The Cherry On Top Of The Sundae
Perry Mason was notified that it would not be renewed for a tenth season, on November 15, 1965, about halfway through the 9th season's filming. But unlike, say, CBS's Rawhide, which was abruptly canceled that same fall, Perry Mason was allowed to complete the season and film a full 30 episodes. So, many of these episodes in season 9 volume two, have a nice touch, giving the writers, actors, and producers a chance to leave the viewer in good stead. There is some great comedy in this volume, like Victor Buono's broad manipulations as the mastermind of inept adolescent thieves, in color, in The Case Of The Twice Told Twist; his slow burns while pondering the fools around him is his best appearance in the series. Raymond Burr gets to play Perry Mason and a drunken sailor in The Case Of The Dead Ringer. While actors playing their evil doubles is often cited as the point when a series jumps the shark, Burr plays the two opposites with such relish that it is a treat to see. Perry Mason wraps...
A Bittersweet Farewell
Perry Mason, volume two is finally available for preorder. The final series of Perry Mason is now complete. Be a part of TV history. Loyal fans of the series will cherish the last fifteen episodes. A hint of nostalgia will be felt by many of us after watching the final episode.
"The Case of the Midnight Howler," the opening title, is one of my favorite episodes in volume two. It is a riveting start to a series finale. The atmosphere in this episode always grabs me, every time I see it, and keeps me engrossed. In "The Case of the Crafty Kidnapper," two of Hollywood's greatest actors, Cloris Leachman and Gary Collins appear in solid performances.
All in all, Perry Mason, volume two is a bittersweet send off to a one-of-a-kind detective series, a series that will transport us back to a simpler, more entertaining time in TV history. Highly recommended.
All fifteen episodes in volume two are listed below:
Episode 1: "The Case of the...
Fitting 20th Anniversary Tribute to Raymond Burr
September 12th 2013 will mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Raymond Burr, so it is entirely apposite that the last of the Perry Mason box sets will have been brought out to coincide with that date. Throughout the DVD release programme, one of the highlights has been the pristine quality of the prints (possibly accounting for the fairly high price of the sets). But in the final analysis we now have a superb complete record of one of the most successful of all American TV series, and people who 'grew up with' the show will surely not begrudge the fact that the project is now completed and can be sampled at leisure.
With regard to this final season, a special mention should be made of Richard Anderson, who joined the cast as Lieutenant Steve Drumm. This fine actor, such a familiar star and guest-star in TV series from the 1960s onwards, always offered a thoughtful, dignified and serious presence in all his appearances, yet has never really received full credit for his...
Click to Editorial Reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment