A Crime to Remember

Maybe the shows aren't all that accurate, and maybe the producers didn't do all the research they should have, and maybe they get facts wrong, but if you put aside all that, what you get is a mildly fact-based, totally riveting docu-drama that is surprisingly well acted by little-known players, written in a punchy and fun style, and always intriguing. With wonderful period costumes and solid direction, this show is one of the most under-rated on television and absolutely worth an engrossing, enjoyable binge.

I can't tell you how many times I've strapped in for a nice bit of true crime & turned off after five minutes because the music sounded like a construction site over a Yamaha DX7, the editing was manic, the dramatizations were inaccurate & terribly produced and the narrator had a voice like Batman on Quaaludes. Add to that the number of shows featuring self-promoting presenters & semi-literate 'experts' and I walk away feeling like no-one knows how to make a decent crime doc series anymore.

So, it's more than a little refreshing to have discovered 'A Crime to Remember', a show that avoids every element of crappiness that pervades today's 'real crime' programs. It's shot beautifully, the incidental 'noirish' music fits each historical crime, the narration is uniquely rendered as a story told by someone on the periphery of the story, the interviewees are relevant and best of all, the casting, acting & direction of the dramatizations are near flawless. Some of the actors' resemblance to the actual subjects is uncanny. This is easily the best TV crime doc series to come out of the US in a long time.

Is there going to be another season? I love this show. Its brilliant

I like those slow paced documentaries. No flashy fast cuts like other shows.

Each story takes its time to develop, great production designs in recreating the time period. Reenactments are not top-notch for some episodes but OK. I have seen worst in indie movies.

Plus interviews of the people (law enforcement, witnesses,...).

So worth watching.

I can't remember watching a series that I enjoyed more than this one. The photography was exceptional, costuming and set design was perfect (I was around so I have personal experience), and the narration was spot on - not too much, not too little. As an added benefit, the series includes original insurance advertisements for AllState, adding to the ambiance. The acting in this series deserves special note. The characters that portray the reenactments do not show much emotion. This leaves an interesting impression on the viewer - almost as though the emotions of the characters are left up to the viewers to imagine, leaving a very haunting sense of distance. This series is a cut above the rest. In short, it rates a 10 out of 10 it in my book. I just don't know what they could have done better!