For a time author Erle Stanley Gardner’s famous defense lawyer was the most famous lawyer on television. With his dedication to the job, intent on the pursuit of justice, elevated powers of observation and deduction and his incredible intelligence Perry Mason (played by Raymond Burr) became a television favourite as well. He never stops in his pursuit of justice for his clients. In this goal he is aided by his two able assistants, his secretary Della Street (played by Barbara Hale) and private investigator Paul Drake Jr. (played by William Katt). If you enjoy mysteries then get this collection.
Movie 1: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel: A hated because of his underhanded methods tabloid newspaper publisher Harlan Wade (played by Robert Guillaume) is found floating dead in his swimming pool with the murder weapon – a statue – at the bottom of the pool. Michelle Menti (played by Susan Wilder), a reporter that Harlan recently fired, becomes the police’s number one suspect. Being a friend of Paul’s, Perry takes the case and begins working on proving her innocence. The deeper he digs the more possible suspects he comes up with. Could it be Marianne Clayman (played by Morgan Brittany), a woman in the process of a divorce who Harlan has some dirt on? Could it be General Sorenson (played by Yaphet Kotto), who is an American hero? Could it be the much older scorned husband of Marianne, Dr. Clayman (played by George Grizzard)? Or could be international banker Oscar Ortega (played by René Enriquez), who Harlan also had some money laundering dirt on? Perry will have to sort through all of this and go up against in court worthy opponent, Michael Reston (played by David Ogden Stiers).
Movie 2: The Case of the Avenging Ace: A woman working for the U.S. military is found dead and a high ranking Air Force officer is found guilty of the murder. Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Parks (played by Larry Wilcox) decides to appeal his conviction. Unfortunately the lone defense witness turns up murdered before testifying. This catches Perry Mason’s attention and so he takes the case. Della Street and Paul Drake Jr. set about helping Perry get to the bottom of thinks and clear the Colonel’s name.
Movie 3: The Case of the Lady in the Lake: An heiress wife (played by Doran Clark) is found dead and a tennis player is accused of her murder. Perry Mason takes the case to make sure that justice is served. The police believe they have their man when Billy Travis (played by David Hasselhoff) is found with the victim’s bloody scarf in his possession and was seen with an ex-lover the night before the murder.
Movie 4: The Case of the Lethal Lesson: One of Perry Mason’s former law students Ken Malansky (played by William R. Moses) is found at the scene of a bloody death but Perry hesitates taking the case. It is made doubly tricky for the lawyer when the victim is the son of a friend. It comes to light that Ken had a motive for killing the man. It will be up to Perry to filter through a mass of ex-lovers and jealous classmates to figure out who the murderer is.
Movie 5: The Case of the Musical Murder: A hated theatre director named Tony Franken (played by Dwight Schultz) is found murdered. The number one suspect is fired stage manager, Johnny Whitcomb (played by Jim Metzler). Perry Mason is the only alibi Johnny has but the prosecution wants to discredit him. Perry knows the stage manager is innocent but he has to prove it in court. It won’t be easy as it seems like everyone wanted Tony dead.
Movie 6: The Case of the All-Star Assassin: Thatcher Horton (played by Pernell Roberts) the owner of a couple of Denver sports teams is found dead. Perry Mason decides to help former student Ken Malansky with one of his first cases. The defendant is hockey player Bobby Spencer (played by Jason Beghe) when he is found in possession of the murder weapon. The case becomes very cloudy when it comes to light with investigation that many seemed to have a reason to want Thatcher dead and it seems like one of them hired a professional assassin to do the deed.