Burke’s Law: Season 1 Volume Two

Amazon.com

“One of these days,” remarks rumpled veteran Los Angeles police sergeant Les Hart (Regis Toomey), “we’ll find ourselves with a nice, easy case.” But open and shut cases are no fun, and for Burke’s Law, one of the most offbeat and still entertaining cop shows ever, the more bizarre and baffling the case, the better, as witness these 16 star-studded episodes that complete Season One. Millionaire playboy Amos Burke (Gene Barry in his Golden Globe-winning role) has his hands full, not just juggling the unending parade of afternoon delights who demand his attention (the randy Burke “swings like a circus trapeze”), but also with the tryst-interrupting phone calls summoning him to a crime scene. This is murder, Southern California-style: A pop artist impaled on one of his own paintings, a fashion house owner found dead in an elevator full of mannequins, and an “ordinary” suburban housewife strangled in her shower. Produced by Aaron Spelling, Burke’s Law anticipates his The Love Boat with its eclectic roster of guest stars who portray colorful characters and shady suspects. Each episode is brimming with show business legends in the twilights of their careers (Betty Hutton, Buster Keaton, Jayne Mansfield, Spike Jones), indelible character actors (Jim Backus, Gena Rowlands, John Cassavettes), future stars (Barbara Eden, William Shatner, Elizabeth Montgomery) and cult faves (Tura Satana from Russ Meyer’s Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!). But Amos Burke is the real character and the real deal. “A good civil servant doesn’t rest until the job is done,” is just one of his aphorisms that comprise “Burke’s Law.” Barry gets able support from Gary Conway as Det. Tim Tilson, Burke’s hunky, hotshot protégé, and Leon Lontoc as Henry, who chauffeurs Burke’s Rolls Royce. Burke’s Law is stylish, sexy, and smart. Harlan Ellison peppers his witty script for “Who Killed Andy Zygmunt” with clever wordplay (when asked his opinion on pop art, Burke replies, tongue in cheek, “He’s a nice enough old fellow”), literary and pop culture references, and sly digs at the art world and children’s television. For more retro fun, each of this set’s four discs contains as a bonus vintage commercials for Crest, Green Mint mouthwash, (the “clean taste of confidence”), L&M Cigarettes, Schick Stainless Steel blades and more. But Burke’s Law is no ’60s relic. Today’s prime time cops should be so cool. –Donald Liebenson

Product Description

Hes BACK!!! VCI is proud to announce the second volume of Burkes Law which will complete the award-winning inaugural season. Burkes Law was a detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965. Gene Barry starred as Amos Burke the suave millionaire Chief of Detectives for Los Angeles, who was chauffeured around to solve crimes in his Silver Cloud II Rolls-Royce. The series featured stylish settings, strange twists on homicides, and legendary guest stars. During the opening credits, as the opening title burst on screen, and a womans voice was heard seductively saying Its Burkes Law! The title also reflected Burkes practice of providing wisdom A smart policeman never mixes business with vermouth – Burkes Law. Each episode had the title Who Killed… followed by the victims name. The opening of the show revealed the murder, but not the murderer (that was left for Captain Burke to discover.) The show would use a blend of wit and drama, as Burke would sort through a suspicious assortment of shady characters. Each suspect was questioned by Captain Burke and his fellow detectives, Rookie Detective Tim Tilson (played by Gary Conway) and Sergeant Lester Hart (played by Regis Toomey), until the guilty party was identified. Burkes Law won the 1964 Golden Globe as Best TV Show. Gene Barry won the 1964 Golden Globe for Best Male TV Star.