Post by frankdracman on Mar 23, 2008 1:18:09 GMT -6
This was a series that ran from 1973-77. It is basically centered on the Los Angeles Police Dept., and created by former LAPD officer himself, Joseph Wambaugh. It so happens that Wambaugh is also a renowned author of several police novels, such as "The Blue Knight"(loved the TV movie w/ William Holden), "The New Centurions"(loved the movie, on which the series is based on), and "The Choirboys"(another good movie), to name a few. His nonfiction book "The Onion Field"(also made into a movie), is noteworthy as well.
One of the things I like about "Police Story" is that there are different actors, thus different characters, each episode. It's as if we are slowly being introduced to the entire L.A.P.D. Not only that, but the episodes were based on actual LAPD case files.
Police Story is also interesting in that it provides a realistic look at police work. Cops are not heroes or cowboys, they are average men who are doing a job like everybody else. Some of them have families, some of them are single, ie. it's what you would see in everyday life. Not all episodes have happy endings, either, as the central cop in a given episode may get killed, or he may get his guy but his wife/girlfriend ends up leaving him, or he gets fired, etc. Totally real-life. It's a lot like that 90's reality show "LAPD:Life on the beat", the only difference being in that that one was actually happening as filming took place, while "Police Story" was fiction.
Additionally because L.A. is my favorite city, and the 60's-70's are my favorite time, any combination of those factores I always love. And this is one of them......it brings back a feeling of nostalgia, as L.A. was still largely middle-class and suburban back then, a lot like the neighborhood I lived in, not too far from there. Needless to say, a total ghetto now. Although, I still wouldn't mind living in the not-so-bad parts of it.
One of the things I like about "Police Story" is that there are different actors, thus different characters, each episode. It's as if we are slowly being introduced to the entire L.A.P.D. Not only that, but the episodes were based on actual LAPD case files.
Police Story is also interesting in that it provides a realistic look at police work. Cops are not heroes or cowboys, they are average men who are doing a job like everybody else. Some of them have families, some of them are single, ie. it's what you would see in everyday life. Not all episodes have happy endings, either, as the central cop in a given episode may get killed, or he may get his guy but his wife/girlfriend ends up leaving him, or he gets fired, etc. Totally real-life. It's a lot like that 90's reality show "LAPD:Life on the beat", the only difference being in that that one was actually happening as filming took place, while "Police Story" was fiction.
Additionally because L.A. is my favorite city, and the 60's-70's are my favorite time, any combination of those factores I always love. And this is one of them......it brings back a feeling of nostalgia, as L.A. was still largely middle-class and suburban back then, a lot like the neighborhood I lived in, not too far from there. Needless to say, a total ghetto now. Although, I still wouldn't mind living in the not-so-bad parts of it.