"Crime Story" (1986) TV series 1986-1988

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Creators:

Chuck Adamson
Gustave Reininger
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

18 September 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

The saga of a Chicago police detective's efforts to stop a young hood's ruthless rise in the ranks of organized crime.

Plot Keywords:

Organized Crime | Police | Neo Noir | 1960s | Gangster

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Dennis Farina	...	Lt. Mike Torello (21 episodes, 1986-1988)
Anthony John Denison	...	Ray Luca (21 episodes, 1986-1988)
Bill Smitrovich	...	Det. Danny Krychek (21 episodes, 1986-1988)
Steve Ryan	...	Det. Nate Grossman (21 episodes, 1986-1988)
Bill Campbell	...	Det. Joey Indelli / ... (21 episodes, 1986-1988)
Paul Butler	...	Det. Walter Clemmons (21 episodes, 1986-1988)
Stephen Lang	...	Atty. David Abrams (20 episodes, 1986-1988)
John Santucci	...	Pauli Taglia (17 episodes, 1986-1988)
Joseph Wiseman	...	Manny Weisbord (16 episodes, 1986-1988)
Jay O. Sanders	...	Steve Kordo (12 episodes, 1986-1988)
Ted Levine	...	Frank Holman (11 episodes, 1986-1987)

(more)

Series Directed by
Leon Ichaso		(5 episodes, 1986)
Aaron Lipstadt		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Colin Bucksey		(3 episodes, 1988)
Francis Delia		(2 episodes, 1986)
Mario DiLeo		(2 episodes, 1986)
Bobby Roth		(2 episodes, 1986)
Eugene Corr		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
David Soul		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Bill Duke		(2 episodes, 1987)
John Nicolella		(2 episodes, 1987)
James Quinn		(2 episodes, 1987)
Gary Sinise		(2 episodes, 1987)
Paul Krasny		(2 episodes, 1988)
Mark Rosner		(2 episodes, 1988)
Jeff Stein		(2 episodes, 1988)

Series Writing credits
Gustave Reininger		(44 episodes, 1986-1988)
Chuck Adamson		(27 episodes, 1986-1988)
Gail Morgan Hickman		(11 episodes, 1987-1988)
Tom Towler		(8 episodes, 1987-1988)
Ken Solarz		(6 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mark Rosner		(5 episodes, 1987-1988)
Peter Lance		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
David J. Burke		(2 episodes, 1986)
Tony Castro		(2 episodes, 1986)
Carlton Cuse		(2 episodes, 1986)
Richard Christian Danus		(2 episodes, 1986)
Nancy Audley		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Howard Chesley		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Michael Mann		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Eric Blakeney		(unknown episodes)
Clifton Campbell		(unknown episodes)
Loraine Despres		(unknown episodes)
Robert Eisele		(unknown episodes)
Frederick Rappaport		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Michael Mann	....	executive producer (44 episodes, 1986-1988)
Brooke Kennedy	....	associate producer (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Gusmano Cesaretti	....	associate producer (5 episodes, 1986)
Peter R. McIntosh	....	producer / associate producer (5 episodes, 1986)
Chuck Adamson	....	coordinating producer (unknown episodes, 1987-1988)
Stuart Cohen	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Gail Morgan Hickman	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Michael Jaffe	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Marvin Kupfer	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Johnny Lattanzio	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Mark Rosner	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Christine A. Sacani	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Todd Rundgren		(3 episodes, 1986)
Charlie Calello		(2 episodes, 1986)
Al Kooper		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Cinematography by
Ronald Víctor García		(22 episodes, 1987-1988)
James A. Contner		(5 episodes, 1986)

Series Film Editing by
Jack Hofstra		(2 episodes, 1986)
Heather MacDougall		(2 episodes, 1986)
Rick Tuber		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Terence Anderson		(unknown episodes)
Tom Benko		(unknown episodes)
Rose Kuo		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Bonnie Timmermann		(5 episodes, 1986)

