What if someone else other than Raymond Burr was cast as Perry Mason?
In 1956, Burr was starring in the radio series, Fort Laramie (which we'll look at another time), and initially tested for the role of district attorney Hamilton Burger. William Hopper, son of gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, tested for Mason, as you will see, before being cast as detective Paul Drake.
In this video, introduced by Barbara Hale, we'll see Hopper and Burr's screen tests. Tod Andrews appears as Mason opposite Burr as Burger. As for the two actresses testing as Della Street, which would eventually be played by Hale? No clue.
William Talman can be heard, barely, in the background in the courtroom scene tests with both Hopper & Burr.
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