, not before. Also, Paul Drake, Perry's right-hand-man and private detective, was able to find out information about people that even the F.B.I. using modern computers, databases and internet couldn't discover. The devices and mechanisms that the scriptwriters used to put forth information to the viewers didn't exist in the 1950's and 1960's. They barely exist today in 2021. In order to discover even half of what Paul Drake found out in these Perry Mason scripts at anytime in history, Paul would have to be part mind reader, magician, eaves dropper, and bribe-taker, using an army of spies with greater resources than the C.I.A., N.S.A. F.B.I. and crime mob! Yet, Paul Drake (William Hopper) spoke his lines so fast that the viewers never even thought to question the legitimacy or credibility of his amazing findings. What he discovered served to quickly advance the story line and feed the viewers hungry curiosity, so it's integrity was never questioned. In fact, any attorney today would forfeit his fee to have such resources and clairvoyance at his/her disposal. But given all this, the complexity, suspense, and sophistication of the Perry Mason episodes were far beyond anything shown on 1950's - 1960's TV. The series offered many great character actors and unknown actors the opportunity to perform real dramatic and serious acting. Many big stars got their starts in the Perry Mason episodes. The show holds up, perhaps even better now, 60 years later as a quality television series. Gail Patrick Jackson (Executive Producer) who was a former actress, continued to produce the Perry Mason episodes, and her direction and foresight made this series an award-winning production which has lasted for decades.
As an avid legal show fan and lawyer, I have seen every episode of every season on Matlock and a few of Perry Mason, I have to go with Perry Mason. I like Raymond Burr as "Ironside" more. Great television shows.
How can anyone object to this video as being "incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial? BTW: In 1958, a journalist asked Bill Talman how he felt about Burger losing to Mason week after week. Talman said, "Burger doesn't lose. How can a district attorney lose when he fails to convict an innocent person?" From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Perry Mason is my HERO in the fictional court system, because he would always find the true, guilty person, and rescue the framed person. He's the lawyer I would want if I were ever framed for murder. But sadly, I would have to settle with a lawyer who wouldn't fight for my innocence and end up in jail for years; just like they did to David Milgaard, Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, Guy Paul Moran, and many, many others because they couldn't find a concerned, caring lawyer like Perry Mason, who believed his clients were innocent.
I watched an episode the other day. I think one of my favorite secondary characters in any TV show is Lt. Tragg. He was a tough cop, but he also came across as a really good guy. Considering when this took place it's possible that Tragg could have fought in BOTH world wars. As to Mason against Matlock, of course Mason would win, but as they were both defense attorneys I'm not sure how they could have wound up opposing each other.
Here is how Mason -vs- Matlock could have gone down... One trial. One judge. Two defendants. Two defense attorneys, each claiming the other defendant did it... Prosecution evidence says both did it. I say Mason would beat Matlock in a courtroom showdown, but the REAL SHOW would be watching Hamilton Berger lose his mind watching both Mason and Matlock destroy his case from the top down... More likely both would win in this scenario, getting both defendants off the hook by forcing Berger to concede due to new evidence showing somebody else actually did it instead...
Ramen burger would be top of the list as attorney it’s Raymond Burr the best show and I’m still watching it in 2021 I hope they continue playing it have to rush home to see it every time it airs
Growing up in the 1950's my family watched Perry Mason each week but I found them boring and tedious. Still, there were so few choices so naturally I stayed with the story till the end. Fast forward sixty years later and my wife and I absolutely LOVE this show. We watch an episode each night and we are totally riveted by every scene and plot twist. Raymond Burr was a great actor and the rest of the cast was played to perfection. Love our Perry Mason!!!
When playing the lime green jello prank, he filled her bathtub, sink and toilet with jello that he jelled in place. He said it was especially difficult to get the jello to jell in the toilet, resorting to putting ice cubes in the mixture so it would harden. He really was the antithesis of the characters he played on camera. When a Tour Guide at Universal Studios in the 1970s where IRONSIDE was filmed, a woman on the tour saw him walking by the tram and screamed out “HE CAN WALK!” You see the character he played was paralyzed from the waist down, with many people believing the actor actually couldn’t walk. Truth be told he was so heavy at the time, that having to perform all his scenes seated, made the long filming days he had to endure all the easier.
I assume when you say that Raymond Burr played Mason for nearly four decades you are including the later TV movies, as the series lasted one decade, ten years.
My dad and I still watch the Perry Mason re runs... still the best show ever... he was really surprised when I told him that Raymond Burr was gay in real life.
how did it make your dad feel after you mentioned it? It really shouldn't matter about his private sexual orientation. The only thing that should matter is his ability to act
@@thehashearthasheart7146 - he didn't "feel" any type of way... he was just surprised. You have to realize that back in the days (my dad's age group) being openly gay was not common nor really "accepted" ... not like it is now in present day. We have actors and actress who are very open about their sexuality and they show it to the world. So when you have an actor whose life is literally in the spot light and they hide a piece of who they are... fans and followers tend to be a bit surprised when a "Did you know..." type of information comes out. Just like this video clip, how he is a huge prankster... thats also surprising bcuz he just seems like this very serious man. So don't dig too deep. No one is against gays. Nor did it lose a fan bcuz he is gay.
@@jenh.8084 I was also quite surprised when I found out about him, along with Rock Hudson, and Robert Reed. Other famous people not so much. I'm really glad that he didn't lose a fan or 2 with your family. A lot of people unfortnately would not have been so open minded
@@thehashearthasheart7146 - yea very true... I'm fortunate to have good parents that respects and supports my life decisions... I made some stupid ones too... but they never turned their backs on me. I hope I am and can become a good parent like they are.
@@jenh.8084 Yes you were very fortunate to have parents that you have and they are very fortunate to have you as we... Knowing that you hope to be a parent like them I'm sure will happen. My bio Daddy never got to know my kids bec. I had them after he passed away, but my bio Daddy was such a positive influence that he made me be a better parent. Have you told your parents how much they such a positive influence , very supportive etc. I'm very fortunate that even though that I haven't seen either of my kids (21 years old and almost 20 old we get along very well and we let each other know how proud , honored, and blessed we are to have each other. How old are your parents? How old are you and your kids? Please reply back ok. God bless and keep safe.
He was my godfather in real life. There is one character trait about him that was like his fictional character. He was bold (in real life and on stage).
I kept waiting for you to mention William Hopper. He originally auditioned for the Perry role, but when Garner wanted Burr in the lead role, Hopper was moved to Paul Drake.
After the color episode the fans wrote to the producers and flat out told them there are 3 things you do not do with Perry Mason. No color episodes, no lost cases and no hanky-panky between Perry and Della Street
The LA Times headline was Prosecutor arrested in drug and sex party raid. Talman answered the door nude and stoned. There was a full blown orgy going on. The cast got him his job back against CBS's wishes. There is a goldmine waiting for someone to colorize the series. The viewership would jump thru the roof. And...lastly, the theme music is the best of any TV show.
@@FactsVerse If you are talking about the one on now...no. They only took the names of the old show to try to give it credence. It's like calling it Leave it to Beaver with same character names but no ties to the real show.
sadly I did watch the first episode, of this and Nancy Drew, couldn't watch to the end. sighhhhhh not bad, just different and in no way resembles the series or the books.
In another time their might have worked on a case together these two may have been friends not rivals and how about Peerry might of turned up the Andy Griffin Show in a special or they might of worked with Ironside too? Matlock and Columbo, The Streets Of San Francisco and Hart To Hart a crime crossover ending up in New England and a famous author? The Case Of Unwritten Murder based on the most puzzling murder mystery in America history who killed the network editor? Or Naked Gun vs Police Academy with very familiar faces?
Or how about this? A special episode, in which Perry Mason defends a murder suspect arrested by Columbo! I have no idea how this would be resolved, but the writers who could so it to the satisfaction to all parties involved would have to be a genius of the highest caliber! It will never happen, of course, but boy does it make for some fun speculation!
3:01 Pause the video. Can anyone tell me how many individual light bulbs are mounted on the umbrella light fixture above the round conference table in Perry Mason's office? In some camera shots it appears that there are only 4 up-fixture bulbs. In some shots it clearly is 5 up-fixture bulbs. Is it possible there were actually 6 up-fixture bulbs in this large round umbrella overhead light? After watching many episodes, it remains ambiguous as to the exact number of up-light fixtures under this large umbrella light. Its as if the director and the cinematographer wanted to keep us guessing. Is this a trivial question? Yes, this question was trivial until, after watching scores of episodes, it became suspicious that they were hiding the actual look of this fixture, which would expose the fact that they were using the same camera set-ups throughout the entire series...something which rarely happens in any series. Any ideas or theories as to how many actual bulbs are in that fixture? It would tell us a lot about how they blocked and staged the camera set-ups in the office scenes, and if the director of photography used any creativity or simply followed the previous staging set-ups throughout the entire series.
My my my thats a tough question. If Raymond Burr was prosecutor and Andy Griffen defense lawyer. I believe Raymond Burr would win. Flip flop roles for me its hard to say.
Who would win? Mason and/or Matlock. That’s a tough question to ask. I suspect it “might” be a neck in neck pugilistic event. I loved them both, and since I was groomed on Perry Mason series, I would say Mason would win. Side note. Have you observed when Perry lost those cases how he agonized. He was determined to WIN! Semper Fi
Everyone who chose Perry Mason was wrong. Anyone who chose Matlock was wrong. Facts Verse asked you who would win a case between the "master criminal defense attorney" or the "very expensive criminal defense attorney"? (Thank-you IMDB). You all fell for a Raymond Burr worthy joke.
