Crime Story (1986) Reviews

First telecast September 18, 1986, Crime Story was the two-hour pilot for the subsequent series which traced the long-standing relationship between Chicago cop Lt. Mike Torello (Dennis Farina) and mobster Ray Luca (Anthony Dennison). As head of the Major Crime Unit, Torello is not above circumventing the rules to bring Luca's minions to justice. In the pilot, Luca deliberately provokes the lieutenant by hiring the son of one of Torello's close friends to pull off a series of robberies. The level of realism is heightened by the fact that star Dennis Farina is in fact a former Chicago police officer, while John Santucci, playing one of Luca's henchman, had once been a genuine criminal. Crime Story was created by Miami Vice mentor Michael Mann. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide