Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #53782 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-10-21
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 360 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Crime Inc. is a documentary series about the Mafia, produced in the mid-1980s by Thames Television. It's fascinating to observe how the intervening years have led the issuing company of this complete release of all seven episodes down the road of the cheapest and nastiest sensationalism: "MEET THE REAL GOODFELLAS" yells the front cover of the two-disc set at its presumably dumbed-down target market, while the back cover shows a string of silly press quotes. The irony is that, for anyone interested in the history of organised crime or in any aspect of the dark undercurrents which pervade American and European society, such lowbrow tactics are completely unnecessary. For Crime Inc. is a good, solid, properly budgeted and carefully researched series, dating from when such things were what viewers could expect as a matter of course.

Much of the fascination of the series stems from the fact that the producers have used as much primary source material as possible, including original archive footage and interviews (many presumably conducted in jail) with defectors from the cause. The most startling revelation, oddly enough, has nothing to do with the secrecy, extortion and torture employed by the organisation--after all, there are plenty of legitimised governments throughout the world who routinely use the same tactics--rather, it's the statement, made very early on, that until informants started going public US police forces would simply deny the fact that the Mafia even existed. Remarkable stuff.

On the DVD: Crime Inc. has no extra features, but with six hours of running time this is hardly cause for complaint. It is presented in standard 4:3 ratio. --Roger Thomas

DVD Description
EPISODES
1 – All in The Family
2 – Making of The Mob
3 – Racket Busters
4 – Birthright of Gangsters
5 – The Mob at Work
6 – Make it Legitimate
7 – The Old Mob and The New

Running Time: 6 hours
Audio: Mono

Synopsis
The real story behind the Mob with interviews with former mafia boss Jimmy The Weasel Fratianno, archive home movies and FBI surveillance footage.

Customer Reviews

Excellent
I would say this is an awesome DVD with a great insight into the real day to day workings of the Mafia and its workings. Ok its a bit dated but if your a hardcore mafia researcher or just have a basic interest this is great for both. The footage shows genuine mobsters talking very candidly about there former life, all be it slightly aloof given the fact they are no longer part of this criminal empire but still massivelly entertaining. Its 6 hours long split into 6 - 1 hour documetaries each exploring different aspects of the mafia's power. Yes it has boring moments but it also has some gems of moments and i would say its a definite for anyone interested in the structure and workings of one of the most influencial criminal empires ever constructed. And that goes for all levels of interest.

Good But................
I bought this DVD thinking that maybe it might have been an insight into the younger mafioso. Instead, what i bought was a DVD that is quite dated (originaly done in 1984) but was still quite insightful.
The most intresting points I could find, was how a former mob Boss Jimmy "the Weasel" Fratiano could have the balls to come out and do interviews at that time. I also thought that it may have gone into more detail about the casinos in Las Vegas but it looked to me as if it were more intrested in Atlantic City Casinos. Still, the are some intresting things in this DVD an it looks good next to the Godfather Box Set.
3/5

Piece of History
Weird to watch this DVD after reading lots of books about the mafia and following events for the last few years. This DVD was filmed in the early 80's and of course we know much more now about how things panned out. They talk about the seeming invincibility of the mafia just as it leans on the precipice. With hndsight it makes this DVD even more interesting. In the years to come most of the people described would be dead or in jail.
It's well filmed with good interviews with lots of well connected mobsters. Never boring, the makers have made a good job of the pacing and its segmented into 7 parts. Making of the mob, the mob at work, new mob etc. Anyone who wants to know how the American mob operate should check this out. And anyone who wishes to suppliment existing knowledge will find it fascinating.