This British television series stars Ian McDiarmid (the villainous Palpatine of the second Star Wars trilogy) as 18th-century author Henry Fielding (Tom Jones), who as a London magistrate during the 1750s was instrumental in establishing the city's first police force, the Bow Street Runners. In the five hour-long 2008 episodes compiled here, Fielding and his blind brother John (Iain Glen) work hard to persuade a number of powerful noblemen to secure parliamentary financing for their crime control experiment—which smacks, to some, of incipient despotism—after which they lead the Runners in the solution of several cases. Not surprisingly, all involve the seamy side of life in the metropolis—street gangs, child prostitution, gay brothels, rape, and robbery—a true ‘city of vice' brought to life using animated maps that clarify the urban landscape of the time. Mixing factual background concerning the awful conditions of the era with fictional crimes, this stylish production effectively conveys the decadent milieu, even if the plotting is not always so clever. DVD extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette with comments from cast and crew. Recommended, overall. (F. Swietek)
City of Vice: The Complete First Season
Koch, 2 discs, 236 min., not rated, DVD: $29.98 November 10, 2008
City of Vice: The Complete First Season
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