List Price: $29.99You Pay Only: $24.99 You Save: $5.00 (17%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: VCI ENTERTAINMENT
EAN: 0089859851025
Format: Box set, Black & White, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Original recording remastered, NTSC
Label: VCI Entertainment
Manufacturer: VCI Entertainment
Number Of Items: 4
Publisher: VCI Entertainment
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Running Time: 800 minutes
Sales Rank: 5396
Studio: VCI Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: September 20, 1963
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
BURKE'S LAW was a hit prime-time TV series that aired on ABC in 1963 and ran until 1966. It starred Gene Barry in the title roll (for which he won a Golden Globe Best TV Actor Award in 1965) of an LA chief of detectives who also happened to be a millionaire! Each episode featured unusual plot twists glamorous settings and a fabulous list of guest stars. So good it was brought back for a brief run in 1994! VCI will be releasing season one in two separate collector s sets of 16 episodes each. Digitally remastered from the original 35mm master each collection will also include bonus original commercials and previews. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 089859851025 Manufacturer No: 8510
Amazon.com:
Watching the smart, sexy, sophisticated, and more than a bit naughty Burke's Law is like entering Hef's swinging pad for a little Playboy After Dark action. Gene Barry, in his Golden Globe-winning role, stars as Amos Burke, a millionaire playboy. He is described as 'a bon vivant, elegant, an attractive man.' He also happens to be a police captain in charge of homicide. 'It's what he does best,' his partner explains. Well, not quite. He's better at juggling a bevy of beautiful ladies. 'We have a nodding acquaintance,' he smooth-talks one. 'You say `nodding' about marriage and that's the way I like it.' Inevitably, his trysts are interrupted by word that a murder has been committed and a body found. Then, it's off to the crime scene in his chauffeur driven Rolls Royce (piloted by the trusty Henry, portrayed by scene-stealer Leon Lontoc). Fun enough, but what further distinguishes Burke's Law is its dazzling array of stellar suspects; former Hollywood greats, contemporary stars, comedians, indelible character actors, and fresh-faced up-and-comers. Just dig this line-up for the episode, 'Who Killed Billy Jo?': Cesar Romero, Phil Harris, Tina 'Ginger' Louise, Ida Lupino, Ken Berry as a swinging partygoer, and in a surprising cameo, David Niven as a bumbling juggler. Gary Collins provides some potent youth appeal as Tim, a go-getting new detective and fount of arcane information related to each case. But he's no match for 'the old captain,' who dispenses his own brand of wisdom, such as, 'Never drink martinis with a beautiful suspect,' and 'Never grow up; you'll grow old,' punctuating each aphorism with, 'Burke's law.' A cop show like no other, Burke's Law's pleasures are anything but guilty, from the seductive voice that purrs, 'It's Burke's Law' during the opening credits to guessing which star is the culprit. Wally Cox? Carl Reiner? Frankie Avalon? Carolyn Jones was nominated for a Golden Globe for her virtuoso quadruple role as sisters in 'Who Killed Sweet Betsy?' and Barry himself has a high time with his dual role as a lookalike murder victim in 'Who Killed Snookie Martinelli?' Almost worth the price of this set is the prologue in which Barry's Snookie regales his exhausted all-night party guests with an energetic rendition of 'C'est Si Bon.' How `60s can you get? As a welcome bonus for classic TV buffs, each disc contains vintage 1963 commercials (Arnold Palmer for L&M cigarettes--'He's been smoking them for years'). You're still deciding whether to order this? 'Don't think about it, just do it.' That's Burke's law! --Donald Liebenson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Precursor of Classic Detective Shows
In the early 1960s, television was just starting to get over the variety show genre' and began looking for new horizons due to competition from other networks. With the introduction of certain "Teen" idol "Surfside 6" and "Route 66" success, you could say that "Burke's Law" appealed to the young people of the Jet set.
It is highly unlikely that a millionaire would continue to work as a Captain in Homicide, given the hours and the constant requirement to answer to superiors. Yet, Gene Barry uses a small staff in conducting personal interviews and significant risk taking, dodging bullets here and there and having his young rookie constantly get hit over the head every other episode, to solve Hollywood crimes, usually among the more affluent members of Los Angeles society.
So very improbable, yet very successful. Each episode is loaded with Hollywood stars. Either they had the budget or they all owed something to Spelling and Co. or even Gene Barry to ensure the popularity of this series.
When you have stars like Anne Francis, The Gabor Sisters, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Don Rickles, etc. among them playing small roles in a larger plot that should tell you something.
Anyway, I had never seen the old series. I was familiar with a few episodes from the 94 revival and based this purchase on that experience.
