Trivia for
"Crime Story" (1986) More at IMDbPro »

• The series ends, quite maddeningly, with a cliffhanger.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• The theme music used for the series was an updated version of the hit song "Runaway" recorded by the original singer Del Shannon.
  
  
• The character of Ray Luca (Anthony Denison) is based upon Chicago mobster Tony "The Ant" Spilotro. Spilotro also inspired Joe Pesci's character of Nicky Santoro in "Casino". By the same token, Andrew "Dice" Clay's character of Max Goldman and Robert DeNiro's character of Sam "Ace" Rothstien in "Casino" are both based upon Spilotro's partner, Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal.
  
  
• Nate Grossman (Steve Ryan), a member of Torello's MCU, is based upon a real detective of the same name who worked with co-creator Chuck Adamson and star Dennis Farina. In real life, Grossman was killed in the line of duty.
  
  
• John Santucci, who portrays Ray Luca's sidekick Paulie Taglia, was a real-life professional thief whom was busted on numerous occasions by series co-creator Chuck Adamson and star Dennis Farina when they were Chicago Cops. Many of the robberies, hijackings, and burglaries are based upon Santucci's crimes, including the museum jewelry heist profiled in the pilot movie according to the DVD Liner notes.
  
  
• The character of burglar Frank Holman is based upon 'Frank Hoheimer', a famous Chicago burglar busted by series co-creator Chuck Adamson. Michael Mann, the series producer previously used the famed criminal as the basis for his movie "Thief".
  
  
• Since both "Crime Story" and "Miami Vice" (1984) were produced by Michael Mann, both series shared the same technical advisers, directors, and crew members. And if you watch both series, both shows share the same supporting actors and guest stars as well.
  
  
• The character of Manny Weisborn (Joseph Wiseman), Miami crime lord and Luca's mentor, was based on Meyer Lansky. Throughout the series, Weissborn is always making references to Lansky's New York associates like "Lucky" Luciano, "Bugsy" Siegel, and Frank Costello.
  
  
• Del Shannon re-wrote and re-recorded his classic hit "Runaway" for the title sequence of the series.
  
  
• By the time Season 2 began, Paulie Taglia had become so popular as a comic relief that John Santucci, the actor who played Paulie, finally got his name on the opening credits.
  
  
• During the first season, it is established that Lt. Michael Torrello served in the Army during the Korean War. In the first season episode "Crime Story: Torello on Trial (#1.16)" (1987), we learn that he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
  
  

• SPOILER: In the episode where Ray Luca goes to the home of mob boss Dominic Tranchita and shoots him with a silenced .22 pistol while Tranchita's eating sausages, that incident is based upon how Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana was killed.
  
  

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