I grew up with the iconic television series, “Perry Mason.” starring Raymond Burr. It came on an hour past our bedtime, but if we got into our pyjamas and stayed very quiet and unobtrusive, we could usually stay up and watch. I really wanted to be Della.
So, when I saw a classic movie channel showing a 1930’s film of Perry Mason, I tuned in to watch. I thought it would be fun to see another actor in the role.
I was astounded. the Perry Mason in the movie was nothing like the one portrayed by Raymond Burr. This Perry moonlighted as a chef in a fancy restaurant. He spent his off hours attending swanky parties and was a bit of a womanizer. Long-suffering Della wasn’t invited.
What?!!!
I set out to find the real Perry Mason
I confess, I’d never read one of Erle Stanley Gardner’s books, but assumed they’d be easy to come by. Wrong again. My library didn’t have one. My local second hand bookshop said they couldn’t keep them on the shelves and another dealer want $125.00 for a “rare” copy.
Finally, Amazon turned up an electronic copy at a reasonable price and I settled down to discover the character as written by the author. The result? The Raymond Burr version is much truer to the book. In the book version, Perry Mason worked all hours–nary a party or a socialite in view–and he certainly didn’t spend time in a commercial kitchen. He treated Della with great respect and affection, but no romance. I am relieved.
The entire exercise taught me to not trust Hollywood for my research.
As a writer of historical fiction it is easy to fall into the trap of believing the tropes seen in the movies or on television are accurate portrayals of the era.
In my WIP, I decided it would make a good scene to remove a bullet from a wounded man. A little research showed that instantly removing a bullet is not only unnecessary but may actually do more harm than good. Hollywood likes the drama of bullet removal from the flesh, usually without anaesthetic, because it makes good theatre. Not because it makes good medicine or is a true account of the practice of medicine at the time.
Lesson learned. I’m still going to remove the bullet, but I’ll find good medical reasons to do it.
What about you? Have you ever seen favourite book characters mangled in a movie or television series. How did you feel? Shocked? Angry? Disappointed?
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I made scones for lunch the other day. I did it the old-fashioned way with a sifter, a pastry cutter and my hands. No machines. Don’t get me wrong. I love my bread maker, but I miss the experience of working the dough. There is something eminently satisfying about kneading bread. I love how the dough changes from sticky and formless into a smooth, round ball as I work it. I love the gentle movement of pressing the heel of my palm into the dough, flipping and turning it. I like the way this timeless activity connects me to my foremothers. Generations of women have performed this same task, turning flour, fat and yeast into tasty food for a family.
This photo of my grandmother, at an advanced age, baking bread at the kitchen table evokes feelings of warmth, and family, and connection. You can’t see it in the photo, but all around her, her daughters and granddaughters are preparing Christmas dinner. It’s one of my favourite memories.
This week my blog takes a break from writing mode to real-life mode. It’s my annual brag-fest. 
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