"You never need to worry about him. He's the old human dynamo. He manufactures energy faster than any human being can use it up."
- Paul Drake describes Perry Mason in The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink, published 1952
Mason's creator, Erle Stanley Gardner, was a man of uncommon energy himself. As a youngster it often got him into trouble. As a young man into sports and adventure, he put that energy to use as a boxer, a promoter and as a typist who studied at the law office that had hired him in that capacity. Gardner passed the Bar age 21 and had a successful practice, in large part due to his ability to speak Chinese and his reputation for helping that community. No detail was too small to escape his eye and while this appealed to clients, after a few years Gardner looked for more excitement and worlds to conquer. He became a writer. Again, that famous energy came into play as he worked at his law office during the day then spent the night writing. The pulps, such as Black Mask were his training ground and fellow writers like Raymond Chandler became friends.
"I had no natural ability to write. Everything I learned I had to learn the hard way. I'm still not much of a writer. I'm a fair plotter because I studied the mechanics of plotting and analyzed plotting."
- Erle Stanley Gardner on his secondary trade
Eventually, the complicated plots and tough-minded protagonists morphed into the determined and smart attorney Perry Mason in The Case of the Velvet Claws, published in 1953. The years would bring over 80 Mason novels, translated into dozens of languages and popular all over the world in Gardner's day and ours. My home library is filled with Perry Mason paperbacks. They are the original page-turners. Perry Mason goes to the end of the line and beyond for his frightened and less than honest clients. Always he gets himself in a pickle, and always he gets out. Whew!
The success of the book series interested Hollywood and in the 1930s and four features starred Warren William, followed by one each with Ricardo Cortez and Donald Woods as Perry Mason. They are entertaining Warner Brothers products, but they don't feel like Perry. In 1943 Perry Mason began a 12 year run on radio and, as with the screen adaptions, Gardner wasn't entirely satisfied with the output. He learned of himself that he wasn't the person to write the scripts and that he wasn't the "Hollywood" type, but felt keenly the lack of quality control and input. As the 1950s rolled around and TV was becoming a major entertainment force, Gardner was reluctant to hand his baby over to strange hands again. Would Hollywood finally understand Perry Mason, Della Street and Paul Drake?
Gail Patrick, film actress
Gail Patrick Jackson, Perry Mason Executive Producer
1911 - 1980
Paisano Productions was born out of the desire to control how Perry Mason would be presented to television audiences. The company consisted of Gardner, his agent and friend Cornwell Jackson and Corney Jackson's wife, the actress Gail Patrick (My Man Godfrey, Stage Door). Also with a stake in the company were Jean Bethell, who was Gardner's real-life Della Street, and her sisters, all legal secretaries who worked with Gardner through the lawyer years to author years. It was a friendly combine, as the name suggests, and a profitable one. Gail Patrick, who knew Hollywood and who had at one time planned to be a lawyer, took on the more and more of the responsibilities and became the producer. She was the only female producer of major television programming at the time. Anne Nelson, the only top female executive at a network, was her counterpart at CBS, negotiating the myriad contracts as a vice president in charge of business affairs.
Eighteen scripts were completed based on familiar Gardner titles and casting was ready to begin. Fred MacMurray was the early favourite for the lead. William Hopper and William Talman both read for Perry. Raymond Burr, on the strength of his District Attorney role in A Place in the Sun was asked to read for Hamilton Burger. The actor agreed as long as he could also read for Perry.
The 50th Anniversary DVD set includes some of the screen tests. William Hopper's test shows that he would have been a terrific Perry, but Raymond Burr gave it his all. He was advised to lose weight and return. Gardner saw the test and insisted this was the man to play Perry Mason. Someone who could convey the compassion and the intelligence of the character. Someone who was smart, but not a smart aleck.
