Hamilton Burger
Hamilton Burger | |
---|---|
District Attorney | |
Nationality | American |
Hamilton Burger is the fictional
Character
Hamilton Burger first appears in chapter 10 of Gardner's 1935 novel, The Case of the Counterfeit Eye,[1] in which he is described as "a broad-shouldered, thick-necked individual with a close-cropped moustache". Gardner describes Burger in the cast of characters of that novel as an "honest but stubborn" D.A.[2] In chapter 15 of The Case of the Caretaker's Cat (1935), Burger's residential address is given as 3297 West Lakeside, and his phone number is EXposition 9–6949.[3]
Burger is one of literature's least successful district attorneys, and critics have suggested that he must have been the most incompetent lawyer in history, although his record against defense attorneys other than Mason is unknown. He inevitably prosecutes the wrong person – Mason's client – whom Mason exonerates, while revealing the true culprit, through dramatic and even spectacular courtroom tactics.
Burger's bag of tricks was comparatively empty, chiefly comprising expressions of exasperation at whatever Mason was doing. Once Mason had exposed the true perpetrator, Burger often joined in Mason's motion to dismiss the charges against Mason's client so that Burger could then charge the actual wrongdoer.
In film
Hamilton Burger appeared in the fifth installment of the Warner Bros.
Television portrayal
Perry Mason
Burger was portrayed by William Talman in the long-running CBS-TV series Perry Mason (1957–66). Asked how he felt about Burger losing to Mason week after week, Talman said, "Burger doesn't lose. How can a district attorney lose when he fails to convict an innocent person? Unlike a fist or gun fight, in court you can have a winner without having a loser. As a matter of fact Burger in a good many instances has joined Mason in action against unethical attorneys, lying witnesses, or any one else obstructing justice. Like any real-life district attorney, justice is Burger's main interest."[5]
Burger did defeat Mason twice on the television series: in "The Case of the Terrified Typist" (episode 1-38), and in "The Case of the Deadly Verdict" (episode 7–4),[6]: 12369 a much-publicized episode that begins with Mason's client being sentenced to death.[7][8]
The character of Hamilton Burger temporarily disappeared from the TV series during the series' third season. Talman was fired by CBS March 18, 1960, hours after he entered a not-guilty plea to misdemeanor charges related to his presence at a party that was raided by police.[9][10] The schedule was immediately juggled to minimize Talman's presence on the show. "The Case of the Crying Cherub" (episode 3-20) debuts a pared-down title sequence that omits Talman; he is credited only in the four episodes he filmed before he was fired. Talman was defended by the show's executive producer Gail Patrick Jackson,[11] Raymond Burr,[12] and others, but even dismissal of the charges in June[13] did not soften the network's position.[14] Patrick said that the role of Burger would not be recast, but that various actors would play assistant district attorneys.[15] CBS reinstated Talman only after Gardner himself spoke out, along with Raymond Burr, the star of the show, and millions of viewers who wrote to CBS asking for Talman to return.[16][17]: 71 Talman went back to work in December 1960,[18] and Burger returned in "The Case of the Fickle Fortune" (episode 4.15).
The New Perry Mason
In the short-lived CBS-TV series, The New Perry Mason (1973–74), Burger was played by Harry Guardino.[19]
Perry Mason television films
Talman had passed away by the time of the
HBO's Perry Mason
In the HBO series,
Influence
In her
Notes
References
- ISBN 9780671778958.
- ^
Gardner, Erle Stanley (1935). The Case of the Counterfeit Eye. New York: OCLC 1655952.
- OCLC 1833522.
- ^ "Warner Bros".
- ^ Nogler, Pat (July 20, 1958). "An Open Case: Snooping Behind Scenes Pays Off". Pasadena Independent Star-News.
- ^ ASIN B00OOELV1K.
- ^ Adams, Val (September 8, 1963). "Astounding Event! Perry Mason Client Is Found Guilty – Other Items". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
- ISBN 9780312006693. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
- Star-Banner. Associated Press. March 14, 1960. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
- ^ "Perry Mason's DA Foe Fired Without a Hearing". Big Spring Herald. Associated Press. March 18, 1960.
- ^ Carroll, Harrison (March 19, 1960). "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood". The Brazil Daily Times. Brazil, Indiana.
We take the attitude, as our show does, that a man is innocent until proven guilty.
- ^ Thomas, Bob (April 9, 1960). "The Talman Case: 'Most Unfortunate'". The Day. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
- The Windsor Star. June 18, 1960. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
- ^ Humphrey, Hal (August 7, 1960). "Tic Tac TV". Hayward Sunday Review. Hayward, California.
- ^ United Press International (June 13, 1960). "Camera Angles". Middletown Daily Record.
- ^ Humphrey, Hal (August 28, 1960). "Tic Tac TV". Hayward Sunday Review. Hayward, California.
- ISBN 9780312006693. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
- ^ "Talman Back On TV". Daytona Beach Morning Journal (Associated Press). December 9, 1960. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
- ^ Stout, David (July 18, 1995). "Harry Guardino, 69, an Actor In Romantic and Gangster Roles". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
- ^ Poniewozik, James (18 June 2020). "Review: 'Perry Mason' Returns, Hard-Boiled and Warmed over". The New York Times.
- ^ "Confirmiation Hearing on the Nomination of Hon. Sonia Sotomayor, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States". U.S. Government Printing Office. July 13–16, 2009. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
- ^ Totenberg, Nina (January 15, 2013). "Sotomayor Memoir: Don't Let a Door Stop You". Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
- ISBN 9780307594884.