9 Great Perry Mason Episodes

9 Great Perry Mason Episodes

Below are the 9 episodes that, in my opinion, define the character, Perry Mason, and the theme of the show. They are not presented in any particular order, but they represent a small sampling of the high quality writing and acting performances that made this show a joy to watch.

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1.  The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink – This was the pilot episode and the first one to be filmed, but was the thirteenth episode to be broadcasted. It is a classic film noir piece of art. Directed by award winning director, Ted Post, we get introduced to all of the characters we would see over the next 271 episodes. Based on Erle Stanley Gardner‘s story of the same title, the screenplay was written by Laurence Marks and Ben Starr. (Season 1)

2.  The Case of the Sunbather’s Diary – Perry is in trouble and Paul Drake and Della Street  wonder how he’s going to get out of it. His client has double crossed him and involved him in a murder. He has to try to clear himself and his client in front of a grand jury.  The screenplay was written by Gene Wang who would later become a story editor for the series. (Season 1)

3.  The Case of the Treacherous Toupee – Based on Gardner’s sixth book, The Case of the Counterfeit Eye, this story centers on a defendant who wears a toupee. This episode is on the list because a great performance from a young Robert Redford and a stellar screenplay by Maurice Zimm. Zimm’s adaption and modifying the basic plot the Counterfeit Eye story is nothing short of amazing.  (Season 4)

4.  The Case of the Fiery Fingers – This episode is based on the book of the same name. However,  it is not the faithful adaption of the book that the 1964 remake, “The Case of the Woeful Widower” is. What makes this episode great is the great chemistry between the defendant played by Lenore Shanewise  and Raymond Burr. The screenplay is by Laurence Marks with Gene Wang as the story editor.  (Season 1)

5. The Case of the Weary Watchdog – The plot is simple. A friend of Della is being blackmailed. The blackmailer is murdered and Della’s friend is accused. Della does the friend a favor and becomes an accessory after the fact. Perry does his magic and gets Della and her friend cleared. So why is this episode special? Because it shows the depth of Perry’s and Della’s relationship. Della’s friend needs $25,000 (in 1962 dollars) to pay the blackmailer. Della tells Mason she needs $25,000 with no questions asked. Without hesitation, Mason writes her a check for that amount and says, “Without questions and without thanks.” The entire 2-minute conversation showed Della (and us) how far he was willing to go for a friend (and for her). It’s a great episode showing us the relationship was much more than just employer-employee.  (Season 6)

6. The Case of the Ill-Fated Faker – Mason must defend the secretary of a client whose wife and his con-man nephew tried to blackmail him. The murdered nephew’s body is burned in a cabin fire but the secretary who delivered the payoff money is charged with shooting him. Sue Randall plays the defendant in this episode. Randall was also Beaver’s third grade teacher, Miss Alice Landers,  in Leave It to Beaver. (Season 4)

7. The Case of the Baited Hook – Loosely based on the novel of the same name, Mason is awakened in the middle of the night by the phone. A strange man says someone has been murdered and he has two $1,000 bills as a retainer, as well as half of a $10,000 bill that will serve to introduce Perry’s mysterious client. Personally, this is one of my favorite episodes for two reasons: 1) a brilliant no-holds barred performance by Geraldine Wall as Abigail Leeds. She steals every scene she is in and; 2) Director Christian Nyby’s homage to the great James Cagney scene in “The Public Enemy.” (Season 1)

8. The Case of the Glamorous Ghost – A dazed woman found in a park in a raincoat says she has amnesia but her story makes no sense. She supposedly eloped with a man who is ultimately found dead in the same park. When she is charged, Perry has to dig deep to find the truth. This episode follows the book fairly closely with a screenplay by Samuel Newman who would later become one of the three story editor of the series. (Season 5)

9. The Case of the Final Fade-Out – This was the 271st and last episode of the Perry Mason series. Everybody and anybody who had anything to do with the production of the series appears on camera in this episode. From author Erle Stanley Gardner and Executive Producer Gail Patrick Jackson to Director Jesse Hibbs and cameos from the entire production crew, everyone associated with the actual production of the series appeared on camera in this episode.  Denver Pyle holds the distinction of being both the defendant and the murder victim here. (Season 9)