“It’s my contention, Della, that an attorney doesn’t have to sit back and wait until a witness gets on the stand and then test his recollection simply by asking him questions. If facts can be shuffled in such a way that it will confuse a witness who isn’t absolutely certain of his story, and if … Continue reading GAM JAM: The Case of the Long-Legged Models
Erle Stanley Gardner
CARRY ON, BARRISTER! Perry Mason and the British Connection
If Perry Mason had practiced law in England, would he have been considered a barrister or a solicitor? According to AI (which untied and fed me in order to allow me to write this article), Mason would have been considered a barrister. “Barristers specialize in speaking in court and trying lawsuits in front of a … Continue reading CARRY ON, BARRISTER! Perry Mason and the British Connection
RISING TEMP-ERATURES! The Case of the Terrified Typist
“‘The typist is here, Mr. Mason.’ Mason nodded and stretched back in his chair. Della started to pick up his brief, but hesitated as Gertie came in and carefully closed the door behind her.“‘What’s the trouble, Gertie?’“‘What did you say to frighten her, Mr. Mason!’“Mason glanced at Della Street. “‘Heavens,’ Della said, ‘I didn’t talk with her … Continue reading RISING TEMP-ERATURES! The Case of the Terrified Typist
BUCOLICS ANONYMOUS: The Perry Mason Connection, Part I
Ask me if I’m a town mouse or a country mouse, and there’s no doubt about it: I’ve always favored the city. I’d rather stay in an Air B&B in the heart of London or a nice hotel in New York City than roll my sleeping bag out under the stars. The same goes for … Continue reading BUCOLICS ANONYMOUS: The Perry Mason Connection, Part I
THE PERRY MASON/ALFRED HITCHCOCK CONNECTION, PT. 4: The Birds
Leave it to Alfred Hitchcock to take a Daphne Du Maurier short story about an ornithological Armageddon and turn it into a love story about family healing. By the end of 1963’s The Birds, Melanie Daniels (the Hitchcock blonde who has replaced Du Maurier’s doomed farmer, played by "Tippi" Hedren) has traded in her bitterness for true … Continue reading THE PERRY MASON/ALFRED HITCHCOCK CONNECTION, PT. 4: The Birds
THE PERRY MASON/ALFRED HITCHCOCK CONNECTION, PT. 3: The Men of Psycho
When Alfred Hitchcock decided to adapt Robert Bloch’s 1959 horror novel Psycho for the big screen, he faced a mountain of objections from the heads of Paramount Studios, who were appalled at the subject matter. Hitchcock’s negotiations included his offer to film on the cheap, in black and white, using the crew from his successful TV series, Alfred … Continue reading THE PERRY MASON/ALFRED HITCHCOCK CONNECTION, PT. 3: The Men of Psycho
MASON IN THE EMERALD CITY: The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister
Since time immemorial – well, say the last hundred years – a detective’s secretary has been the front line of information about new clients. Her first impression says everything! “’There’s a girl wants to see you. Her name’s Wonderly.’ “’A customer?’ “’I guess so. You’ll want to see her anyway: she’s a knockout.’” Okay, Effie … Continue reading MASON IN THE EMERALD CITY: The Case of the Green-Eyed Sister
THE PERRY MASON/ALFRED HITCHCOCK CONNECTION, PT. 2: The Biddies
I’m a big fan of screen biddies, those wonderful older women who always steal the scene from the big stars with their sarcastic eye-rolling and witty shenanigans. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were all the better for having had Helen Broderick in two of their films. Broderick became the second biddy to play Miss Hildegarde … Continue reading THE PERRY MASON/ALFRED HITCHCOCK CONNECTION, PT. 2: The Biddies
THE PERRY MASON/ALFRED HITCHCOCK CONNECTION, PT. 1: Rear Window
My favorite author is Agatha Christie. My favorite director is Alfred Hitchcock. And never the twain shall meet. And why should they? Hitchcock wasn’t much interested in whodunnits, and goodness knows what Christie thought about the movie industry. (Actually, she loved going to the movies . . . as long as they weren’t based on … Continue reading THE PERRY MASON/ALFRED HITCHCOCK CONNECTION, PT. 1: Rear Window
“The stuff that dreams are made of, Della” – The Perry Mason/Maltese Falcon Connection
It should come as no surprise to you how much I love and admire The Maltese Falcon. It seems I’m always ranking the book or the film on one list or another. Why, only recently, I named it the best film noir of all time. As for detective Sam Spade, I placed him among the Top Twenty Greatest … Continue reading “The stuff that dreams are made of, Della” – The Perry Mason/Maltese Falcon Connection