It is certainly entertaining. A constant reminder of technological life of the 1960s, most of which have disappeared (typewriters, adding machines, slide rules) and the show ... Read More
Rating: - A THROWBACK TO THE '60S THAT STILL WORKS . . MOST OF THE TIME
It is with some trepidation that one revisits a 1963 television series that has all but faded in memory. However, this one is a real winner. Starring the ever-so-suave Gene Barry, the best of the oh-so-cool leading man school of television, and supported by the pushy-but-fun Gary Conway, this series has aged particularly well. It's one of the first Aaron Spelling super spectaculars, to be followed, of course, by The Love Boat and Dynasty, but Burke's Law sets the general style and substance for the glamorous future Spelling was to have as the glossiest of television producers. Amos Burke (Barry), multi-millionaire Chief of Detectives for Los Angeles who's chauffeured in a Silver Cloud II Rolls Royce, solves crimes with a charm and devil-may-care attitude unimaginable today. The plots are outlandish, the setting outrageous, the casts absolutely out of this world. Where else could you get such guest stars as William Bendix, Zasu Pitts, Elizabeth Montgomery, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Paul Lynde, Mary Astor, Lizabeth Scott, Joan Blondell and Juliet Prowse? This list, believe it or not, is only from the first four of 16 episodes on this four-disc collection! It ain't Shakespeare, and, frankly not wildly realistic, but for a return to the glamorous Los Angeles of the mid-'60s, where Pop and Op and Mod and all that silliness reigned supreme, check out this gassy and groovy throwback to a more innocent era.
Rating:  - Burke's Law Season 1 Volume 1
Quality of the video was excellent and one of the best old tyme television shows now available. Hope more shows of this series is added. Gene Berry is excellent and for police cars, you can't beat a 1962 Rolls Royce car!
Rating:  - "Some TV shows don't age well" - Burke's Law
Sorry to differ from the other reviewers, but my wife and I just watched a few episodes of Season 1, Part 1, and were quite disappointed. I'm referring to both the quality of the DVD - and "Burke's Law" itself. Prior to getting the DVD set from Amazon, my wife fondly recalled the show and as such, I bought it for her as a gift.
It seemed that her memories of the show had been kind, and upon viewing the first few episodes, we were left shaking our heads: what was the appeal? Yes, the guest stars are fun to spot (e.g., a pre "Bewitched" Elizabeth Montgomery plays a flaky floozy who even twitches her nose - Samantha Stevens style - well before her bewitching TV sitcom aired).
But the stories are slow-moving, the characters are too wacky and unbelievable, and, well, the regulars are just plain dull. The Zucker Brothers "Police Squad!" would have had a field day with "Burke's Law".
Also, we noticed that the dialogue doesn't keep pace with the lip movements, at least in the second episode. That suggests poor workmanship in putting the DVD together.
(We did enjoy the only DVD extra - the old commercials, including one with Arnold Palmer pushing L&M cigarettes - even littering by tossing a lit cigarette onto the golf green!)
Finally, we compared "Burke's Law" to its contemporary, "Perry Mason", and found that there really is no comparison. "Mason" was generally full of well-developed characters - both the regulars and guests - and, despite repetition ... Read More
Rating: - "Burke's Law (1963) ... Gene Barry ... VCI Ent. (2008)"
VCI Entertainment presents "BURKE'S LAW-SEASON 1 - VOLUME I" (20 September 1963) (Dolby digitally remastered) --- 1964 Golden Globe Winner best TV Show & Best Male TV Stars --- Capt. Amos Burke (Gene Barry) was a Los Angeles chief of detectives who was also a millionaire with a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce, a mansion, and a high wheeling lifestyle --- The hallmarks of this series were glamorous, sophisticated settings, unusual twists on formula homicide plot lines, and big name guest stars --- After a couple of seasons, its format was radically revamped. Burke left the police force and became an agent for US Intelligence --- At that point, the show's name changed to "Amos Burke--Secret Agent". Burke's adventures were briefly revived in 1994, under the original title.
Burke's Law is a detective series which ran on ABC from 1963 to 1966 and was revived on CBS in the 1990s --- The show starred Gene Barry as Amos Burke, millionaire Los Angeles Chief of Detectives, who was chauffeured around to solve crimes in his Rolls-Royce --- The best of the Cary Grant clones was Gene Barry --- In his career Barry was a male model, had good breeding and seductive whiskey voice --- Barry was also TV's greatest reactors --- With a multitude of comic takes that was perfect for Amos Burke, who had to confront an unending series of eccentric subjects --- Yet he could turn around and romance the ladies or get tough with the tough guys. And he was a good enough actor to hold up his end when the heavy dramatics intervened. ... Read More
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