A Crime to Remember (2013–2018) User Reviews (26)

A Cut Above

[mrdoyle · 9/10 · 5 September 2015]

I can't tell you how many times I've strapped in for a nice bit of true crime & turned off after five minutes because the music sounded like a construction site over a Yamaha DX7, the editing was manic, the dramatizations were inaccurate & terribly produced and the narrator had a voice like Batman on Quaaludes. Add to that the number of shows featuring self-promoting presenters & semi-literate 'experts' and I walk away feeling like no-one knows how to make a decent crime doc series anymore.

So, it's more than a little refreshing to have discovered 'A Crime to Remember', a show that avoids every element of crappiness that pervades today's 'real crime' programs. It's shot beautifully, the incidental 'noirish' music fits each historical crime, the narration is uniquely rendered as a story told by someone on the periphery of the story, the interviewees are relevant and best of all, the casting, acting & direction of the dramatizations are near flawless. Some of the actors' resemblance to the actual subjects is uncanny. This is easily the best TV crime doc series to come out of the US in a long time.

Pleasant crime TV show

[laurentdelvigne-446-586973 · 7/10 · 17 April 2017]

I like those slow paced documentaries. No flashy fast cuts like other shows.

Each story takes its time to develop, great production designs in recreating the time period. Reenactments are not top-notch for some episodes but OK. I have seen worst in indie movies.

Plus interviews of the people (law enforcement, witnesses,...).

So worth watching.

No BS...Just Watch It & Decide For Yourself

[AudioFileZ · 9/10 · 9 January 2016]

So much TV is crap. So much "made for cable" TV is formulaic crap. This show is a cut above. While it doesn't entirely step out of TV "world 'o' crap", it largely sidesteps it with a real flair for brilliant hindsight in the retelling of some really interesting crimes from the 50's and 60's.

In the end it doesn't matter if it is the final word in honesty because it brings up so many unanswered questions pertinent to crimes that are, sadly, now forgotten. But do not take this lightly because these are major crimes and deserve, even at this late date, your introspection. I can't tell how important this series actually is so just watch because if you get it...you'll get it.

Very well done

[mls4182 · 10/10 · 10 December 2021]

Murder back when it was shocking. Grade A production values in the recreations. Interesting stories from the past.

It is still available for streaming. I'm sad they aren't making any more new episodes. This was top notch.

The comments whining about cigarette smoking crack me up. Yes, it is a bad habit but it hasn't wreaked as much havoc, pain and killings like alcohol and drug abuse. Some people are just ...

A Series to Remember

[ljuedes · 10/10 · 22 December 2013]

I can't remember watching a series that I enjoyed more than this one. The photography was exceptional, costuming and set design was perfect (I was around so I have personal experience), and the narration was spot on - not too much, not too little. As an added benefit, the series includes original insurance advertisements for AllState, adding to the ambiance. The acting in this series deserves special note. The characters that portray the reenactments do not show much emotion. This leaves an interesting impression on the viewer - almost as though the emotions of the characters are left up to the viewers to imagine, leaving a very haunting sense of distance. This series is a cut above the rest. In short, it rates a 10 out of 10 it in my book. I just don't know what they could have done better!

Love this show

[patsiejacks · 10/10 · 12 May 2019]

Is there going to be another season? I love this show. Its brilliant

"A Crime to Remember" Series should be placed on the ID Channel top 10 Series List

[vapdhill · 10/10 · 14 December 2019]

A Crime to Remember is a HISTORY of Crime Series. and the most attention-holding show ever broadcasted on television. I was so disappointed when the ID Channel dropped it from their Series Lineup. Staying hopeful, that ID would add it back to their schedule, I left it to be recorded, on any channel, at anytime. I was delighted, when on 10/29/19, three (3) episodes of "A Crime to Remember" shows were recorded!! The ID Channel should place this Series at the top on their Crime Show List and drop some of the less uninteresting, least watched Series!

It works. It really works.

[Laight · 10/10 · 11 July 2021]

Maybe the shows aren't all that accurate, and maybe the producers didn't do all the research they should have, and maybe they get facts wrong, but if you put aside all that, what you get is a mildly fact-based, totally riveting docu-drama that is surprisingly well acted by little-known players, written in a punchy and fun style, and always intriguing. With wonderful period costumes and solid direction, this show is one of the most under-rated on television and absolutely worth an engrossing, enjoyable binge.

Incredible detail and originality

[suepalmer1957 · 10/10 · 8 January 2019]

This is an outstanding series which is beautifully created and well executed. The stories are fascinating and brilliantly re-enacted. Many of the stories are very moving and the images of the actual people involved at the end is very poignant. An amazing series.

