Nov 04, 2003 08:32 PM
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(Updated Nov 18, 2003 08:43 AM)
And lawyers, even the fictional ones, are despicable smart a s s e s! But there are always exceptions to the rule and Perry Mason was the one for me.
(I've just read The Case of the Blond Bonanza and this revu though listed here is not on this specific novel but on all Perry Mason novels)
Looking back..
There was a time in my childhood when all I wanted in life was to become a lawyer. Having read so many Perry Mason novels, I used to dream of those grandstand performances where I would have the entire nation eating my words - those sizzling verbal volleys, grinding cross examinations n that brilliant closing argument ! I aspired for all that fame and adulation until someone rudely jolted me out of this make believe world ! I was told that the common criminal cases in India seldom wound up in lesser than ten years, that there was hardly any press coverage and most importantly lawyers were the most hated of all tribes. A lot of water has flown under the bridge and I’ve graduated to Grisham besides a lot of other ''cerebral'' stuff but still I am never able to resist picking up a copy of Perry Mason once in a while and revisiting those golden moments.
The name behind such fame
Erle Stanley Gardner (ESG as we fans call him), creator of the world's most famous literary lawyer Perry Mason, was born in 1889 in Massachusetts. He started his career as a lawyer at the age of 20 and practiced for two decades before commencing his lengthy run of success as a writer. He started off with short story crime fiction contributions to magazines before introducing Perry Mason to the public-at-large in ''The Case of the Velvet Claws'' (1933).
What followed was..
Mason became a rage so much that it spawned off a few movies and even a popular radio show in the 1940s. In 1957, the long-running, immensely popular Perry Mason television series began and it lasted 10 years giving the courtroom sleuth almost an iconic status. At last count, I think there were close to almost 90 novels.
The movers and the shakers of the novels
Perry Mason:a lawyer, working out of Los Angeles - honest and fearless Champion of good.
Paul Drake: the boyish yet suave private detective Perry employs to dig up information for his cases. He runs his own agency and is Perry's point man in all crises.
Della Street:the able and devoted secretary of Perry. It also happens that she is very intelligent and beautiful :-)
Hamilton Burger: the oft-defeated yet formidable district attorney and Perry's principal adversary in most of the cases. He's good at his job but is that good enough when ur pitted against the best - not at all.
Other regulars include
Lieutenant Tragg:a laid back police officer who as Burger's ''expert'' witness often gets crucified during Perry's rigorous cross examinations.
Gertie:Perry’s office receptionist.
So what’s the formula like?
In most of the novels, the principal characters are introduced quickly and the basic premise is set. Situations conjure up showing that at least one of them is capable of murder. When the murder happens, an innocent person (most often a woman, don’t know why) is accused, and Mason takes the case. Evidence keeps mounting against his client but Mason is unperturbed until he finally pulls out a legal maneuver involving some courtroom ''pyrotechnics.'' This usually proves his client innocent and also helps identify the real culprit. Though the reader is always aware that Mason will win, what is so engaging about the novels is the combination of Mason's efforts to free his client, usually a surprise witness brought in by Drake in the closing courtroom scene, and a dramatic courtroom confession. And invariably poor hapless Burger has seen the rug pulled under his legs yet again. To answer readers who are still confused, at the end Perry, Della and Paul get together to recap and explain what had led to the solution.
Some trivia
Yes, Mason did lose one case.. ''The Case of the Deadly Verdict.'' The fault though wasn’t his coz his client withheld evidence needed to win.
Mason had clients from all walks of life - concert pianists, models, circus clowns, athletes even two police officers. One of them even tried to frame him for the murder of her husband. Mason defended even Paul Drake and Della Street.
In the screen version, in 1991 - 58 years after their first appearance together - Della and Perry kiss on the lips (Della was one woman I had a tremendous crush on in my childhood - another being JO of Little women)
Della's Home Phone Number Hollywood 2-1799 :-)))))))))))))
Mason has even resorted to calling a donkey to the stand (The case of the Bashful Burro)
In short the Perry Mason series is a must for all those who take to books as they grow up - Its also a must for ppl like me who refuse to grow up ! Anyway, just go read it folks !!
Pls do comment !
