Parents' Guide to

Perry Mason

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Classic courtroom drama wins the case.

TV Hallmark Channel, Syndicated Drama 1957
Perry Mason Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Sircjalot
Sircjalot Parent of 18-year-old
December 6, 2018
age 9+

The best TV lawyer! Perry Mason (1957-1966)

just about every episode there is a homicide. usually you'll see the aftermath, but every once in a while you'll see a murder being committed. Most of the time the bodies are bloodles, occasionally blood can be seen in some episodes. It's very minor. No curse words are used, but I heard on another parent guide site that jacka** was used. But I can't conform that. But besides that there are no cuss words throughout the series. There not much or just any sexual themes (it's from the 1950s, you don't have to worry about such things as that.) Drinking and smoking are common throughout the series. Perry Mason can be quite intense sometimes, so probably it's safe to say that is still a PG rating

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
Nintendofan124
Nintendofan124 Adult
August 28, 2019
age 2+

Perry mason best tv lawyer

It’s so true
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

PERRY MASON is a classic courtroom drama that originally aired from 1957 to 1966. Starring Raymond Burr as a top-notch defense attorney, the award-winning series followed pretty much the same plot each episode. Most storylines revolve around an innocent client who Mason successfully defends by discovering the true perpetrator. The crime is usually murder, and the real criminal generally makes a dramatic confession in the courtroom after being trapped by Mason into telling the truth

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):

The complicated elements of each crime and its cover-up make the show enjoyable for fans of crime and court dramas. The surprising twist at the end, while always expected, is often quite satisfying, since it's when all the elements of the mystery come together at once. Scenes leading up to the murder can range from benign to disturbing. For example, one episode involved an employer who tricked his secretary into coming back to his deserted beach house, where he pressured her to drink martinis and then tried to sexually assault her. Images of the scared woman running from the drunk, deranged man as he chases her in car and on foot through desolate areas are alarming.

Because Perry Mason was created and aired in the '50s and '60s, certain elements related to gender and race feel dated, and sexism and racism -- while not overt -- are evident. Mason's secretary, Della Street (Barbara Hale), is a helpful part of Mason's investigations, but she's primarily in a role of servitude, wearing aprons, serving coffee, and showing people to the door. And incidental characters, such as a Chinese gardener, fit certain old-fashioned stereotypes in appearance and demeanor.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the differences between classic and modern crime dramas. What do the older shows have in common with the new ones? What sets them apart? Are today's series -- which usually show more details of the crime -- scarier or more entertaining than their predecessors? Why or why not?

TV Details

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