Customer Reviews

Crime Story - Season One

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I love Crime Story. I watched every episode during its original release (a large statement, since I almost never follow a TV series) and five or six years ago, I bought on VHS the complete series. The fact that I have now purchased this DVD set says a great deal about my respect for the plot, the actors, the director, and just about everyone involved.

But the transfer to DVD is shockingly bad. Apart from the image quality, which is a standard TV grain, they have replaced much of the original music. This is most dramatic in episode four, "The War," which used to have John Coltrane and Duke Ellington playing their classic, meditative version of "In a Sentimental Mood" and now features a studio saxophonist playing music that, at best, would be appropriate for a meaningless hot tub encounter.

The four-page booklet inside does not track the episodes--the only way to know what's included on each disk is to insert the DVD and check the menu--nor do the episodes include any chapter breaks. Given what's possible now, this packaging is genuinely third rate.

This set is not as disappointing as the cancellation of the show, but it's close.

What can I say about Crime Story as a show that hasn't already been said here? It was underrated in its day and still is. So I'll keep this review focused on the DVD box set itself.

As an owner of the VHS box set that came out in the early '90s, I was really looking forward to a DVD version mainly for the better picture and sound quality. I was not let down and this alone makes the set worth the price. The picture is sharp and clean and the sound, although mono (remember, this is from the pre stereo TV days), is clear and free of chops and drop-outs. Anchor Bay did a great job transferring the series to this medium.

About the only thing I can fault is the lack of extras. There are no bonus features at all. No interviews. No original trailers/teasers. No press photos. Nothing. Although the liner notes for the set are extensive with some really nice background info, it doesn't make up for the utter lack of extras that could have been included.

And one plea to Anchor Bay. Back when the show was first on TV, New World produced a full video for the theme music. I saw it a few times on late night TV and it was a bonus on the VHS version of a New World movie called The Demons. When the season two box set is released, how about putting that on there?

Regardless of the lack of extra features, this is a wonderful collection of a wonderful series. Whether you're a Crime Story fan or just looking for something to watch when the network shows are in reruns, do yourself a favor and grab this set. You won't be disappointed.

Crime Story is one of the finest crime dramas ever aired on network television bar none. This is the L.A. Confidential of television and then some! The cinematography, casting, acting, writing, painstaking attention to detail in rendering period authenticity, music, style...there's never been anything like it before or since. It holds up very well to repeat viewings even for those who don't like watching anything a second time. Until now, the only examples produced, have been various videotape releases, the domestic LD releases of both pilot and first 2 episodes, and the Japanese release of the entire first season (complete with subtitles). They all consist of dated, soft, low contrast, hazy transfers. None of them compare to this new Season One DVD Box Set in picture quality. The Pilot episode in this new set is sharper and smoother looking than previous releases (even the DVD), has excellent contrast with nice inky blacks, deep rich colors and a warmer look to it. The rest of the episodes have the same high contrast, deep blacks and saturated colors with adequate shadow detail. The dark and gritty look is by design, fitting to the film noir subject and not distracting in any way; and being DVD, clean clear freeze frames are rendered. This transfer is current and up to the minute.

As for audio, some have had their panties in a wad over replacement music. Expecting the worst, I did A/B comparisons between this set and older tapes of the series. Episodes compared were The Kingdom of Money (one of my favorites) and The War. Sequence for sequence from opening scene to closing credits both versions of The Kingdom of Money were virtually identical-not a single note of music was different (I suspect this is indicative of most of the episodes as well). When comparing both versions of The War, I found 2 or 3 sequences (non critical chase/action sequences) to have different dubs of incidental music, the original music having been indeed edgier and jazzier than the replacement music. But to be perfectly honest, if I weren't looking for the changes, I probably wouldn't have noticed them. All the rest of the major music was, like The Kingdom of Money, virtually unchanged. As with all productions which utilize large amounts of music, legal rights to all of it can be a problem. However, the negligable changes here have done nothing to dampen my enjoyment of this series. Certainly nothing to have a hissy fit about.

