Theatrical Release Date:September 18, 1986 Release Date:November 4, 2003 Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Conceived as a "22-hour movie for television," the incendiary first season of Crime Story (1986-87, on NBC) marked a controversial milestone in TV history, and its lasting influence can be seen in such better-known series and films as The Sopranos, Homicide: Life on the Street, Donnie Brasco, Casino and elsewhere. The season-long story arc followed Chicago Police detective Lt. Mike Torello (Dennis Farina) and his tireless pursuit of fast-rising mob boss Ray Luca (Anthony Denison) from Chicago to Las Vegas, circa 1963-64. Heading the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) with his hand-picked team of detectives (including fresh-faced Bill Campbell, long before Once and Again) and passionate public defender David Abrams (Stephen Lang), Torello moves from city to federal jurisdiction as Crime Story unfolds its post-Kennedy scenario with stark, often brutal authenticity, pausing for stand-alone episodes that propelled the Torello/Luca rivalry while showcasing such up-and-coming guest stars as David Caruso (in the electrifying pilot), Gary Sinise (who also directed two episodes), Ving Rhames, Lorraine Bracco, and 19-year-old Julia Roberts, who shows early promise as a sexually abused teenager in "The Survivor," a typical example of the show's emphasis on character depth and gritty, hard-hitting plotlines.
Riding high on the success of Miami Vice, executive producer Michael Mann (who helmed the penultimate episode "Top of the World") had several aces up his sleeve: Cocreator Chuck Adamson had been a legendary Chicago detective; Farina was an 18-year veteran of the Chicago Police before he switched to acting; and Luca's dim-witted Mafia sidekick, Pauli Taglia, was played by John Santucci, who had been one of Chicago's most notorious criminals in the 1960s. All of this--along with James A. Contner's color-saturated, mostly nocturnal cinematography--guaranteed that Crime Story would be unique for its time, earning controversy (over its rugged depiction of violent cops) and just enough ratings against ABC's Moonlighting to win a second-season reprieve. Unfortunately, Anchor Bay's budget-conscious DVDs represent a missed opportunity: Crammed onto four discs with five episodes each (with the pilot on a separate disc), the transfers barely rival VHS quality, and costly music rights resulted in song replacements that loyal viewers will regret. Lack of chapter indexing and a perfunctory background essay do little justice to a landmark TV series that deserved a full-featured release on DVD. Those caveats aside, Crime Story can be appreciated as an ambitious American epic that still packs a wallop. --Jeff Shannon
Description Following the phenomenal success of MIAMI VICE, Executive Producer Michael Mann returned to television with a new kind of gritty crime drama, one that talked tougher and hit harder than anything the small screen had ever seen before. For two explosive seasons, CRIME STORY told the hard-boiled saga of hair-trigger cop Lieutenant Mike Torello (Dennis Farina) and his obsessive pursuit of ruthless gangster Ray Luca (Anthony Denison) from the mean streets of early '60s Chicago to the neon nights of mob-run Las Vegas. Today, CRIME STORY is considered a true cult classic as well as one of the most startling series in television history. featuring a stellar supporting cast that includes Stephen Lang, Bill Campbell, Ted Levine, Darlanne Fluegel and Joseph Wiseman, and such guest stars as David Caruso, Michael Madsen, Pam Grier, Ving Rhames, Lorraine Bracco, Gary Sinise, Deborah Harry, Vincent Gallo and Julia Roberts.
Great Show - where's the music?November 16, 2008 Almost finished season 1 - what's the bottom line on the music? I watched these prime time and remember a really good soundtrack. Reviews are conflicting but my guess is most of the good tunes are gone.
Original and best that started it all! Rey Luca Lives!!!November 9, 2008 I can remember waiting a week to see the all new episode on Thursday nights. I'm glad to be able to see it anytime on dvd. This is The Godfather of all TV cop/mob series out there. I highly recommend this title for those who didn't get a chance to see it syndicated on air.
