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Perry Mason - Season 5, Vol. 2

the character created by Erle Stanley Gardner
USA 1962

Perry Mason is an attorney who specializes in defending seemingly indefensible cases. With the aid of his secretary Della Street and investigator Paul Drake, he often finds that by digging deep, startling facts can be revealed. Often relying on his outstanding courtroom skills, he often tricks or traps people into unwittingly admitting their guilt.

****

Perry Mason was more than just the best courtroom television ever made. It ranks as some of the best TV ever broadcast. Raymond Burr was as solid as a rock, with Perry always outwitting crooks, femme fatales and D.A. Hamilton Burger (how did he ever keep his job?). Perry Mason also brought dignity to being a defense attorney that has been grievously nullified in the modern world. Still, seeing his preparedness, quick thought and one of his sidekicks, Paul Drake, whom could conveniently dig up any fact no matter how obscure within record time - is still comforting. Della Street was pretty easy on the eyes too.

 

I see, especially the early episodes, as having a strong link to Film Noir. (generally good people doing bad things for money.... or love). The atmospheric criminal capers of the 50's, replace the overly seedy societal anti-heroes with white-collar crime and you have some of the most addictive television ever shown. It lasted decades in syndication acquiring new fans with each generation. Even 40 years later this remains undated. Some of the music tracks are by such luminaries as Jerry Goldsmith and Bernard Herrmann. This show still holds a strong appeal, fine performances, tight scripts and classically unique twists in the finale. A true gem of TV gone by. out of

Publicity Still

Television Premiere: September 21st, 1957 - USA and Canada

DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Paramount (4 single-sided dual-layered discs) - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:
Distribution Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime Each episode is around 51:25 minutes X 15. About 12 hours of entertainment
Video 1:33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.77 mb/s (sample)
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s   

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Sample Bitrate:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) 
Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Paramount Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Season 5, Episode 16: The Case of the Shapely Shadow
Original Air Date—6 January 1962

Season 5, Episode 17: The Case of the Captain's Coins
Original Air Date—13 January 1962

Season 5, Episode 18: The Case of the Tarnished Trademark
Original Air Date—20 January 1962

Season 5, Episode 19: The Case of the Glamorous Ghost
Original Air Date—3 February 1962

Season 5, Episode 20: The Case of the Poison Pen Pal
Original Air Date—10 February 1962

Season 5, Episode 21: The Case of the Mystified Miner
Original Air Date—24 February 1962

Season 5, Episode 22: The Case of the Crippled Cougar
Original Air Date—3 March 1962

Season 5, Episode 23: The Case of the Absent Artist
Original Air Date—17 March 1962

Season 5, Episode 24: The Case of the Melancholy Marksman
Original Air Date—24 March 1962

Season 5, Episode 25: The Case of the Angry Astronaut
Original Air Date—7 April 1962

Season 5, Episode 26: The Case of the Borrowed Baby
Original Air Date—14 April 1962

Season 5, Episode 27: The Case of the Counterfeit Crank
Original Air Date—28 April 1962

Season 5, Episode 28: The Case of the Ancient Romeo
Original Air Date—5 May 1962

Season 5, Episode 29: The Case of the Promoter's Pillbox
Original Air Date—19 May 1962

Season 5, Episode 30: The Case of the Lonely Eloper
Original Air Date—26 May 1962.

DVD Release Date: November 16th, 2010
Standard transparent keep case
Chapters: 4 in each episode

 

Comments:

There are 2 vintage television shows that I can watch around the clock; The Fugitive and Perry Mason.

Season Five of Perry Mason has 30 episodes in total and this Season Five Vol. 2 package has 15. It amounts to about 12+ hours of classic TV. This collection includes the second half of  the 62' season housed on four single-sided dual-layered discs.

Unlike - example - Season One Volume 2 (which are progressively transferred), these are again interlaced with visible combing.

 

Someone must have been listening to us as there are optional English subtitles now. Digital noise is very minor. As per previous boxsets this has some impressive contrast and strong detail - notable in the infrequent close-ups. Audio is clean and clear. There are no extras at all.

A huge plus (again) is that these are the complete 52 (roughly) minute versions (syndicated versions have 6 minutes or more missing from each episode.) It is nice to have these on single-sided discs all in one standard transparent keep cases. Season One, Vol. 1 was released on July 11, 2006 and after 4 years Paramount have put 153 episodes to purchasable DVD. But, have no fear - there are plenty more to come with 9 seasons and 271 episodes in total.

Gary W. Tooze

Sample DVD Menus
 

Episodes

 

 'Hats' were very popular in Season Five of Perry Mason (1962)

 

 

Mason 'Babes' abound in the 2nd half of Season Five

 

 

The Regulars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and some of the Stars

 

 

Jeff Morrow (above) + Rex Reason (below) who both starred This Island Earth are together again in

the same Season Five Perry Mason episode; The Case of the Ancient Romeo
 

 

Burt Reynolds
 

 
John Dahl who also appeared in the iconic noir Gun Crazy
 

 

The game is afoot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:
Distribution Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC




 

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Gary Tooze