Perry Mason - Case of Constant Doyle - Part 1/Bette Davis

[edwardjames50]

Davis giving her standard 60s "performance," one part "Mrs. Hayden," one part "Margaret de Lorca," one part "Edith Phillips," and 100% Bette Davis (here wearing her "Dead Ringer" wig. Her work is all smeared lipstick, cigarette smoke, affected speaking voice, clipped consonants, snapping of the head, clenching of the hands, and waving of the right arm. How anyone can call her "a great actress" is beyond me. By this time in her career, all she could deliver was a crude caricature of herself.

[fkd1963]

@edwardjames50 You're crazy. She is focused and totally in character for that show and for that time. I'd rather see her than Meryl any day, any time.

[SeanMBryans]

One of the late great Hollywood actresses . . . When Bette passed we lost the BEST.

[Darkside780]

Peeeeerry Maaaaaaasoooon again!

[Helga1232]

Bette Davis not long before she did "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte"

[Helga1232]

Looks like Betty Davis at .25

[adamdicy]

@Helga1232 Good eye and that is actually Bette Davis...I know what your thinking an actress of her incredible stature taking time out of her busy schedule to appear on a crime/drama series...I'm as surprised as you are.

[Glinkaism1]

Les Tremayne was a radio actor for many years, playing The Falcon." He had a bit part of an auctioneer in the movie North By Northwest.

[westlock]

@Glinkaism1 His most memorable film role was as General Mann in 1953's "War of the Worlds".

[FinallyTheNight]

Perhaps "contempt of court" is tangled up in the notion that monarchs rule by divine right? I watched "Perry Mason" as a kid. I'd seen Raymond Burr threatened with contempt of court charges in several episodes. Even then, knowing that defense attorney Mason's character was above reproach and that he was logical, fair & incorruptible, I realized that the "contempt" threat was wrapped in the judge's high regard for himself and his superior station (his judgeship).

[rustydog1236]

If people don't already know, the books are even better! Might still be in the library... Never saw this episode. thanks!

[billsiepmann]

@rustydog1236 I agree with you that the books are better. They sometimes show Perry Mason doing borderline illegal things to protect his clients. Unfortunately, the books are almost impossible to find at used book stores, and often library borrowers have failed to return the books they borrowed.

[dannys2222]

I ALWAYS FOUND PERRY MASON VERY SEXY!!! IN REAL LIFE HE WAS A HOMOSEXUAL!!!! HE HAD A LOVER FOR 40 YEARS!!!!

[Nemesis7293]

@dannys2222 Raymond Burr was a very attractive man in real life. His eyes, mouth, and voice were very sexy.

[AungusMacgyver]

Are there any other Perry Mason episodes besides this one?

[curtisjones400]

THIS WAS SUCH A GREAT SHOW-GOD BLESS RAYMOND BURR

[ieatpies52]

I've jus heard about this detective guy. Where can I find all the episodes? I would like to know thanks.

[curtisjones400]

@ieatpies52 you can watch full episodes of Perry Mason by typing in Full Episodes Perry Mason

[Nemesis7293]

@ieatpies52 You've just heard about one of the greatest cultural Icons in the history of American television.......Well, good for you. Maybe you can get out from under that rock more often. Jeezus.

[RodsPoetry]

Love Perry Mason

[CoolPerryMason]

Thanks for uploading.

[SLDNDASIXTIES]

Later on in the 1960's Michael Parks had his own series "then came BRONSON". He was so "TUFF" on that Harley Davidson. I never missed one of his episodes. The series was short-lived. I love Harley's.

[nsra1933]

Then came Bronson. I watched them all also. Great show. Going down that long lonesome highway....gonna....live life my way. Take care!

[sexymama1966]

@SLDNDASIXTIES i'll ride on that harley anyday..purrrr:)

[curtisjones400]

@SLDNDASIXTIES I REMEMBER THE TV show "then came bronson' ithink Michael Parks committed sucide in real life

[ilikesexyness1000]

i thought bette davis was blonde

[OrodesIII]

she is wearing a wig in this clip.

[Nemesis7293]

@ilikesexyness1000 Really? In a few of her 30's movies she was blonde, but........really?

[ilikesexyness1000]

@Nemesis7293 yes really i only know of her because she was joan's rival i'm a big joan crawford fan, so yes really, i'm only in my early 20s, so i may be a little off, i also thought she was more attracttive than this was she old here

[fafmouser]

It allays made me laugh watching Hamilton Burger because you always knew he was gonna loose to Perry.

[MissGreenAgain]

Even Lionel Hutz from "The Simpsons" had better luck than him Burger in the courtroom.

[mindspring57]

@fafmouser Why do you think they named him HAMilton BURGER.

[avery7001]

Michesal Parks ,and Commissioner Gordon from(Batman)

[TheCosmicPHANTOM]

Love our classic TV history makers like this series. Extremely cool then and now in my opinion. Although Burr was dealing with medical stuff, these "substitutes" are great history as well. I don't find myself comparing the "subs" to Burr's appeal. They each have a good appeal all their own. Thanks for posting. Awesome.

[hedablinka]

That's useful information fromthesidelines, thank you. Bette Davis seems underutilized, but still manages to seem like a goddess in a mortal world, she towers over everyone else, which doesn't quite do her well in the role she plays. But what a strange world, all those square jawed white men, and blonde women, and the most menacing person in room being a young man with a mop of RocknRoll hair and the wrong attitude...

[fromthesidelines]

This was first telecast on January 31, 1963- while Raymond Burr was recuperating from surgery during the sixth season, four other lawyers filled in for "Perry"- "Constance Doyle" {Davis} was one of them....

[huskyjerk]

But couldn't they have just wheeled him in in a wheelchair. LOL!!!!!!!

[lunsj]

They were saving the wheelchair for his next role :-)

[11thReality]

At Stage 6 there currently are 32 1st Season episodes available free for downloading. The user could take them down at any time, so check it out soon.

[wannabeactuary]

Only in America. These look good. I have only seen the more recent ones in colour, here in Europe.

[sophiam1234]

is this from the beginning

[pressmin]

No. This is not the beginning of the show. This however IS the beginning of the trial.