Season 2 while not as tightly knit as Season 1 is nevertheless very entertaining and it was nice to see the series expand in other directions. The Russian fighter pilot, for example, flying his MIG 21 to the United States to defect (Welcome to America!) was brilliant! There are some terrific stories here, some of which have further explored the depth of the characters. Yes I am very much looking forward to Season 2.

Rather than knocking Ancor Bay for this release as some have, I commend them for it. None of the previous releases of Crime Story had registered so much as a blip on the sales charts. Indeed, some may remember ambitious plans for an LD release of the entire series 2 episode volumes at a time starting with the pilot. This was abandoned after the pilot and first volume due to lack of interest. I think this was due to the release of individual episodes rather than complete season box sets but, nevertheless, for any studio to invest large amounts of cash in a high priced "definitive" version of a niche title without a track record would have been foolhardy. Ancor Bay (not a deep pockets studio) had a lot of guts to stick its neck out and bring us 2 complete seasons of a series it probably thought would have been a financial write off. They are either fans themselves or have shown an inordinate amount of consideration for those of us who are true Crime Story fans with this gift. I'm one of those who would rather have 85% of something than 100% of nothing. To be perfectly honest, I'm very disappointed in those "fans" out there who not only refuse to buy these sets, but recommend that others don't either. They will make very certain that a future "definitive" release of this show with completely restored original music (perhaps a Dolby Digital remix), a slick High Definition transfer, better packaging, lots of extras, commentary and perhaps even some chapter stops and an episode guide, will NEVER happen. My recommendation is, support this treasured work by buying this package for yourselves and as gifts for friends and family and support the studio that brought it to you as imperfect as you may think it is. I bought 2. Perhaps enough interest will be generated to warrent a future Revised Special Edition. In the meantime you will have a pristine archival representation of this classic show, which will never wear out or fall prey to laser rot, to hold on to and enjoy over and over until a better one is released. If not, when this title goes out of print, your chance to own it on DVD may be gone forever.

I was so looking forward to this release. I love Crime Story, and have not seen it in many years. But this DVD is terrible. The transfer is muddy and grainy, the packaging is terrible, NO CHAPTER BREAKS!! and the original music has been replaced with generic music!. I was going to purchase the second season, but I am going to pass. Anchor Bay should be ashamed.

I rate the series 5+ stars, the DVD rates a zero.

I had been hoping that the DVD release of Crime Story would finally bring fans of the show a "definitive" release of this classic series. However, after borrowing the set from a friend (I did not shell out the $60, thank goodness) I was VERY disappointed in both the poor quality of the transfers (some of my original VHS copies look better!) and the replacement of the original music on many of the shows. I do not know if this was merely an error (using the wrong masters) or cheapness (going by the rest of the packaging and the mastering, it wouldn't surprise me) but this set is far from "definitive".

I'll hold on to my old VHS copies (as beat to hell as they are) and continue to wait for SOMEONE to treat these shows with the care they deserve. Meanwhile, anyone that is new to the show, you could pick this set up - the acting will stand up on its' own - but the overall quality and soundtrack mastering mistakes will prevent one from getting the exhilirating viewing experience of the original shows as they aired.

Also - as a long-time fan of the show since it originally aired - don't even bother with season two. In fact, cut your losses and stop watching after the next-to-last episode ("Top Of The World"). Everything after that is a mere cartoon charictarization and pale shadow of what came before it. The second season lost most of the orignal writers (and is an outright abomination), but that does not excuse the poorly-written "season finale" of season one (which plays out like it was written on a matchbook cover during lunch), especially following the excellent episode that preceeded it.

Dennis Farina was a real-life Chicago cop, so maybe that is why he brings so much to this role. He heads the task force of bringing down mobsters namely Ray Luca (Anthony John Denison - he took over for Ken Wahl in WISEGUY after Wahl was injured). But there is a super supporting cast with Bill Smitrovich(Nero Wolfe) as Det. Danny Krychek, Steve Ryan as Det. Nate Grossman, Bill Campbell (very very young here!) as Det. Joey Indeli, and the brilliant Stephen Lang as Stephen Lang as Prosecutor David Abrams. But the show was nearly stolen by Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs) as Frank Holman and John Santucci as Pauli Taglia (a real life jewel thief at one time!).

