Crime Story - Season 1 (DVD, 2005, 5-Disc Set; New Packaging)

Do you love "cops and robbers" shows? Old cars? Classic music? You will love Crime Story! Produced by Michael Mann, the show's locations, especially as related to time-setting, make it unique in it's genre.

The mood is set immediately when, during the intro, Del Shannon's re-written version of "Runaway" is played to a video of the show's first season highlights. You don't even want to blink as the intro prepares your palate for the show that's getting ready to start! The song's original lyrics "...to end this misery" are changed to "...Some Live and others die!" and in this show, that's for sure!

Set in early 1960's Chicago and Las Vegas, the show centers around a main hero and a main villian. The hero, Mike Torello, is the head of the Major Crimes Unit of the Chicago Police Department. He and his unit are on the trail of slippery, up-and-coming crime figure, Ray Luca and his gang.

In this show, to me, the villains are just as much fun as the heroes. The show is replete with unforgettable characters, like the punchy, dim-witted thug, Pauli Taglia, and low-life, slurring, rock&roll villain, Frank Holman.

There were no superstars in the main cast, but superstar special guests abound in the series. Julia Roberts, David Caruso, and Gary Sinise, to name a few. Even more were to come in the second season.

The show's first season held no disappointments for me! I loved it, and still love it! It was delightfully predictable in places, but even it's moments of predictability were preceded by a crescendo of anticipation. You could hope against hope that certain characters would make it, but as the song goes... "some live and others die"!