Perry Mason (50th Anniversary Edition)

I bought this set because I watch Perry Mason reruns occasionally on TV, which are full of commercials, so I thought this would be better. It also has bonus features! I do remember the original show on TV, so watching these is like going home again. And the bonus features--the auditions and interviews--are fascinating. Erle Stanley Gardiner's Perry Mason was a brilliant character who discerns the truth from any situation like a St. Bernard rescuing an injured person from an avalanche. He's aided by his friend and co-worker, detective Paul Drake, and his smart and more-than-capable secretary, Della Street.; and thwarted by D.A. Hamilton Burger and police Lt. Tragg. I also bought the entire series to watch all the episodes in order, which allows me to see how the characters, some details, and the whole show changed over the years. For a pick of the best episodes and the bonus features, this set is an ideal first set.

Has it really been over 50 years since Perry Mason first walked into a television courtroom? It is a high compliment, viewing "Perry Mason (50th Anniversary Edition)", that the episodes are still as fresh, and entertaining, in a new millennium!The episodes chosen for the collection may not be every fan's choice, but each is a gem; seeing Robert Redford, James Coburn, Adam West, Burt Reynolds, Bette Davis, Dick Clark, and a hot-tempered(!) Leonard Nimoy seamlessly enter the 'Mason' universe is great fun, and four episodes included should be on every 'Top' list; "The Case of the Deadly Verdict", where Mason actually LOSES; "The Case of the Twice Told Twist", the only color episode ever filmed; "The Case of the Dead Ringer", with Raymond Burr in dual roles (he's a hoot as a reprobate British sailor); and, of course, "The Case of the Final Fadeout", the last episode of the series. The episodes offer the option of an introduction by Barbara Hale (often with director Arthur Marks), which, while not necessary, are warm and often delightful.The Disc 4 Special Features are certainly worth the price of the set, by themselves...The first 'Perry Mason' TV-movie, made nearly two decades after the series left the air, is a sweet reunion, as Della (Barbara Hale) is accused of murder, and Perry leaves the bench to defend her, aided by Paul Drake's son (Hale's real-life son, William Katt)...Raymond Burr's screen tests, for both the roles of Mason AND Hamilton Burger (William Hopper's test for the Mason role is also included, and shows just how mesmerizing Burr was, in both roles; thank goodness he became Mason, because as Burger, he'd have been unbeatable!)...a bittersweet "Person-to-Person" tour of Burr's home, from the late fifties (Burr, while justifiably proud of his home, rarely saw it during the series' nine-year run, as the nature of the scripts kept him at the studio, 24/7); two excerpts from Burr interviews with Charlie Rose from the 1980s; a loving biography of 'Mason' creator, Erle Stanley Gardner; the tragic TV anti-smoking ad by William Talman (who was dying of lung cancer); a funny "Stump the Stars" bit with the original cast, and MUCH more!This is certainly one of my favorite DVD collections, and I HIGHLY recommend it, for both long-time fans, and viewers unfamiliar with the series. You're in for a treat!

A great package deal! We received this just a few days ago, and have enjoyed several episodes. So-o-o-o nice not to need subtitles!!! So nice not to have to play back because one of us says, "What did he say?" For most current productions, we need subtitles. Subtitles are necessitated by superfluous and very loud background music, poor enunciation by today's ill-trained actors, and the modern trend of fast-speak accompanied by many "ums" and affected stammering. ("A-a-a-and...") To be fair, we need them sometimes for British productions, which is no fault of the actors, just that we need a little help with lingo, parlance, and pronunciation. Those of you who are similarly effected will be glad to know that the sound on these DVDs is excellent, the actors seem mostly be be theater trained, and you can hear every word.The stories were always interesting, and we are happy that they remain relevant. With the exception of things like Della dialing the phone with her pencil and Paul not being able to text Perry on updates, these stories could happen today. There is lots of content, twists, mystery, and the fun of trying to figure out whodunit.You will enjoy seeing big stars before they were big. Barbara Hale (Della) introduces each episode and gives you a heads-up on who to watch for. Be sure to opt for this feature. Speaking of features, we haven't seen any of them yet, but eagerly await things like Raymond Burr's interview with Charlie Rose.An aspect of the series that may be of interest to some of you: Back in the 1960s, a lawyer friend--also a Perry Mason fan--told me that the courtroom procedures were accurately depicted. This, of course, excludes the guilty party jumping up in court and confessing.Love this edition!

Watching these shows brought me back. I remember what I loved about watching the t.v. shows.

The episodes are entertaining, if not amusing at times. It is fascinating to see the cars, the clothing, the relationships between men and women (sad but true) and (more sadly) the smoking … everywhere … all day. I typically search the careers of the guests, which include the famous (Burt Reynolds and Leonard Nimoy) and not-so-famous. I watched a few episodes on You Tube and then ordered this.The first series is significant television.

A select few episodes from this long-running series. Includes the only episode which was filmed in colour. And the only episode in which Perry initially loses a case. A great starter dvd collection for this long-running series. Raymond Burr ( a Canadian) was unstoppable as Perry Mason. Commentaries include introductions by Barbara Hale (Della Street) and Arthur Marks (producer/director). Well worth having as part of any collection of classic t.v. series.

Coffret substantiel avec des épisodes de diverses époques, surtout des débuts (1959-1961), donc en noir et blanc. Quelques inédits sont inclus avec la jeune Barbara Bain ou Leonard Nimoy dans des rôles secondaires. Mais attention: contrairement aux versions disponibles en France sur d'autres coffrets, il n'y a pas de sous-titres en français ni de doublage en français pour ce Perry Mason 50th Anniversary Edition. D'où seulement 3 étoiles.

Great to see again some of the old television programs from the fifities. The nostalgia factor is very high. The cars look like boats, and everyone is smoking on screen. A good selection from the many years of production of the television show.