Petrocelli: The Complete Collection

This 1974-76 NBC legal series w/Barry Newman, Susan Howard and Albert Salmi was, IMO, one of NBC's best of the 70s, and one of Paramount Television's best ever. It was notable also for two things: one, that it was also made by people who didn't usually make this kind of show (Miller-Milkis, better known for comedies like Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy, all on ABC, and all, like Petrocelli, also from Paramount Television), and two, it was on a network not usually known for having the shows of a particular company (again, Miller-Milkis, which is more known for being on ABC with comedies, than on NBC with dramas).Barry Newman was the title character, Tony Petrocelli, a Boston-born, Harvard-trained defense attorney of Italian descent who worked in New York for a time, before deciding to leave the big city and move out to a fictional Arizona town called San Remo (the real Arizona city of Tucson stood in for San Remo, and is where Petrocelli was filmed).Susan Howard (who would be better known on CBS as Donna Culver Krebbs of Dallas from 1979-87) was his wife, Maggie Petrocelli, born in Marshall, TX of Irish roots.The late Albert Salmi was their investigator/legman Pete Ritter, who was once a cop before going over to work for Petrocelli.Tony and his wife set up residence outside the town in a mobile home, and while not on cases, Tony laid bricks (12 a day) for their possible new house (which was never completed).Basically, this was somewhat like Perry Mason, in that Tony was the Mason, Maggie was the Della Street (this Della being Tony's wife, unlike the more well-known Della), and Pete Ritter was Paul Drake in a cowboy hat.One other thing notable is that Tony usually drove around in an old pickup truck, sometimes having Maggie ride with him. Yet another is that the backgrounds of Barry Newman and Susan Howard became those of Tony and Maggie as well (as stated above, Tony [like Barry] being from Boston, and Maggie [like Susan] being from Marshall, TX).As I stated to begin with, this was, IMO, not only one of NBC's best of the 70s, but also one of Paramount Television's best-ever (short-lived though it was), and I think that for those reasons, you'll enjoy this as much as I did.

Met all expectations.

I have waited a long time for the DVD release of this gem of a show from the mid-1970s. Set in the fictional town of San Remo - actually Tucson - itrevolves around the seemingly impossible cases presented to Defence Lawyer Tony Petrocelli - a Harvard law graduate who has forsakenthe city life of New York for the warm sun of rural Arizona.Barry Newman brings the role to life in a snappy, believable and, when the occasion allows, humorous way. Susan Howard shines as the supportive wife while he tries to build his career - and their house! - and Albert Salmi puts in some good support as the cowboy booted, Stetson crowned investigator for Tony Petrocelli. The show features a 'who's who' of 1970s TV drama - William Shatner, for example - and some well known names that later became better known for their work in movies - Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford, to name two. David Huddleston deserves a special mention as the episodes in which he plays the local detective see a great rapport develop between himself and Tony Petrocelli. Two actors on top of their game, so to speak.As with many TV shows from this time almost everything is filmed on location. Tucson and the surrounding countryside is the 'set' and addsa pleasing, realistic dimension to the unfolding dramas. Finally, the theme music alone is a wonderful, uplifting, 'western-themed' piece by LaloSchifrin. All in all, if you like 'classic' TV shows from the past - think 'The Rockford Files' and 'The Streets Of San Francisco' - I suspect this show willnot disappoint. If only it had gone on for a few more seasons - then he might have finished building that darn house!

I kept passing this set by because the price was so good. I was not familiar with this tv program when it ran. Finally however, after reading all the good reviews, I finally gave in and purchased this set. I was so pleasantly surprised when I began watching these stories. They are really good. I like the character, the story lines, and am also pleased with the quality of the sound and picture on the DVDs themselves. I am really glad I made this purchase and can now enjoy watching this series along with my other old favorites. Great price for a good series. This is a good addition to my ever growing collection of old tv,series. Sure is good to be able to watch tv that is free of foul language, excessive sex, and excessive violence. So glad to have these options.

This is a review of the product, not the show. The DVDs came in a standard clamshell container. All the disks were secure on the flip pages. Two clamshell for two seasons in a cardboard slipcover. Each disk played well with no drops or glitches. The disks say at the beginning that older shows can sometimes lack visual or auditory quality due to age but these looked and sounded pretty good for a 50 year old show. I took off a star because there is NO CLOSED CAPTION, but I knew that going in. Still, no CC? Who is your audience? Anyway, I will comment a little on the show. The stories and dialogue are essentially good. There are a lot of familiar faces, too. Overall this is a good buy for fans of old TV.