List of Perry Mason episodes
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of episodes for the courtroom drama television series Perry Mason
which aired from 1957 to 1966 in the United States on the CBS
television network
. The title character
is a fictional defense
attorney
who originally appeared in detective fiction
by Erle Stanley Gardner
. For each episode, the title begins with the words "The Case of..." and the plot is essentially the same: Mason's client is put on trial for murder
, but Mason is able to establish his client's innocence by dramatically demonstrating the guilt of another character. The murderer nearly always breaks down and confesses to the crime in the courtroom, if not on the witness stand. Many episodes were adapted from the original novels
written by Gardner, with some having been adapted more than once.
Perry Mason (TV series)
Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
which aired from 1957 to 1966 in the United States on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
. The title character
Perry Mason
Perry Mason is a fictional character, a defense attorney who was the main character in works of detective fiction authored by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason was featured in more than 80 novels and short stories, most of which had a plot involving his client's murder trial...
is a fictional defense
Defense (legal)
In civil proceedings and criminal prosecutions under the common law, a defendant may raise a defense in an attempt to avoid criminal or civil liability...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who originally appeared in detective fiction
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
by Erle Stanley Gardner
Erle Stanley Gardner
Erle Stanley Gardner was an American lawyer and author of detective stories, best known for the Perry Mason series, he also published under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J...
. For each episode, the title begins with the words "The Case of..." and the plot is essentially the same: Mason's client is put on trial for murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, but Mason is able to establish his client's innocence by dramatically demonstrating the guilt of another character. The murderer nearly always breaks down and confesses to the crime in the courtroom, if not on the witness stand. Many episodes were adapted from the original novels
Perry Mason (novels)
The following is a list of the 82 Perry Mason novels by Erle Stanley Gardner.Many Perry Mason novels were first published in serial format in The Saturday Evening Post, some with different titles. Sixteen appeared in the Toronto Star Weekly in condensed form. All books were first published by...
written by Gardner, with some having been adapted more than once.
Season 1
| # | Title |
|---|
Season 2
| # | Title |
|---|
Season 3
| # | Title |
|---|
Season 4
| # | Title |
|---|
Season 5
| # | Title |
|---|
Season 6
| # | Title |
|---|
Season 7
| # | Title |
|---|
Season 8
| # | Title |
|---|
Season 9
| # | Title |
|---|
Comments on notable episodes
- "The Case of the Silent Partner" (Episode 1-6): The case is solved without ever going into the courtroom. Hamilton Burger appears in the lobby of Mason's client's apartment house to announce that Mason's client who is sick will be arraigned as soon as she is well enough. However, the case is solved before an arraignment can be done.
- "The Case of the Haunted Husband" (Episode 1-19): At the end of the case after the killer has been exposed, Lieutenant Tragg is gloating that Perry Mason must have discovered who did it by being lucky. Perry Mason asks Tragg if he thinks Mason is stupid for leaving a clue that Tragg found. Tragg says, "Well who else could have done it? There was only you, me, and (name of killer)..." When he realizes what he just said, Tragg moans, "Oy gevalt." The elevator door opens and Mason says, "After you Lieutenant."
- "The Case Of The Green-Eyed Sister" (Episode 1-21): Story continuity: Lieutenant Tragg stops Perry Mason as he is coming out of the defendant's home carrying a metal case with an audio recording tape and Tragg confiscates the tape. Later when the tape is offered into evidence by District Attorney Hamilton Burger, Burger asks a private investigator witness if this is the tape that the private investigator gave to Burger in his office, and the witness says yes.
- "The Case Of The Terrified Typist" (Episode 1-38): This is one of the few cases that Perry Mason lost, or did he? After his defendant was found guilty at the trial, at the following combined sentencing hearing and motion for new trial Mason pulls a rabbit out of his hat that clears the name of his defendant, but he doesn't exactly get the defendant off the hook either.
- "The Case Of The Perjured Parrot" (Episode 2-11): The parrot in question in this episode is voiced by Mel BlancMel BlancMelvin Jerome "Mel" Blanc was an American voice actor and comedian. Although he began his nearly six-decade-long career performing in radio commercials, Blanc is best remembered for his work with Warner Bros...
. - Seven episodes were done with little or no appearance by Burr as Mason. He underwent surgery causing him to miss four episodes in early 1963, which featured special guest stars (so billed in the opening titles) as guest lawyers. These were: "The Case of Constant Doyle" (6–16, with Bette DavisBette DavisRuth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional...
), "The Case of the Libelous Locket" (6–17, with Michael RennieMichael RennieMichael Rennie was an English film, television, and stage actor, perhaps best known for his starring role as the space visitor Klaatu in the 1951 classic science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still. However, he appeared in over 50 other films since 1936, many with Jean Simmons and other...
), "The Case of the Two-Faced Turnabout" (6–18, with Hugh O'BrianHugh O'BrianHugh O'Brian is an American actor, known for his starring role in the ABC television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp .-Early years and career:...
) and "The Case of the Surplus Suitor" (6–19, with Walter PidgeonWalter PidgeonWalter Davis Pidgeon was a Canadian actor, who starred in many motion pictures, including Mrs...
). There were also two similar but isolated incidents subsequently: "The Case of the Bullied Bowler" (Episode 8–7, November 5, 1964, with Mike ConnorsMike ConnorsMike Connors is an American actor best known for playing detective Joe Mannix in the CBS television series, Mannix. Before that, he had played a crime-fighting investigator, wielding a .38 handgun hidden in his back, in another CBS series, Tightrope.-Early life:Connors was born Krekor Ohanian in...
) and "The Case of the Thermal Thief" (Episode 8–16, January 14, 1965, with Barry SullivanBarry Sullivan (actor)Barry Sullivan was an American movie actor who appeared in over 100 movies from the 1930s to the 1980s.Born in New York City, Sullivan fell into acting when in college playing semi-pro football...
). "Bowler" was followed the next week with "The Case of a Place Called Midnight" (8–17), set in Europe, featuring no regular cast member other than Burr, and playing off the excuse given in "Bowler" for Mason's absence. - Based on Oliver TwistOliver TwistOliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to...
, "The Case of the Twice-Told Twist" (Episode 9-21) is the only episode of the original series filmed in color. - The band Skinny PuppySkinny PuppySkinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
heavily sampled the episode "The Case of the Madcap Modiste" (Episode 3-22) for the song "Deep Down Trauma Hounds" (from the album Mind: The Perpetual IntercourseMind: The Perpetual Intercourse"Dig It" is replaced by its 12" version on the CD; it lasts 7:40. On vinyl, "Burnt with Water" ended with a locked groove repeating the phrase "Amen, Lord, hear my prayer" endlessly until the needle was lifted....
).