Trailblazing Cult ClassicApril 11, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
One of the most influential TV shows ever is also one of the most criminally underseen. 'Crime Story's' effect on film and TV is immense and it's influence of some today's classic's is vast and deep.
You'll be reminded of everything from 'The Sopranos' to 'LA Confidential' to Scorsese's 'Goodfellas' and 'Casino' and even 'Deadwood' plus many other great show's (even the dreadful film 'Mulholland Falls). All have drawn inspiration from 'Crime Story'.
Clever visuals, canny use of music and full story arcs for minor characters make 'Crime Story' a trendsetter. Creator Michael Mann would bring these styles and themes to full effect in his brilliant 1995 film 'Heat'. And there's the wonderful, often ironically black humour that courses through the series, again seen recently in both 'Sporanos' and 'Deadwood'.
'Crime Story' takes a few episodes to really find it's feet, but kicks into top gear with the 'Abrams for the Defense', a truly potent mix of social comment and slam bang crime, guest starring a young Ving Rhames. After that, the show is at it's best focusing on the endless struggle between Lt Mike Torello and the vicious, rising mobster Ray Luca.
The casting is magnificent and the performances are dynamite. Dennis Farina was born to play Lt Mike Torello and Anthony Denison has never been better as Torello's arch nemesis Ray Luca. Highlighting the show's great humour is the chemistry between Denison and John Santucci as his dim witted offsider, Paulie. It's a tribute to the actors and scriptwriters that Luca and Paulie can be have some hilarious moments-usually Luca berating Paulie's lack of brain cells- and be ruthless killers the next. Then there's strong work from Stephen Lang as lawyer David Abrams. No one quite does raging ethical and moral indignation like he does. And don't forget Ted Levine, whose almost supernaturally sleazey (he went onto be the killer in 'Silence of the Lambs') as another Luca henchman, Frank Holman, who's both comically pathetic and utterly deadly. Plus there's Andrew Dice Clay perfectly cast, Bill Smitrovich, Billy Campbell and many other familiar faces fill out the regular cast. Plus there's potent contributions from a stellar guest list from TV and film, everyone from Kevin Spacey, David Caruso, Gary Sinise and Julia Roberts, to perrenial bad guys Micheal Winncott and Stephen McHattie. And Dr No himself, Joeseph Wiseman is great as crime czar and Luca mentor Manny Wiseboard.
The show's a classic, but it gets woeful DVD treatment with no extras and some pretty ordinary transfers. That doesn't matter because 'Crime Story' is so enjoyable and so good that any shortcomings in the presentation are easily forgiven.
Ironically 'Crime Story' is much better than Exec. Producer Micheal Mann's big hit of the time 'Miami Vice'.
MemoriesDecember 28, 2007 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I ordered both Season one and two. It brings back very fond memories of that time period. It was a happy surprise to see it available. I am afraid I may wear the disks out from playing and re-playing. I still love the characters as much as I did when the series ran. Everything else since then has been just a poor imitation. Miami Vice, The Shield, etc. Drivers, eat your heart out when you see the price of gas @.25 per gallon. Being a Chicagoan, it's fun to identify the places, and remember how many I have visited and enjoyed.
CRIME STORY BOTH SERIESSeptember 15, 2007 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
CRIME STORY SEASONS 1 AND 2. GROWING UP OVERHERE IN AUSTRALIA ,USED TO WATCH THIS SERIES ON T.V. EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT ON TEN ,BOUGHT THE SERIES BOTH OF THEM ,HAVE ENJOYED THEM AS I GOT A DVD PLAYER TO PLAYS ALL REGIONS .AS I USED TO OWN A 1955 STUDEBAKER ,THIS BROUGHT BACK ALL MY MEMORIES OF THE WAY I USED TODRESS ,WHAT I DROVE AND THE GOOD TIME I HAD IN THE 80,S.THE BEST SHOW ON TELLY BACK THEN ONLY TO BE SURPRISED BY THE NEXT SHOW MIAMI VICE .BOTH MICHAEL MANN SHOWS THE BEST EVER
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