Crime Story Laserdiscs

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

"macrovision" <4589knowhow@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:a88b78a75662a305e609dfcd2f10cb08@localhost.talkaboutvideo.com...
> This question is concerning the Michael Mann TV series from the 80's.
>
> The dvd release of C.S had all of the integral background music
> removed
> from scenes due to copy right or royalty issues - I don't know.
>
> Are the LDs pure? I would love to hear from someone who has this set
> before I shell out a few hundred. I figured there is a good chance
> that
> these episodes have not been toyed with.

I have the box. The episodes are transferred from the syndication
broadcast masters and have the same soundtrack as the DVD box set.
Additionally, they have been slightly re-edited into a string of 7
miniseries arcs, where opening and closing credits will only appear at
the beginning and end of batches of 3 episodes (episode 1 only opening
credits, episode 2 no credits at all, episode 3 only closing credits;
repeat). The color transfer is largely similar to the Anchor Bay DVDs
(both were transferred from the 1980s broadcast masters) but with more
analog signal noise and large Japanese subtitles burned into the
picture. The discs also only have analog soundtracks.

Despite being called "Crime Story: The Complete Works", the set only
contains the show's first season.

From a purist standpoint, the LD box is not a good bet. For a fan of the
show and collector, however, the packaging and artwork are really
terrific. Worth the money? Hard to say. Probably not, given the
existence of the marginally superior DVD set, plus the impending release
of Season 2 on DVD.