Excellent programs

[bdmccurdy · 1 August 2018]

Other reviewers had mentioned "never heard of" cases and I agree. Can't imagine some of stories. Keeps one on their toes as there always seems to be a slight twist.

Only complaint:

Everyone or almost everyone walking around with a cigarette. Yes we know, people smoked in public back then, but get over it...a smoke doesn't have to be in every scene and I"M a smoker.

Just saying.

Crime Capsules & Time Capsules . . . .

[sundayatdusk-97859 · 6/10 · 13 April 2023]

This is an interesting true crime series that doesn't drag or get too repetitious. It lasted 5 seasons, and all episodes are available to watch with a subscription to discovery + streaming service. (In late May 2023, discovery + will become part of HBO MAX.) What makes this series different from other crime ones is it tries to capture the time period, too, by showing newsreels and photos. It also starts off with a fictional narrator who lived during that time. It might be a neighbor or a friend or an acquaintance of the victim or killer.

The reenactments are like watching a TV show, as opposed to being choppy snippets. Some episodes are spiced up with sex scenes, that are too explicit at times, and smoking cigarettes is very, very prevalent. Some of the dead bodies are a bit too graphic for my tastes, too. The episode "Last Night Stand" showed the woman's dead body way too long. It was graphic and gross and one had to wonder why the film makers did so. (I'm taking off two stars from my rating.)

At the end of each episode, the beginning narrator makes some type of philosophical comment about the crime and time, and photos of the real individuals involved are shown during the credits. So far, it has been easy to find info online on the cases, and obviously not all facts about the cases are real on the show. For example, the person who blew up the plane did not exactly have the type of childhood described. Thus, if you are a stickler for facts, this show might irk you with the fact liberties it takes.

murder stories from history

[ice-blonde-474-87320 · 10/10 · 5 March 2017]

I love this show!! Became so addicted to it as soon as I found it. Can't believe it hasn't got many reviews. The stories are great and true. Unheard of murders from history and the acting is quite good too. I love that it has some real people connected that are interviewed too. It's quite chilling. Great for a night watch. Episode that moved me the most was 'baby come home' so sad and thrilling right to the end. First episode of 1st series was OK but just keep watching them. Gets much better

The Shot Doctor Distorts Historical Facts of Murder Trial

[artellis-35-471689 · 2/10 · 21 November 2014]

I appeared on The Shot Doctor as the author of Zora Hurston and the Strange Case of Ruby McCollum and State of Florida vs. Ruby McCollum, Defendant (both available on Amazon), and was the only guest who knew all of the characters in the story. I was expecting that my decade-long work proving that Ruby McCollum's testimony at her trial made this a landmark case in the history of civil rights movement would be featured in this episode. Instead, the producers chose to edit out my comments, replacing them with the comments of two other narrators who never knew Adams or McCollum, and who perpetuated the falsehood that Ruby McCollum did not testify at her trial. This is not a "point of view," it is a travesty, a distortion of history, and a disservice to the viewers of this otherwise elegant and well-researched series. I have no idea why the story was stripped of the truth, unless it was in some misguided attempt to sensationalize the story.

Something different

[kellielulu · 9/10 · 12 August 2022]

Covering famous crimes from the past. Most were famous at the time and some still are . It's too bad it was cancelled but other unoriginal reality crime shows remain or more of the same added.

Journalists and historians and sometimes people around at the time added context and you could learn not only about that specific case but the era and place it happened.

Great show!!

[natwag · 10/10 · 20 January 2020]

I love this show!! I noticed there haven't been new shows lately... I sure hope they do more!! My family loves this series!!!

Nurse killings

[nottodayhon · 24 November 2015]

I watched tonight's show and it took me back to the day this happened. My father was stationed at the Naval Recruit Training Center (old buildings then new buildings) pushing recruits thru training. The morning all this broke out, one of his recruits, Chuck Wunderly of PA, told my dad his new wife as also a student at this school. He immediately left the base with Chuck, found his wife (Kay) and our families have been friends ever since. Today my parents have since passed away but my wife and I visited them in June. Our families will continue this friendship for as many years as our kids will. Kay and Chuck have been married 50 years and both have retired. It is funny how a show can rekindle things in our pass. Kay's daughter Sharon told us she will watch tonight so she can get a better idea the story of how we all became friends/family.

Fantastic period true crime show, just found on Tubi

[janedoe1224-824-951411 · 9/10 · 16 February 2023]

Just found this show on Tubi. It's far better than expected!

I assumed it would be like Cruise Ship Killers or Bizarre Murders--a bad, slow, boring show to put on while falling asleep.

