Perry Mason (1957)
Perry Mason is a 1957 mystery series created by Erle Stanley Gardner. It stars Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale and William Hopper.
Raymond Burr is Perry Mason, the Los Angeles defense attorney who always believes his client and almost always proves it. Adapted from Erle Stanley Gardner's detective fiction, this long-running CBS series from 1957 follows Mason, investigator Paul Drake, and loyal secretary Della Street as they dismantle the prosecution's case and find the real culprit, usually through a courtroom cross-examination that breaks a witness on the stand. The formula rarely varies and rarely disappoints: a client in the wrong place, a district attorney sure of his verdict, and a lawyer who reads people better than anyone else in the room.
Quick answers
What is Perry Mason about?
Raymond Burr is Perry Mason, the Los Angeles defense attorney who always believes his client and almost always proves it. Adapted from Erle Stanley Gardner's detective fiction, this long-running CBS series from 1957 follows Mason, investigator Paul Drake, and loyal secretary Della Street as they dismantle the prosecution's case and find the real culprit, usually through a courtroom cross-examination that breaks a witness on the stand. The formula rarely varies and rarely disappoints: a client in the wrong place, a district attorney sure of his verdict, and a lawyer who reads people better than anyone else in the room.
When was Perry Mason released?
Perry Mason was released on 21 September 1957.
How many episodes does Perry Mason have?
Perry Mason has 271 episodes across 9 seasons.
Who made Perry Mason?
Perry Mason was created by Erle Stanley Gardner.
Where can I watch Perry Mason?
Perry Mason is available on Paramount Plus, Paramount+ (Via Amazon Prime), Philo, Prime Video, YouTube TV and Amazon Freevee.
Where to watch Perry Mason
Stream: Paramount Plus, Paramount+ (Via Amazon Prime), Philo, Prime Video, YouTube TV
Watch free: Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV
Cast
- Raymond Burr as Perry Mason
- Barbara Hale as Della Street
- William Hopper as Paul Drake
- William Talman as Hamilton Burger
- Ray Collins as Lieutenant Tragg
- Lee Miller as Sgt. Brice
- George E. Stone as Court Clerk
- Dabbs Greer as Bill Cotton
- Wesley Lau as Lt. Anderson
- Richard Anderson as Lt. Steve Drumm
- S. John Launer as Judge
- Michael Fox as Dr. Hoxie
Similar series
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A few thoughts on Perry Mason
For the same fair-play puzzle in print, Crooked House and Murder in Three Acts deliver tidy whodunits with a satisfying resolution. The Kindaichi Case Files stages courtroom-grade deduction in manga, Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning builds whole cases out of logic, and Disco Elysium lets you play the investigator turning every statement over for the crack in it.
Detectives who solve the case the classic way
Perry Mason reads people better than anyone and proves his client innocent by exposing the real culprit. These carry that traditional sleuthing forward, following methodical detectives who gather clues, interview suspects and name the guilty party through patient reasoning rather than car chases. Elegant, self-contained mysteries in the golden mold.
Whodunit novels where the culprit hides in plain sight
Erle Stanley Gardner wrote Mason as fair-play detective fiction, the clues all there if you catch them. These novels play the same game, from Christie's tidy manor mysteries to Nancy Drew's small-town cases, each daring you to spot the guilty party before the detective names them. Bring a suspicious eye.
Investigation games where you gather the clues yourself
Mason wins by working the evidence, and these games hand you that job directly. You question witnesses, weigh motives and follow leads through interactive mysteries where your choices shape the case. From a hard-drinking amnesiac cop to an android detective, each turns deduction into something you actively do.
Deduction manga that turns detection into a duel
The Mason formula is a battle of wits between defense and prosecution, resolved on the stand. These manga run on the same intellectual combat, pitting sharp young minds against killers and rival reasoners in cases that hinge on one overlooked detail. Cerebral, twisty and built for readers who love outthinking the culprit.