Raymond Burr as Perry Mason
1917 - 1993
Canada's Raymond Burr, born in New Westminster, BC, had been in Hollywood since 1946 and the talented actor certainly paid his dues. The large young man attempted to pattern his career on that of the great Laird Cregar, and in his costume dramas like Adventures of Don Juan and film-noir as in Raw Deal, comparisons can certainly be made. Raymond Burr's film career is a roller coaster ride of uncredited bits and supporting roles to which he brought one hundred percent of his talent and personality, whether the film be a big budget Hitchcock thriller like Rear Window, a sturdy docudrama like Walk a Crooked Mile or something on the cheap side like Bride of the Gorilla. In a journey through classic entertainment you never know where you will run into Raymond Burr, be it as Joe Friday's boss in an early Dragnet, the sincere reporter in the American release of Godzilla or showing his comedy chops in Casanova's Big Night with Bob Hope.
Some of you may remember Raymond Burr's television commercials for an insurance group in the 1980s. An acting teacher I knew at the time related an anecdote that Mr. Burr could have gotten a lot more money for the job than he settled for. The teller of the tale was derisive about Raymond Burr not realizing that he could cash in on his fame. I thought it was rather sweet that Mr. Burr didn't know he was that guy.
"You got to hand it to Raymond. He got to be a pretty damn good lawyer."
- Erle Stanley Gardner on his star
William Hopper as Paul Drake
1915 - 1970
William Hopper, the son of columnist Hedda Hopper and stage performer DeWolf Hopper Sr., had been on the screen since the 1930s. You'll find him in tons of Warner Brothers output as uncredited reporters and servicemen, but you'll also see the handsome, young dark-haired actor in choice roles in films such as
The Footloose Heiress and
Public Wedding. After a stint in the Navy during WW2, he returned to Hollywood with more uncredited bits and larger roles in more interesting features such as
Track of the Cat,
The Bad Seed, 20 Million Miles to Earth and
Rebel Without a Cause. He is particularly effective in
Good-bye, My Lady as the true owner of a lost and claimed dog. William Hopper gives Paul Drake a lightly wry sense of humour and fun which balances nicely with the serious situations.
"He was a big kid. He was a wonderful, wonderful man. I loved him dearly."
- Producer Arthur Marks on his friend, William Hopper
Barbara Hale as Della Street
I don't think she believes what Paul is telling her.
Lovely and talented
Barbara Hale aspired to a career as an artist, but was sidetracked into modeling and acting. Immortalized as Della Street, fans can also appreciate her talents in movies going back to the 1940s including
The Falcon Out West,
The Boy With Green Hair,
The Window,
Jolson Sings Again, the title role in
Lorna Doone,
Unchained,
7th Cavalry and
The Houston Story where she's a blonde singer putting the sizzle in
Put the Blame on Mame.
Gail Patrick tagged her friend Barbara Hale for Perry's girl Friday Della Street and initially Barbara declined as her children were young at the time and she didn't want to work outside of the home. Gail persisted and after talking it over with her husband actor Bill Williams (married from 1946 to his death in 1992), they decided that it would be worth a shot. After all, it was a TV program and might not run past those initial 18 scripts.
"Perry Mason would be very foolish if he didn't recognize the unusual charm and beauty of Della Street, and I don't think he's that foolish."
- Erle Stanley Gardner on his famous couple
William Talman as Hamilton Burger
1915 - 1968
William Talman was a stage-trained actor whose career in films started to take off after his time in the Army during WW2 where he started out as a private and was promoted to major. He played one of the screen's great villains in Ida Lupino's The Hitchhiker and is another remorseless criminal in Richard Fleischer's Armored Car Robbery. In The Racket he is just as believable as an honest policeman as he is as his baddies. Among the cast of the John Cromwell film you will find Ray Collins as a district attorney. Interesting roles on television would follow including that of a tormented racist in The Sarah Drummond Story on Wagon Train.
During the run of the show William Talman was involved in a tabloid scandal when he was arrested at a "wild party" and although charges were eventually dropped, CBS fired the actor. However, it was through the intervention of Erle Stanley Gardner, and the vociferous fans of the show, that Hamilton Burger retained his rightful place as the adversary to Perry Mason. William Talman passed from lung cancer in 1968, bravely filming an anti-smoking plea shown on national television in 1968 and 1969.
"Bill Talman is really a wonder. He actually looks as if he expects to win a case."
- Erle Stanley Gardner on the beleaguered district attorney
"Look at Burger! I think there's smoke coming out of his ears."
- Janet Hall, 21st century Perry Mason fan
Ray Collins as Lt. Arthur Tragg
1889 - 1965
Ray Collins, an actor from his teen years, who could and did play everything on stage, radio and screen from great dramas like Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons to fluffy comedies like The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer and Francis, also turned to television in the 1950s. He can be found on The Halls of Ivy, Father Knows Best and the anthology series like Playhouse 90. A boon to every production, he was that and more to Perry Mason. Nearing 70 when Perry Mason began in 1957, he may have been older than your average cop, but Ray Collins added a touch of class all his own and the fans love him.
Sadly, ill health forced his slowing down on work on the program and he passed away prior to its conclusion. Official duties were taken over by Lt. Andy Anderson played by Wesley Lau and Lt. Steve Drumm played by Richard Anderson.
"Ray Collins was getting older and having trouble remembering his lines, but we never put any pressure on him. We only had respect for such a fine actor."
- Arthur Marks, producer/director of
Perry Mason
Perry Mason producer Arthur Marks referred to the series as a game show. It is the whodunnit that keeps fans reading and watching as they match wits with the formidable Perry Mason. Arthur Marks had been an assistant director at Columbia and MGM, where he first became friends with Ray Collins. His involvement with Perry Mason began when he replaced an ailing assistant director on the pilot episode. "Paisano" knew a good thing when they saw it and he was asked to stick around. After assistant director duties on over a dozen episodes, Gail suggested he become a director and 76 future episodes are to his credit. Mr. Marks happily moved into production at that time as well. It was a busy and very creative time in his career.
The budget from CBS was $172,000 per episode. On the same network, Gunsmoke had a $300,000 budget and over at NBC Bonanza's was over $600,000. In an interview on the 50th Anniversary DVD Mr. Marks was proud of keeping the seasons within budget although he would go large on the first seven or eight episodes of the year with more sets, location scenes, extras, and maybe name guests to hook the audience and please the critics. It's something to watch for when you are enjoying the show.
Mr. Marks attributes Perry Mason's success to scrupulously sticking to the winning formula of setting up the murder with formidable suspects, the equal of our crusading hero. He also acknowledges Raymond Burr's intelligence, talent, and belief in the role and program. Occasionally the network would put its oar in suggesting the show become more relevant like The Defenders or make Perry and Della more romantic. As a concession, Gardner came up with the character of law clerk David Gideon played by Karl Held to handle the romance and appeal to the "young people", but he really wasn't necessary to the winning set-up and lasted only ten episodes. What fans demanded, and enjoy to this day, are the interesting characters involved in a tangled murder story, the always legal yet tricky machinations of Perry Mason on behalf of his client, and a showdown in court with egg on Burger's face.
Subtle changes can be noted throughout the nine year run especially as it relates to women characters. Firstly, a nod to the always fashionable Della Street. The wardrobe department did her, and the guests, proud. Over the years you will note that female characters moved away from only the damsels in distress and their nasty counterpoints to women in the workplace, burgeoning free spirits, and representatives of different generations.
Perry Mason's television popularity was immediate. In 1959 it won an Australian Logie Award (the first year of the awards) as Most Popular Overseas Drama. Raymond Burr became a popular guest on television variety shows and is especially winning on this episode of
The Jack Benny Program.
William Talman, William Hopper, Barbara Hale, Raymond Burr
All dress up to play Stump the Stars
Emmy recognition also came Perry Mason's way including two in the technical categories. Surprisingly the program only received one nomination for Best Series.
