Show271
I finally finished watching the entire series from DVD's I had purchased over the years. My addiction to Perry Mason started when Ted Turner's new TBS Superstation starting broadcasting Perry Mason every day for years and thanks to the VCR I could record them for delayed viewing. The core casting was perfect although I never felt the characters that replaced Tragg had the humor that Ray Collins brought to the role. The series had lost some of its quickness due to Raymond Burr's weight and health issues in season 7 and 8 although season 9 was better than the previous two seasons. As Perry says in the last scene, you start at the beginning so I will start again watching them regularly starting with Season 1. Submitted by Perry Baby 2/8/14
+ Everything I’ve read about Burr tells of what a generous, loyal, and kind person he was. Ray Collins said he was always the first to come to someone’s aid in time of trouble. He also went out of his way to find work for friends from his days in radio who were down on their luck. When asked to do the new Perry Mason movies, he insisted on having his Della with him. Later, as an orchid breeder, he would name a new variety for Barbara Hale. DOD 05/28/21
Doing the same! I spent late nights as a teen watching PM reruns at 11:00 p.m. Just watched the entire series on DVD, thanks to my sweet dad gifting me with the set. And now...back to Episode 1! I need to refresh myself with the early sharp, noirish PM...plus, I much prefer the ambience of the late 50s/early Sixties...the cars, the clothes, the music. Submitted by JazzBaby, 6/29/2019.
When Pete Desmond confesses to Paul that he purposely arranged to be caught in a lie on the stand in order to help Sidemark, he says he got the idea from a movie he saw. No doubt he refers to “Witness for the Prosecution”. DOD 05/14/20
As noted before, Jackie Coogan may be the only PM alum with a law named after him. The highest paid child star of the silent era, he had earned about $4,000,000 (about $45,000,000 today), virtually all of which was spent - legally - by his mother and stepfather. At age 21, he had to sue his own mother to recover about $120,000 of what remained. A law popularly named for him was passed in 1939 requiring that a percentage of a minor’s earnings be put in trust until age 21, as well as setting education and time off requirements. DOD 05/28/21
After the judge dismisses the charges against Jackson Sidemark, Hamilton Burger tells Mr. Sidemark, "You're free for the moment, but I'm not through with you". Surely Hamilton must know that once the preliminary hearing starts, witnesses are sworn, evidence introduced, and testimony given, jeopardy has been attached. Once the charges are dismissed against Mr. Sidemark, the rule of double jeopardy applies and he can no longer be made to answer for the murder of Barry Conrad. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 4 March 2014.
+ Jeopardy does not attach until a jury is impaneled. Submitted by D. Tlougan, 5/1/15.
++ Actually, you are both a bit off. There is no requirement of a jury; bench trials are frequently held. And the jeopardy is not dependent upon impaneling of a jury; in a bench trial it attaches upon swearing in the first witness. It can also be upon a change of plea entered and accepted by the court.
+++ Preliminary hearings are have no risk of conviction, as they only determine that a crime has been committed and the defendant should be bound over (probable cause) (which is not determined "beyond a reasonable doubt." cgraul 4.13.17
++++ My understanding of double jeopardy is that once acquitted you cannot be retried for the same crime. If legal proceedings don't make it to a verdict, it is still possible that you can be accused/tried again. Again, my understanding; if this is wrong please correct me. OLEF641 10/12/21
Pete Desmond (Jackie Coogan), tells Paul Drake that the reason he committed perjury was to help his friend Jackson Sidemark. Mr. Desmond tells Paul that he saw this ploy in a movie. The movie to which Mr. Desmond is referring is the wonderful 1957 movie "Witness For The Prosecution". Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 4 March 2014.
The name of the fictional producer in this episode, Jackson Sidemark, pays tribute to the real-life producers of Perry Mason, Gail Patrick Jackson, the executive producer, and Art Seid and Arthur Marks, the producers. Submitted by DyNama, 6/13/2014.
+ Thank you, DyNama! I was trying to figure out to whom his name was a salute! Well done! Submitted by JazzBaby, 6/29/2019.
++ You are welcome, JazzBaby! Submitted by DyNama, 9/13/2019.