But no. It's really good! The crimes are complicated and fascinating, and even though I'm not especially young, none of them are familiar. And they put effort into humanizing the people involved. It's not just shock and gore and sensationalism. It's a lot more respectful than most true crime shoes. The narration and pacing are perfect, the "experts" actually have some authority on the subject, the acting is great, the casting is eerily accurate. And it's just LOOKS cool. The costumes and sets are so fun to see. Great show, glad I found it, even if I can't fall asleep to it.

Love it

[jaxgrchick · 10/10 · 26 February 2021]

I absolutely love history and true crime this series is perfect I can't stop watching I'm almost done with all available seasons I want more I'm addicted I recommend this show highly !!!

Overall Very Good

[nbrice18 · 8/10 · 29 July 2023]

A Crime to Remember was a very watchable show which did an excellent job in recreating the time period of when the crime took place. It fell short a bit with the 1930s and 1950s. I watch so many old movies and was born in the mid-1950s that I have a pretty good feel for the styles of a particular decade. In the 1930s most women wore short wavy hair and tweezed their eyebrows very thin. In the 1950s most women wore that dreadful short, permed Italian cut (which aged most 20 years), had thicker brows and red lipstick. They really nailed the 1960s and 1970s. The show also did a good job with props.

I was only familiar with a few of the crimes and some of the ones I hadn't read about prompted me to buy books about them. I could have done without the social commentary which veered into woke territory, or the unnecessary song at the end.

My biggest criticism is the constant smoking. It may come as a shock to people born after 1965 but not everyone in the past smoked, not even close. Some episodes showed smoking in the courtroom! And the last episode showed Mormons smoking.

On balance I would recommend the show.

I love this series

[monirp-15808 · 10/10 · 25 January 2024]

PLEASE BRING BACK A CRIME TO REMEMBER! So intriguing and impacting. So much history learned as well. The real life events shouldn't be lost. The written work is so well done. Bring back this series as so many more stories need to be told. Crime to Remember is better than even Dateline. We need more quality and entertaining series like CRIME TO REMEMBER. Hopefully ID Channel or another network will pick it up to continue this well written and produced, directed series. Meanwhile we can watch the 5 seasons of CRIME TO REMEMBER and hopefully like other series are rebooted, so can this well made series.

This is One of My Favorite Shows and I Found it Again!

[moez1266 · 10/10 · 25 February 2024]

I remember spending a summer binging the series. I've been trying to find it on a streaming service, it turns it's available on Tubi.

It's a beautiful true crime series--not campy. The writing, narration, and reenactments are consistent throughout. It doesn't look like some cheap production like so many shows seem to be. It feels like you're going back in time when you watch (and again, not campy). It's also nice to have input from reporters pushing the stories along. One of my favorite parts is seeing the actors in different roles. I can't wait to watch it all over again. My only wish is that it's brought back again.

Basically Just A Cigarette Commercial

[ChuckM612 · 1/10 · 13 March 2023]

I only saw the first episode. I think it covers a crime from 1965 or 66. I won't be watching anymore.

Evidently the producers believed that EVERYONE smoked cigarettes AT ALL TIMES back then. The re-enactments were devoide of acting or drama, but were just assorted scenes of people smoking. I need something more substantial and considerably less unpleasant than that to hold my attention.

It's a shame, really, as the series sounded interesting and I thought that it had potential. I was even willing to accept its tabloid approach for the sake of an interesting story. The endless cloud of cigarette smoke interfered with any story or emotion the show could have offered.

ENOUGH with the cigarettes

[Ripshin · 26 January 2020]

Seriously. Why does EVERYBODY, in EVERY episode smoke? Yeah, it's a period thing. But REALLY? This is ridiculous.

The overall set design is great in the series. So WHY be so inept with the smoking?

In this show, if it's possible for ANYONE to be smoking, he or she will be. It's a lazy manner of implying a "period." Believe it or not, everyone did NOT smoke prior to the 70s.

Great Show... But...

[My-Two-Cent · 8/10 · 24 January 2021]

First off this is a great show and it's also very informative And with that being said the smoking by EVERYONE in just about every episode has become annoying and that's putting it mildly.. I am a former smoker and whenever I see someone smoking it literally leaves a bad taste in my mouth.. I understand their using cigarettes to show the times and how acceptable the horrible habit was "back then" but it provides nothing to any of the stories.. It's truly unneeded and it's gross..!

Bring it back!!!

[djones-37204 · 10/10 · 12 March 2024]

Literally, one of my favorite crime shows and I've watch ALOT. As the show title suggests, it is based on mostly older crimes and they definitely aren't lazy when it comes to the details in the show. Which is not always the case on a lot of "newer" TV shows. Most of them will just put some clothes on that match the decade and attempt to blur out the cars and other details that don't match in the background. Everything is based on the year the crime took place, from the clothes, cars, homes, speech, everything, I love it.

My only complaint is that they're no longer making episodes so now I've watch every season at least three times. 😩