Crime Story (TV series)

Crime Story was an NBC TV series produced by Michael Mann that ran for 2 seasons, starting in 1986 and ending in 1988. It was a period piece set in the early 1960's Chicago and Las Vegas, that split the point of view between the mafia and the police. Anthony Denison played the star villain Ray Luca, a ruthless gangster (based loosely on Anthony Spilotro) who was quickly gunning his way to the top of the Chicago Outfit. Dennis Farina played the star cop Lt. Michael Torello, who was obsessed with his hate for Luca, and determined to stop him at all costs. Two famous rock & roll musicians of the past contributed to Crime Story: Del Shannon sang a revised version of his hit "Runaway" as the theme song, and Al Kooper was the series musical director.

Trivia

• Before becoming an actor, Dennis Farina was a member of the Chicago police department.
• The TV series featured three stars of the Hannibal Lecter films. Dennis Farina and Stephen Lang starred together in Manhunter, and Ted Levine played serial killer Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs.
• John Santucci, who played mobster and safecracker Pauli Taglia, was, during the 1960's, a notorious jewel thief. The museum score depicted in the pilot episode was based on a real heist in which Santucci participated.