In 1957, American legal drama, Perry Mason first hit television screens. The series – based on the stories of author Erle Stanley Gardner – featured actor Raymond Burr as the eponymous criminal defense attorney, and ran for nine seasons and an incredible 271 episodes.
Due to the popularity of the 1957 series, the show was revived in 1985 as a collection of television movies. Burr reprised the role of Mason for the movie series, appearing in 26 of the 30 films.
But what are the Perry Mason TV movies and what is the viewing order? Well, if you want the answers to those questions, I suggest you read on.
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The order of the Perry Mason TV movies
The Perry Mason TV movies originally aired from 1985 until 1995. As mentioned above, Raymond Burr returned to the role of Perry Mason, appearing in 26 of the 30 movies.
Unfortunately, Burr passed away after completing the 26th movie, The Case of the Killer Kiss. Without Burr, the film series continued, but the remaining four entries were re-titled as A Perry Mason Mystery – to denote that these films were set in the same world, but did not include Mason.
Actor Paul Sorvino took on the lead role in the first Mason-less film, playing the part of Anthony Caruso. Hal Holbrook took on the lead for the next three films, taking the role of Bill “Wild Bill” McKenzie.
If you wish to watch the Perry Mason TV movies in order, then view them as follows:
- Perry Mason Returns (1985)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun (1986)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star (1986)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love (1987)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit (1987)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam (1987)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel (1987)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace (1988)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake (1988)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder (1989)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin (1989)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen (1990)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception (1990)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer (1990)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter (1990)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter (1991)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster (1991)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin (1991)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion (1991)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing (1992)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo (1992)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride (1992)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal (1993)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host (1993)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss (1993)
- A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives (1993)
- A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle (1994)
- A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Grimacing Governor (1994)
- A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester (1995)
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Who are the cast of the Perry Mason TV movies?
In addition to Raymond Burr, actress Barbara Hale returned to the world of Perry Mason, reprising the role of Della Street from the 1957 television series. Other notable recurring actors included William R. Moses, David Ogden Stiers, James McEachin, Alexandra Paul, and the aforementioned Paul Sorvino and Hal Holbrook.
In terms of guest stars, many well-known faces popped up across the 30 movies. Actors included Richard Anderson, Tom Bosley, Ron Glass, Jean Simmons, Dwight Schultz, Daphne Ashbrook, John Rhys-Davies, Yaphet Kotto, Patty Duke, Erin Gray, David Hasselhoff, Debbie Reynolds, Jerry Orbach, Lori Petty, David Warner, Ian McShane, Tim Reid, Vanessa Williams, Angela Bassett, Robert Vaughn, Diana Muldaur, Scott Baio, David Soul, Ronny Cox, Linda Blair, Robert Englund, and Tony Curtis, amongst many others.
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Who directed the Perry Mason TV movies?
The Perry Mason TV movies are the work of six different directors. The breakdown is as follows:
- Christian I. Nyby II directed 18 Perry Mason movies
- Ron Satlof directed 8 Perry Mason movies
- Richard Lang, Helaine Head, Max Tash and Vincent McEveety each directed 1 Perry Mason movie
To date, all of the movies have been released on DVD.
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If you’re a fan of Perry Mason, then you may wish to know that many of the TV episodes of Perry Mason are currently available to buy on DVD.
The Perry Mason Collection One is one of the DVD releases, and it includes seasons one to three of the show.
The Perry Mason Collection One DVD boxset is available from all good entertainment stockists, including Amazon US.
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I hope this information on the Perry Mason TV movies has proved useful. For more posts on crime-related entertainment, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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2 Responses to What is the order of the Perry Mason TV movies?
I first seen Raymond Burr as Ironside when a male member of my family was watching it, I didn’t care for the show, then Raymond Burr came out with Perry Mason tv show as a laywer, and I absolutely loved it, his straight laced, no sugar coating, firm but gentle (when needed) was brilliant. I loved his rugged voice that only got better with age, he wasn’t a dashing man, but grew to be in later years when the movies took hold. I’m so sad he is gone from us now and cried when I heard the news, I liked that he was a private man who kept his personal life personal and that the media wasn’t all over him like so many actors of today. He had a mystery about him that ultimately pleased me and even tho I sadly never met the man, I felt I knew him. I thank whomever for releasing the movies in a box set, it means the world to me and I will forever cherish it as long as I may live. He may be gone from this world, but he will always live on in his shows and movies and in my heart as well. ❤
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I watch the Perry Mason movies on fetv. I am glad they chose to show them. I remember him in the original Perry Mason shows and then later in Ironsides.
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