87th  PRECINCT starring Robert Lansing

UPGRADED COLLECTION - COMPLETE SERIES - 30 episodes - EXCELLENT QUALITY

Long before Hill Street Blues, Homicide, and NYPD Blue, there was Ed McBain's 87th PRECINCT. The series began in 1956. Although not the first procedural, it was one of the first and the 87th Precinct has come to virtually define the genre.

The books generally feature an ensemble cast and multiple plot lines. Although the books vary in quality, on the whole this is a major series, a classic of American crime fiction that has entertained, enlightened and influenced the genre for over three decades (and counting!).

The action takes place in and around New York City, and has even been called "the greatest sustained literary exploration of New York City in American literature," but, of course, the biggest joke is that throughout the entire series, New York has pretended not to be about New York at all. Instead, we're told that the action takes place is Isola. As the disclaimer in every book reads: "The city in these pages is imaginary; the people and places all fictitious. Only the police routine is based on established investigatory technique."

Yeah, right. It's New York, all right, spun ninety degrees, with only the names changed to protect the guilty. Isola isManhattan, Calm's Point is Brooklyn, Riverhead is the Bronx, Majesta is Queens and Bethtown is Staten Island.

In the early sixties, a TV series made its debut, featuring Robert Lansing as Det. Steve Carella and Gena Rowlands as Teddy. It also featured Norman Fell, Ron Harper and Gregory Walcott. Although well-received by critics (particularly Rowlands' performance) it didn't last long. Looking for more police-detective action? CLICK HERE. And if you're looking for Radio Detectives, CLICK HERE.

EPISODE TITLES:

THE FLOATER

LADY IN WAITING

LADY KILLER

THE MODUS MAN

LINE OF DUTY

OCCUPATION, CITIZEN

KILLERS PAYOFF

THE GUILT

EMPTY HOURS

MY FRIEND, MY ENEMY

THE VERY HARD SELL

TIL DEATH

THE HECKLER

RUN, RABBIT, RUN

MAIN EVENT

MAN IN A JAM

GIVE THE BOYS A GREAT BIG HAND

OUT OF ORDER

THE PIGEON

A BULLET FOR KATIE

KING'S RANSOM

FEEL OF THE TRIGGER

KILLER'S CHOICE

SQUARE COP

STEP FORWARD

IDOL IN THE DUST

RAMON

NEW MAN IN THE PRECINCT

THE LAST STOP

GIRL IN THE CASE