Dennis FarinaCRIME STORY: THE COMPLETE SERIES

I remember this series being televised late at night (9.30 onward) and if I hadn't gone to sleep while watching it, I missed episodes for some other reason. When I started to watch this production on DVD, I realised why I couldn't 'get into it'. It's because, unlike "the Sweeney" or "The Professionals" it falls in between a series and a serial. Although some of the episodes are stand alone, there is a thread where the storyline is predicated on previous episodes. Occasionally, an episode does a summary of what has gone before as it is easy to lose direction in this lengthy production. The 'feel' of the show was brilliantly authentic and I was particularly taken by the 1960's cars (automobiles), those gorgeous Yank-tanks usually with fins which because of their soft suspension gently rock themselves to sleep after they've stopped. A puzzling feature was the weather. I must admit I was astonished when I walked out of a casino one evening and found the streets to be sopping wet. In the DVD, nearly every scene is a vista of wet streets. But isn't this the Mojave Desert? I looked Las Vegas up and it says it has about 26 wet days a year and the annual rainfall is 4.2 inches (110 mm). That's half-an-hour's rain in Australia. So why so much rain? Was this a symbolic gesture by the makers as water is a cleansing agent? Is there the suggestion that cleaning up Las Vegas is a protracted endeavour? I don't pretend to know the answer.It is usual to comment on the plot and the characters and the performances and I am assuming these have been covered by other reviewers other than to say I couldn't fault any of them. There are a several who deserve special mention. Strangely, it's always the most flawed characters that seem to be the most attention-getting if not endearing. Ted Levine (before his "Monk" days) whose resume is surprisingly long is excellent as the street smart survivor. He turns in an impeccable performance a a craven, savvy, unscrupulous opportunist whose personal standards are beneath contempt, and is loyal to no-one but himself. In contradistinction, John Santucci who does have a sense of loyalty even if misplaced is excellent as the witless lieutenant to Ray Luca who thinks that the most complicated philosophical and mathematical problems can be solved with a gun. I would add that Joseph Wiseman (Dr No) is excellent as the genteel but lethal overlord Manny Weisbord.This is a production well worth getting to add to your collection.

A ground-breaking series which was produced between 1986 and 1988. Well worth watching, even in the old 4:3 screen ratio, if only for the great locations, cars, clothes, and hairdo's! But the acting and scripts are also first rate.The whole series (really just two seasons) centers around Mike Torello, a cop played by Dennis Farina, and his obsession with bringing a gangster, Ray Luca (Tony Denison), to justice in the 60's. They start out in Chicago, but shortly after, the series moves to Las Vegas for the duration, when Luca relocates there to take over the crime syndicates. Torello and his entire team (wonderfully played by Bill Smitrovich, Billy Campbell, and others) are appointed federal agents and follow him.The Chicago and Las Vegas locations are terrific: fabulous 50's-type drive-ins, night clubs, motels. Magnificent cars: period Chryslers, Cadillacs, Fords, etc., in mint condition and beautifully photographed.There are some holes in the story and, it seems, nothing can stick to Luca. It does seem surprising that the feds can't get him on tax evasion like Capone, but that wouldn't make for much drama. There is a lot of tough moments with extreme violence, but also many tender moments between Torello and his team.One could also wish for a more beautiful print. Even though this is an 'anniversary' production, the picture quality varies quite a bit, and sometimes looks like a DVD copy of a VHS print. But there are some episodes that look quite good, especially in the rare instances when there is a lot of light. Much of the series takes place at night and in dark places, so clarity suffers.But the story and characters (both the 'good guys' and 'bad') are compelling, and I found myself forgiving a lot of things because I love the series. The period music makes a great accompaniment and I even watched the credits just to hear it.This is as good as we are likely to get in the foreseeable future so, if all this sounds good, don't hesitate to partake.

Friends who know what I like had been telling me for years: Dennis Farina this, Dennis Farina that.Ahh, I dunno, I'd seen him in movies and what's the deal...You gotta see Crime Story, you gotta see Crime Story...they kept telling me, oh for Chrissakes, it's a 2 Season Series, that's a lotta time to invest, I said.Michael Mann, they told me, you outta your mind? Just rent it, get it, watch it, you'll love it...Rent it? That's a lotta dough for a 9 disc set that is probably gonna have a few or more discs beat to heck from other slobs like me handling them in between attacking a Hoagie with extra onions and lotsa mustard, what can you do (pass the BBQ potato chips, honey)?Hey now, good old Amazon has these fer cheap, and this is gonna happen, here I go, steady, there's the buy it now button, bingo. Cut to the chase, it was in my mailbox and I watched it, make that DEVOURED it well over a year ago, and lately have been thinking about it and want to watch it again and here's my review to tell you that even a hold-out, semi-brain-dead skeptic like myself can become a believer.The first disc has 4 episodes. I defy you to watch that disc and not develop a burning anticipation to watch the rest. Even better news is that it just gets better and better from there; a few of the last episodes of Season 2 seemed a bit on the thinner side, but even those were watchable, just somewhat 'hurried', in my bumbled opinion.Any series featuring both Pam Grier AND Deborah Harry in the cast belonged in my viewing range a long time ago, and I won't even get into all the other acting talent herein, if you don't know the show, dive in, it's a winner of the crime genre!Oh, yeah, this guy Farina? Whoa. A POWERHOUSE.

Works great in my DVD player.

Michael Mann wrote incredible story scripts. Each DVD gets richer as the characters evolve with original story ideas! I study a lot of film and this series is phenomenally good. Musician Al Kooper arranges and performs the background theme music with top session players. This adds a lot to the Michael Mann style but better yet, Al selects the incredible song list of classic tunes from the 50’s and 60’s to fit the stories. Al even got Michael to give him the unique screen credit as not just Music Supervisor but credited as "Guy Who Picks Music for the Show". Back in 1986 it was affordable for a TV series to get permission to license this music, it would be financially impossible today.Another thing I love is cinematography of the vintage casinos, night neon and street action which has been sadly modernized and erased in our current time. Indeed, THE MINT —- THE HORSESHOE CASINO—- THE STARDUST — THE DUNES and how they are photographed are like architectural character actors woven into the scripts.Some of the comedic twists mixed in with danger and irony keep each episode highly entertaining. The DVD quality is great, surpassing the 1986 NBC Television broadcast standards. Highly, highly recommended!

Excelente producto

I would have expected that a product ordered in EU (from Amazon.de), works in EU. This doesn't. It says that cannot view in your country (in EU). So, it's an American regional product, or something. You cannot even rip it for a decent viewing experience. I seldom use DVDs to view anything, because I have to watch, for a minute or two, warnings of what you CANNOT do with it. On top of that, each DVD has its own menu systems - usually very poorly designed Normally, I use my media centre to view videos, which is much more user friendly.Well, I guess you could say that it is a possible thing not to be forced to watch warnings and border-line insults, because it doesn't work at all. For that I give one star.

Thank you for Crime story. Only the case was a little bit damaged but that doesn't matter for this fine serie!

I love the whole theme of the sixties, & the crime scene which was part of Chicago, and still is. Modern day crime doesn't stack up to this or even the 1920's and 30's.True enough. The story is authentic. I would say pretty close to the reality of the time. #geoff