The final episode of Perry concerned evil doings around a television show. This was probably designed to give all the behind-the-scenes workers a chance to come in front of the cameras and introduce themselves and say a little about their jobs. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 4 March 2014.
Coincidentally on May 22, 1966, "In LA, the 18th Annual Emmy Awards are presented to 'The Fugitive [Outstanding Drama],' 'The Dick Van Dyke Show [Outstanding Comedy],' DVD/Leading Actor-Comedy & Mary Tyler Moore/Leading Actress-Comedy," wikipedia observes [takemeback.to 5.22.66 page]. Mike Bedard 3.19.15: MeTV AM airing of Episode 271.
FF has 2 Perry Rarities: Multiple Murders & One the viewers actually witness. Mike Bedard 3.19.15
The final line of the final show belongs to Perry. "Now it seems to me the place to start is at the beginning". What a wonderful boss and co-worker Raymond Burr must have been, considering how many people did the whole 9 years. Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 4 March 2014.
+ AMEN! The series came Full Circle! Mike Bedard 2.27.15.
I imagine many in this episode struggled to keep straight faces, with all that dialogue about the ruthless, dog-eat-dog world of show biz, since, by all accounts, there was nothing but admiration and affection among the cast and crew. DOD 06/29/23
The show never had a Christmas episode. Submitted by Perry Baby 10/17/16.
+ No, but it had a Valentine's Day episode ("Romantic Rogue," broadcast on 2/14/59) and a Memorial Day episode ("Golden Oranges," which featured a Memorial Day parade even though the episode was originally broadcast in March). Submitted by Wiseguy70005, 4/11/18.
++ The series also had a Hallowe'en episode, #159 The Case Of The Dodging Domino, original airdate of 25Oct1962. jfh 15May2020
I've just finished watching every episode on DVD and have read every page here right after watching each episode. A couple of minor things have bugged me. The same interior has been used many times for a wealthy person's house. The same staircase, lobby and study, with only minor changes. Never seen that mentioned in these pages. Also none of the exteriors used for Perry's office could be possible as Perry's office has a balcony and none of the buildings shown has balconies. Submitted by Larry Baby 10/23/17.
+ Excellent observation, Larry. Don't forget this show was associated with the low-budget Columbia Pictures system, so those interiors also likely appeared in the works of The Three Stooges, as well as the Boston Blackie series. JohnK, 23 October 2017.
++ I've made both observations several times. There is also an apartment set that appears dozens of times (Silent Six). Also various stage dressing - the door with decorative plaques, screen with elongated stars, sconces with pierced metal shades, black chest with curvy gold trim- that appear over and over. This was a very economically produced show. DOD 04/20/18
+++ Comments on the re-use of the "rich house" stair case set, as well as paintings, lamps, and more, have been made a number of times. Ditto for the topological impossibilities associated with Perry's office building. As time goes on, more and more of these are noted in the Trivia sections. If i ever watch the series again, i will take note of the "banjo" barometer, the paired sconces, the big globe and the little globe, the metal money box, the tubular door chimes, and many more things i saw repeatedly but did not note. I am grateful to those who tracked the Curious Coffee Set, and i did my part by tracking the West Bend Thermo-Serv set and mysterious Menorah Mailbox. Submitted catyron, August 19th, 2018.
What catyron said. There is abundant note taken in the trivia sections about every detail, from the famous staircase to the paintings used. I am massively impressed by the eye for detail of so many PM fans; without them, I would never have noticed these things! Submitted by JazzBaby, 6/29/2019.
I don't know if anyone has so speculated elsewhere, but "judging" from ESG's surprised reaction, I think that Raymond Burr completely ad-libbed the "Would you mark this?" bit during the second court case so as to involve him more in the action. TriviaSleuth 8/8/19
Super trivial trivia: When Jackson calls Barry a "super egomaniac" he isn't very accurate: the "super ego" is "the part of a person's mind that acts as a self-critical conscience, reflecting social standards learned from parents and teachers". Yeah, yeah, I know, the writers intended the comment to mean an extreme egomaniac, it just caught my ear this time. jfh 15May2020
Pete Desmond tells Lt. Drumm that a 7th gun showed up in the prop box. What does Drumm do? He says "Thank you" and walks away leaving the evidence in the box. Kilo 5/21/2020.