Produced by Michael Mann (Miami Vice, Manhunter), you get the same attention to period detail and music. The stories are fast action, with witty dialogue - like a drunken Farina tells a plump lady in a bar "I'd like to strap you on and go rollerskating".

This is Mann's genius at it's best with wonderful acting to keep you spellbound.

Content is an easy 5 stars, but the DVD transfer is terrible. The picture is so muddy and dark, and the color is uneven. If you have an older compilation on video, keep it. It's probably better than this major disappointment. No extras, no commentary, no nothing. Lt. Torello reserves better than that!

CRIME STORY - SEASON TWO (1987-1988)

The second and final season of producer Michael Mann's classic crime drama comes to DVD with all of the full-length episodes. Details on the set are not yet known, but expect a similar type package to the first season release and the release date is tentatively set for the fall of 2005. More details will be announced soon.

We just got done watching Season One, and the next question is "When do we get Season Two???" Unless you are a real techno-snob, or have a 900" screen TV, you will not notice any problems with the DVDs! The songs were great, the picture is just fine if you are like us...we have a 25" normal TV and watch the story, not the pixels!

We LOVED this show, and have waited since what? the 1980's to see it again. I can't believe they put stupid TV shows out on DVD right and left, and we have to wait and wait for the good ones! This is definitely one to buy, and there is nothing negative about it that we noticed!

It was ahead of it's time,like most cult classics.Had it come out during the 70's when "Chinatown" was released or in the 90's when "L.A. Confidential" came out,it might've been on for at least for five seasons.As it is,it's a rare gem that is exciting,hard hitting,and carries the force of a baseball bat being wielded by a mafia hood!
On the heels of his success in creating "Miami Vice",Michael Mann created this retro crime saga set in the early 1960's(pre-Kennedy assassination) and revolving around Chicago's elite "M.C.U." unit (sort of like the police department's own Untouchables) and their war against an up in coming mafia hood named Ray Luca.
What makes Crime Story so interesting is not only it's retro style(classic cars,Luca's Elvis hairstyle,and early rock-n-roll) but the fact that much of the first season's stories are grounded in reality.
First Off: The leader of the MCU,Lt. Michael Torrello,is based upon a real-life detective named Chuck Adamson(Who also is a script writer and consultant).Adding further weight is the fact that Torrello is played by Dennis Farina,who himself is a retired Chicago detective.
Second: Ray Luca,played by Anthony Denison,is based upon real-life mafia hood Tony Spliroto,who also inspired the character of Nicki Santoro,played by Joe Pesci,in "Casino".By the same token,Ray's Las Vegas partner,Max Goldman,played by Andrew "Dice" Clay(!),was based upon Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal,who also inspired Robert DeNiro's Sam "Ace" Rothstien in "Casino".Indeed,as Luca rises to power from the streets of Chicago to Las Vegas,it is the story of Tony Spliroto.Additionally,Luca's mentor,Manny Weissborn,played by Joseph Wiseman(best remembered as the James Bond villan "Dr. No"),is based upon one of the founding fathers of Organized Crime,Meyer Lansky.
With it's roots in true crime,and with an great supporting cast that includes Ted Levine("Buffalo Bill" in "Silence of the Lambs"),William Campbell(TV's "Once and Again" and "The Rocketeer"),John Stanucci(A real life "reformed hoodlum" who plays Luca's side-kick),and Stephen Lang("Ike Clanton" in "Tombstone" as crusading attorney David Abrahms),and a great guest cast that includes Ving Rhames,Pam Greir,Deborah Harry(70's super-group "Blondie"),and a very,very young Julia Roberts(playing a teen-aged victim of child molestation),"Crime Story" is a kick butt series that blends hard hitting drama with exciting action,and well placed humor and a must have for any fan of the crime genre