1958: Best Dramatic Series with Continuing Characters (winner, Gunsmoke)
1961: Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Television (winner, Naked City)
1966: Individual Achievements in Electronic Production - Audio Engineering (winner, Young People's Concerts)
A look at the acting nominations shows the evolving categories for those awards.
1959:
Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series
William Hopper - nominated (winner - Dennis Weaver, Gunsmoke)
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series
Raymond Burr - winner
Best Supporting Actress (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series
Barbara Hale - winner
1960:
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead or Support)
Raymond Burr - nominated (winner - Robert Stack, The Untouchables)
1961:
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series (Lead)
Raymond Burr - winner
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Series
Barbara Hale - nominated (winner - Don Knotts, The Andy Griffith Show)
It surprises me that the series didn't receive more nominations and wins, and I find it unbelievable that William Talman never received an Emmy nomination. Those Emmy folks are full of surprises. If there had been an award for main title music in the 1950s, they would probably have overlooked
Fred Steiner's Park Avenue Beat.
Through the years of its initial run, the years since in television syndication and the release of the DVD collections we have solved a lot of mysteries with Perry. We've marveled at the TV adaptions of familiar titles such as The Case of the Empty Tin, The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink, The Case of the Sun Bather's Diary, The Case of the Fiery Fingers, The Case of the Footloose Doll, The Case of the Caretakers Cat and various combinations of Gardner stories and those written originally for the series by the prolific and talented writers like Jackson Gillis, Eugene Wang and Samuel Newman, etc.
Film buffs and today's fans of TCM get a special kick out of the guests appearing on the program. It's like old home week watching the likes of Julie Adams, Morris Ankrum, Robert Armstrong, James Bell, Bruce Bennett, Willis Bouchey, James Coburn, Jeanne Cooper, Robert Cornthwaite, John Dall, Virginia Field, Constance Ford, Dabbs Greer, Neil Hamilton, Josephine Hutchinson, Otto Kruger, Barbara Lawrence, Keye Luke, Paula Raymond, Ann Rutherford, Kenneth Tobey, Constance Towers, Bobby Troup, and so many, many more.
It is especially nice to spot George E. Stone (The Racket, Little Caesar, The Front Page, 42nd Street, Boston Blackie series, etc.) as a court clerk in the first six seasons. No lines, but he's a part of the scene, administering oaths and accepting evidence. Mr. Stone's eyesight was failing him at the time and he could use the work and benefits that went along with being a part of the business.
Declining ratings and schedule shifting contributed to Perry Mason closing up shop at the end of the ninth season in 1966. They went out on a dandy episode, perhaps the first official finale in TV history and a true shout out to fans and the hard-working crew, The Case of the Final Fade-Out.
An arrogant actor, played by James Stacey, is murdered on the set of a popular television series. When Lt. Drumm interviews those present at the scene, he is interviewing the actual crew. A producer played by Denver Pyle is named Jackson Sidemark, a combination of the Jacksons of "Paisano", Jackson Gillis, Art Seid and Arthur Marks. Everyone gets into the act! Barbara Hale, in a blonde week, plays a bimbo flirting with Arthur Marks, who claims to know the right people in show business. Tending bar is Corney Jackson and CBS executive Anne Nelson. Gail Patrick is a spectator in the courtroom. The judge is none other than Erle Stanley Gardner. The episode is a delight and a darn good mystery.
Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale
The Case of the Substitute Face
"We had more fun. You just can't imagine. It was a lovely time."
- Barbara Hale on nine seasons of Perry Mason
Fritzi of
Movies Silently is hosting the
Sleuthathon, a blogathon of gumshoes, risk-takers, and the righteously snoopy. Let's all curl up with our screens and enjoy time well spent with dedicated bloggers and their favourite sleuths.
Quotes from:
TV Guide article by Dwight Whitney, 1961
The Case of the Real Perry Mason by Dorothy B. Hughes
50th Anniversary DVD collection - interviews
