As we anxiously await the third season of "Perry Mason" from CBS and Paramount, they have given fans a real treat in this 50th Anniversary Edition. Besides some great episodes spanning all nine seasons, we also have some terrific and rare extras, hosted by Barbara Hale, aka, Della Street. She lovingly looks back on the series and tells some great stories about Raymond Burr and other cast members, along with original director and producer Arthur Marks.

While Mason fans will be upset with the fact that Paramount is taking so long in producing the season sets and dividing them into expensive half seasons, this set is worth it for the extras alone. Here's what you get on the 4 disc set.

EPISODES, with introductions by Barbara Hale ("Della Street")

1. THE CASE OF THE WARY WILDCATTER - 1960 - Season 3
with Barbara Bain

2. THE CASE OF THE TREACHEROUS TOUPEE - 1960 - Season 4
with Robert Redford

3. THE CASE OF THE ENVIOUS EDITOR - 1961 - Season 4
with James Coburn

4. THE CASE OF THE BAREFACED WITNESS - 1961 - Season 4
with Adam West

5. THE CASE OF THE COUNTERFEIT CRANK - 1962 - Season 5
with Burt Reynolds

6. THE CASE OF THE SHOPLIFTER'S SHOE - 1963 - Season 6
with Leonard Nimoy

7. THE CASE OF THE CONSTANT DOYLE - 1963 - Season 6
with Bette Davis

8. THE CASE OF THE DEADLY VERDICT - 1963 - Season 7
Mason loses a case

9. THE CASE OF THE BOUNTIFUL BEAUTY - 1964 - Season 7
with Ryan O'Neal

10. THE CASE OF THE TWICE-TOLD TWIST - 1966 - Season 9
the only color episode

11. THE CASE OF THE DEAD RINGER - 1966 - Season 9
Raymond Burr plays a dual role

12. THE CASE OF THE FINAL FADE-OUT - 1966 - Season 9
with Dick Clark and Erle Stanley Gardner


EXTRAS:

PERRY MASON RETURNS -1985 TV-movie revival-Della goes on trial for murder, William Katt (Barbara Hale's son), plays Paul Drake Jr.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

SCREEN TESTS (5/24/1956):
1. Raymond Burr as Hamilton Burger
2. William Hopper as Perry Mason
3. Raymond Burr as Perry Mason
These were recently found and haven't been seen since 1956. They were shot live and have an early live television look.

Featurette: "The Case of Erle Stanley Gardner" -A short biography of the creator of the Perry Mason character

Interviews with Barbara Hale, producer-director Arthur Marks and CBS executive Anne Nelson

Syndication Promos-Just two short snippets

Raymond Burr interviewed by Charlie Rose on CBS "Nightwatch" These are 2 short interviews which greatly show the intellengence of the man who played Perry Mason.

Raymond Burr interviewed by Charles Collingwood on "Person to Person" (10/20/1960) -Here, Burr gives us a tour of his home in Malibu.

Clip from "Stump the Stars" with the cast of Perry Mason (7/8/1963) -The cast plays charades.

Photo Gallery -A short photo gallery

William Talman Cancer film-This was added into the dvd set at the request of the Talman family. Talman was diagnosed with lung cancer and filmed this public service message two weeks before he died.

It's a great set for all Perry Mason fans and a good value. If you plan on buying all the seasons, this set still has value for the extras included. A great tribute to an outstanding series.