Series Production Design by
Stephen Dane		(2 episodes, 1986)
Jeffrey Howard		(2 episodes, 1986)
John Iacovelli		(unknown episodes)
Hilda Stark		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Cate Bangs		(unknown episodes)
Hilda Stark		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Linda Lee Sutton		(22 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Costume Design by
Lynette Bernay		(4 episodes, 1986)
Patricia Field		(unknown episodes)
Marilyn Matthews		(unknown episodes)
Debra McGuire		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Kathe Swanson	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1986)
Jerry Turnage	....	make-up / makeup artist (3 episodes, 1986)
Howard Barr	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1986)
Zoltan Elek	....	make-up / makeup artist (2 episodes, 1986)
Tony DiMaria	....	hair designer: Paul Anka (unknown episodes)
Tena Parker	....	key hair stylist (unknown episodes)
John Rizzo	....	makeup department head (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
J. Paul Huntsman	....	post-production supervisor (5 episodes, 1986)
Henry Bronchtein	....	unit production manager (4 episodes, 1986)
Brooke Kennedy	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kevin Barry Howe	....	assistant director (12 episodes, 1986-1987)
Richard Patrick	....	second second assistant director (7 episodes, 1987)
Marty Eli Schwartz	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1986)
James Giovannetti Jr.	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1986)
Fred Miller	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1986)
Michael Waxman	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1986)
Don Wilkerson	....	assistant director / second assistant director (2 episodes, 1987-1988)
John M. Poer	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1987)
Aaron Barsky	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Sebastián Silva	....	assistant director: Mexico (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
William Dambra	....	property master (4 episodes, 1986)
Johnny Lattanzio	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)
Paul Stanwyck	....	head painter (unknown episodes)
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
George H. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor (4 episodes, 1986)
Ray Cymoszinski	....	sound mixer (4 episodes, 1986)
Ed Callahan	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Scott D. Smith	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Ken Speed	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (5 episodes, 1987-1988)
Gary Combs	....	stunt coordinator (3 episodes, 1986)
Andy Gill	....	stunts: car chase (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Moyer	....	gaffer (16 episodes, 1986-1987)
Michael M. Krevitt	....	key grip (4 episodes, 1986)
Paolo Cascio	....	additional second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Sean Doyle	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Michael Hofstein	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)
Randy Jonsson	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Tommy Klines	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Jeff Block	....	casting assistant: New York / casting assistant: new york (5 episodes, 1986)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kim Myer	....	costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Jack Hofstra	....	supervising film editor (3 episodes, 1986)

Series Music Department
Al Kooper	....	music supervisor (4 episodes, 1986)
Max Crook	....	composer: opening credits music (3 episodes, 1986)
Dan Garde	....	music editor (3 episodes, 1986)
Todd Rundgren	....	music performer (3 episodes, 1986)
Del Shannon	....	composer: opening credits music / performer: opening credits music (3 episodes, 1986)
Bruce Robb	....	music engineer: theme song / music mixer: theme song / ... (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Roger Wooge	....	driver (44 episodes, 1986-1988)

Series Other crew
Cheri Hall	....	assistant accountant (19 episodes, 1986-1988)
Chuck Adamson	....	executive story editor (4 episodes, 1986-1987)
David J. Burke	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1986)
Lynn Goldman	....	production office coordinator (4 episodes, 1986)
Harriet Kehl	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 1986)
Peter Lance	....	story editor (unknown episodes, 1987-1988)
Bill Davis	....	armorer (unknown episodes)
Alan Greedy	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Gail Morgan Hickman	....	executive story consultant (unknown episodes)
John Santucci	....	technical advisor (unknown episodes)
Ken Solarz	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Tom Towler	....	story editor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Michael Mann Productions
• New World Television

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1986-1988) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Cherokee Studios  music recorded and mixed at

Runtime:

60 min (42 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 (some episodes) | Iceland:16 (some episodes) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (DVD rating) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) (DVD rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

Michael Mann Productions

Trivia:

When the story was first brought to producer Michael Mann, he said he thought the best way to tell the story was as a weekly series. He said he considered doing it as a feature film or a made for television movie as well.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the series run, you can clearly see many post 1963 cars in the background.

Quotes:

Ray Luca: You posin' for pictures, or are you gonna pull the trigger?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Directors: The Films of Michael Mann (#2.1)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Runaway

Awesome pilot to a great series!

This tv show had it all, great characters played by a fantastic cast, some of the coolest cops and villians you could ever ask for, great music, the cars, the atmosphere and dialogue, and a plot that went way beyond any single episode! It's the story of one cop named Michael Torello (Dennis Farina) who makes it his life's mission to bring down a "ruthless hood" named Ray Luca (Anthony Denison) who is quickly working his way to the top of the Chicago organized crime syndicate. Along the way, you're introduced to other key figures, like Andrew Dice Clay's character Max Goldman and a performance by Joseph Wiseman as Manny Weisbord that stands just as strong as anything The Godfather produced (in my absolutely biased opinion, of course). Don't forget Pauli Taglia, Ray's henchman, and rockin' Frank Holman (the same guy who plays Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs), who bears an intriguing resemblance to the Rev. Horton Heat! The series started in Chicago, migrated to Las Vegas about a third of the way through, and ends in Latin America of all places. I won't give anything away here, but I will warn you that if you see the pilot, you'll want to get your hands on the rest of the series. Unfortunately, that's not as easy. The tapes show up on ebay regularly but aren't cheap. Good news is that Anchor Bay is releasing all the episodes on dvd really soon, so it's probably just better to wait for that. Alot of the tapes were copied in SLP mode anyway, and don't have the best quality. This series has a severe cult following now, even though it only aired for two seasons in the '80s. I introduced my girlfriend at the time to this show, and while she was skeptical at first, by the end she insisted we had to get the rest of the series. You'll watch it over and over again and pick up on stuff you miss everytime, not to mention the stories are just classic and filled to overflowing with one-liners and scenes! Michael Mann is a genius for making this show happen. I hated Miami Vice, but this was just "the greatest thing, since bullets"---Yikes!!!!, I could write on and on about the merits of this series!! It's hard to believe how few people know about Crime Story! Don't be one of those people, check it out!