Perry Mason Returns (1985) (TV)

Director:

Ron Satlof

Writers:

Dean Hargrove (written by)
Erle Stanley Gardner (characters creator)

Release Date:

1 December 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

When his former secretary (Barbara Hale) is accused of a murder, Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) gives up a judgeship to defend her.

Plot Keywords:

Perry Mason | Murder | False Accusation | Sequel | Detective

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Raymond Burr	...	Perry Mason
Barbara Hale	...	Della Street
William Katt	...	Paul Drake Jr.
Holland Taylor	...	Paula Gordon
Richard Anderson	...	Ken Braddock
Kerrie Keane	...	Kathryn Gordon
Al Freeman Jr.	...	Lt. Cooper
David McIlwraith	...	David Gordon
Roberta Weiss	...	Laura Gordon
Cassie Yates	...	Barbara Scott
Patrick O'Neal	...	Arthur Gordon
James Kidnie	...	Bobby Lynch
Paul Hubbard	...	Sgt. Stratton
Lindsay Merrithew	...	Chris
Kathleen Laskey	...	Luanne
Charles Macaulay	...	Judge Whitewood
Mag Ruffman	...	Salesgirl
Carolyn Hetherington	...	Mrs. Jeffries
Cec Linder	...	Jack Welles
J.C. MacKenzie	...	Gas Station Attendant (as John C. MacKenzie)
David Bolt	...	Mr. Henderson
Doug Lennox	...	Vinnie
Frank Adamson	...	Mr. Williams
Lee Miller	...	Security Guard
Nerene Virgin	...	Minicam Reporter
Ken Pogue	...	Frank Lynch
Doris Petrie	...	Mrs. Lynch
Lillian Lewis	...	Customer
Derek Keurvorst	...	Court Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don MacKay	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Ron Satlof

Writing credits
Dean Hargrove		(written by)
Erle Stanley Gardner		(characters creator)

Produced by
Dean Hargrove	....	executive producer
Jeff Peters	....	associate producer
Fred Silverman	....	executive producer
Barry Steinberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Dick DeBenedictis

Cinematography by
Albert J. Dunk		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Edwin F. England
Robert L. Kimble		(as Robert Kimble)

Casting by
Eileen Mack Knight		(as Eileen Knight)

Art Direction by
David Jaquest

Set Decoration by
Jaro Dick

Costume Design by
Ronn Rynhart

Makeup Department
David R. Beecroft	....	hair stylist (as David Beecroft)
Irene Kent	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Richard Birnie	....	executive in charge of production
Barbara Kelly	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ross Clyde	....	third assistant director
Richard Flower	....	first assistant director
Woody Sidarous	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Paul Harding	....	property master

Sound Department
Robert Appere	....	re-recording mixer
Gary Bolger	....	re-recording mixer
Bruce Carwardine	....	production sound mixer
Gordon L. Day	....	re-recording mixer
Bill Wistrom	....	supervising sound editor (as William Wistrom)
Scott Warren	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Shelley Cook	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Branko Racki	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Boyle	....	gaffer
Michael Kohne	....	key grip
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Charles M. Smallwood	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Maria Armstrong	....	casting: Canada
Ross Clydesdale	....	casting: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Erla Lank	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Dennis Brookins	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Ted Roberts	....	music editor
Fred Steiner	....	composer: original Perry Mason theme
Tommy Tedesco	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Brian O'Hara	....	transportation coordinator
Dave West	....	transportation captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Debra Beers	....	location manager
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title design
Blanche McDermaid	....	script supervisor
Jim Chad	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• InterMedia Entertainment Company
• Strathmore Productions
• Viacom Productions (in association with) (as Viacom)

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1985) (USA) (TV)
• Forum Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Super Channel (2005) (Japan) (TV)
• NHK-BS2 (1990) (Japan) (TV)
• Vídeo Tape (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Glen Glenn Sound Company  re-recording and sound effects editorial (as Glen Glenn Sound)
• Ontario Film & Video Office  thanks (as Ontario Film/Video Office)
• Toronto Film Liaison Office  thanks
• Toronto-Dominion Bank  thanks (as Toronto Dominion Bank)
• Government of Ontario  special thanks (as The Government of Ontario)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  opticals (as Howard A. Anderson Company)

Also Known As:

"The Defense Never Rests" - USA (video title)

Runtime:

96 min (excluding commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

InterMedia Entertainment Company

Trivia:

Lee Miller's final film.

Goofs:

Continuity: In one of the chase scenes, the doors on Paul Drake's jeep are there when he takes off but after he rounds the corner they are gone.

Movie Connections:

Followed by A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester (1995) (TV)

Didn't They Know Who Della Worked For Before?

After a 20 year absence from the small screen Raymond Burr who is now, older, stouter, and grayer and with a beard returns to television in the first of several two hour made for television films. Burr had a legion of fans as Mason and his return was heralded with high ratings every time one of these films was broadcast.

In the interim like many good lawyers and some mediocre ones, Perry Mason became a judge and was now an appellate court jurist. But when a friend's in trouble, Perry quits it all and returns to active combat in the courtroom.

Back in the original series William Hopper as Paul Drake was a defendant in one episode. Here it's the only other living cast member at the time from the old series, Barbara Hale as Della Street.

Della's gone on with her life as well. She became a secretary and later executive assistant to the wealthy Patrick O'Neal. With the kids and second wife O'Neal's got, no wonder he began relying heavily on Della Street to run his business.

When O'Neal is stabbed to death by a killer in drag to make it look like Della broke in, she's arrested and of course she turns to Perry as her attorney. Biggest mistake the perpetrator made, didn't the individual realize just who Della worked for before. Definitely should have found another patsy.

But as the case developed it turns out that not only did O'Neal have to be killed, but that Della had to be framed in order to solve get out of the potential jackpot the killer was in.

This became a family reunion in another way as Barbara Hale's son William Katt came on as Paul Drake, Jr. The script had it written that Paul Drake was now retired and the Drake Detective Agency was in the hands of his son. But it's clear that Katt only considers it a part time gig. In fact when we first meet him he's doing another gig, playing a saxophone at a jazz club.

Perry takes him on, but doesn't quite take him seriously enough. Katt has to earn his respect and that's a running theme throughout the film.

Perry Mason Returns is a good start to eight years of Perry Mason films, all anticipated by the legion of fans Raymond Burr developed for Erle Stanley Gardner's famous defense attorney.