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68 of 69 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent adaptation., June 15, 2004
I still place Stuart Woods's "Chiefs" among the best police dramas ever written. Since I learned that a TV adaptation of the book was made, I've always wanted to see it - and, about a year ago, I finally found and bought the DVD release of the series (which seems to be unavailable outside R2). I actually did not expect much, but what I received surprised me - and it was a positive surprise. The series is an excellent adaptation of the novel and manages to do it justice, which is a rarity... as is the fact that very little of the book's plot is omitted. Certainly, some of the details - such as Will Henry's growing obsession with the mysterious murders, and the technical sides of his investigation - have to be treated superficially, but every important subplot and aspect of the book is present in the film; consequently, the series manages to be just as thrilling and involving as the novel. Amusingly enough, the credits on the box of the DVD misled me slightly - I assumed Charlton Heston, Keith Carradine and Billy Dee Williams would be playing the three chiefs, chronologically; of course, this is not the case. Of course, a Collector's Edition, with some extras and a commentary (perhaps even by Stuart Woods?) would be even better, since the DVD I have is bare-bones, with only a spartan menu and chapter selection, but that's unlikely to happen with a TV series. Then again, it's been done with, for instance, "IT!", so... you never know. If a Special Edition DVD is ever released, I'll certainly buy it in addition to the standard one I have.
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60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book to Movie adaptation!!!, February 17, 2004
This film was made at a time when the big networks, in this case CBS, took pride in making tv movies and mini-series. Excellent attention to detail in just about every aspect of this 3 part movie. As the film moves from the 1920's to the 1940's and eventually the 1960's the viewer gets to see the town of Delano Georgia grow and change. It almost seems as though Delano is a real town. The costumes, settings and props for each time setting were well done.
This mini-series stick very close to the original story written by Stuart Woods. During a 40 year time frame 3 different police chiefs try to solve the various and ongoing murders that are taking place in the vicinity of Delano. Young male transients are being kidnapped and sexually assaulted before they are murdered. Racial tensions run high in Delano and add to the difficulty in solving the murders. Good acting by all who participated. Charlton Heston, Paul Sorvino, Brad Davis and Billy Dee Williams were at the top of their acting game in this mini-Series.
I was able to tape the original 3 part mini-series when it was first aired and despite some drop in quality due to age this mini-series is a favorite of mine and viewed at least once a year. For those who enjoyed the film they may want to read and or watch the story and film GRASS ROOTS. This story continues to follow the Lee family as one of their members attempts to become a U.S. Senator. During the race another racially motivated murder in Delano complicates matters.
Lastly, this mini-series truely deserves to be released in DVD format. I hope the DVD producers release the full 3 part 6 hour (with commercials) series and not the edited and scaled down VHS version that was released previously.
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48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining mini-series, January 20, 2003
By A Customer
I greatly enjoyed this three-part series when it was televised back in 1983. Based on the novel by Stuart Woods (which I later read), it covers three generations of police officers in the town of Delano, Georgia, and the deadly secret that they all will face. For its first chief, Delano decides to hire "a good man," so Wayne Rogers (Trapper John on "MASH") is the choice. Next was the corrupt officer (Brad Davis), followed by the town's first black officer (Billy Dee Williams at the height of heartthrob-ness, having just been Lando in "Star Wars"). Charlton Heston and Keith Carradine have recurring roles. I would enjoy seeing this again on DVD, though I wonder if it would be a full release or the 3.5-hour edited version I've heard about on VHS.
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