It's no surprise that Perry Mason remains one of classic television's best-loved characters. The fictional defense attorney was originally created in print by the late Erle Stanley Gardner, appearing in nearly one hundred crime novels and other related stories. Mason's claim to fame was his finely-tuned skill in the courtroom, successfully defending those wrongfully accused of heinous crimes (more often than not, murder). Gardner's creation has enjoyed an enduring success since the author's 1969 passing---and while these books first introduced many readers to the iconic character, the eponymous long-running television series pushed Mason's popularity further.

Enjoying a successful run from 1957-1966, Perry Mason stars Raymond Burr as the charismatic defense attorney. Each hour-long episode introduces us to a new crime and who it directly affects, with Mason unraveling the case to defend those put on trial. Though the episode formulas are essentially similar, Perry Mason excels in producing "variations on a theme": we know what's going to happen, but the execution is skillful enough to keep us interested. The premiere season was fairly polished and precise, but Season 2 really finds the series becoming more comfortable in its own skin.

Even so, much of what's here follows the formula nicely. Plenty of interesting characters, victims and legal situations keep things familiar but fresh. The performances are typically strong and natural, ensuring that Burr isn't the only highlight here. Barbara Hale and William Hopper continue to impress as paralegal Della Street and dashing detective Paul Drake, creating a triangle of regular characters that play very well off one another. The series' unmistakable noir atmosphere gives every self-contained episode a classic cinematic feel---and though the books themselves and a few later made-for-TV films would provide more expanded stories, the hour-long format is typically a good fit for Mason and company. They still move at a fairly deliberate pace, but these tightly-wound episodes still have plenty of room for character development, unexpected twists and careful plot resolutions.

Paramount's DVD presentation of Perry Mason has been fairly solid thus far: like the series itself, they've stuck to a deliberate formula that works well. As each proper season includes roughly 30-40 episodes at 52 minutes apiece, the seasons have been broken in half. While it's worth noting that plenty of fans are still upset about these divisions, at least we're getting the original, uncut episodes in their original broadcast order. The first volume was a bit rough in the technical department (most notably, it displayed interlacing problems), but this distracting issue was quickly resolved for future installments. As far as classic TV-on-DVD goes, Perry Mason has been treated with respect.

This third collection gives us the first 15 episodes from the series' second season---and though no release date has been announced, we should probably expect the next volume by late fall. In the meantime, there's plenty of terrific material here. A man presumed dead is the subject of an insurance fraud case in "The Case of the Corresponding Corpse". A blackmailing husband is murdered in "The Case of the Curious Bride". An art collector may or may not have the genuine article in "The Case of the Purple Woman". And in one of the season's more memorable episodes, a fine feathered friend may be the key to justice in "The Case of the Perjured Parrot". A few clunkers keep this season from reaching even higher ("The Case of the Glittering Goldfish" and "The Case of the Fancy Figures", for example), but even the less impressive episodes have a few redeeming moments. While the second half of Season 2 would prove to be slightly more consistent, fans of the original courtroom drama will find much to enjoy here.

Presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Perry Mason looks crisp and clear from start to finish. Like the past volume, this progressive transfer provides a clean image free from digital combing and blurriness; additionally, black levels are solid and the contrast and brightness don't seem to be artificially boosted.

The Dolby Digital Mono track can't help but seem a bit thin in comparison, but dialogue still comes through without incident. No optional subtitles are included, though Closed Captions are provided during each of the 15 episodes. Overall, this is a perfectly solid technical presentation that fans will certainly appreciate.

There's no denying that Perry Mason is somewhat of a television time capsule, but it's one that holds up fairly well today. Each tightly-wound tale is firmly anchored by the terrific performances of Raymond Burr and company, creating a likeable formula that's still easy to get behind. Paramount stays the course with Season 2, Volume 1, pairing 15 more episodes of this influential courtroom drama with a rock-solid technical presentation. The continued lack of bonus features doesn't exactly sweeten the pot, but any self-respecting Perry Mason fan should certainly add this sturdy four-disc set to their classic TV collection. Firmly Recommended.