"Cracker: Mind Over Murder" (1997) "Cracker" (original title), TV series 1997-1998

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

18 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

To catch a killer you have to think like one

Plot:

Unconventional psychologist Gerry "Fitz" Fitzgerald is one of the best police interrogators in the business, mostly because his own quirks and perversities help him get inside the criminal mind.

Plot Keywords:

Remake | Based On British TV Series

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Robert Pastorelli	...	Gerry 'Fitz' Fitzgerald (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Carolyn McCormick	...	Judith Fitzgerald (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Josh Hartnett	...	Michael Fitzgerald (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Robert Wisdom	...	Detective Danny Watlington (15 episodes, 1997-1999)
Scott Sowers	...	Detective Parker / ... (15 episodes, 1997-1999)
Angela Featherstone	...	Det. Hannah Tyler (14 episodes, 1997-1999)
R. Lee Ermey	...	Lieutenant Fry (13 episodes, 1997-1999)
Noelle Hannibal	...	Detective (12 episodes, 1997-1999)
Paul Perri	...	Waldron (10 episodes, 1997-1999)
Sally Livingston	...	Hope Fitzgerald (8 episodes, 1997-1999)
Zachary Seymour Fischman	...	Gerry & Judith's son / ... (8 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Directed by
Stephen Cragg		(4 episodes, 1997-1999)
John D. Hancock		(2 episodes, 1997-1999)
Ian Toynton		(2 episodes, 1997)
Perry Lang		(2 episodes, 1998)

Series Writing credits
Jim Leonard		(6 episodes, 1997-1999)
Paul Abbott		(5 episodes, 1997-1999)
James Steven Sadwith		(5 episodes, 1997-1999)
Jimmy McGovern		(5 episodes, 1997)
Natalie Chaidez		(3 episodes, 1997-1998)
Barry Pullman		(2 episodes, 1997)

Series Produced by
James Steven Sadwith	....	executive producer (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Natalie Chaidez	....	producer (15 episodes, 1997-1999)
Jim Leonard	....	co-executive producer (14 episodes, 1997-1999)
Ilene Amy Berg	....	consulting producer / supervising producer (13 episodes, 1997-2002)
Scott Brazil	....	co-executive producer (12 episodes, 1997-1999)
Gub Neal	....	executive producer (10 episodes, 1997-1999)
Peter Locke	....	executive producer (8 episodes, 1997-1999)
Donald Kushner	....	executive producer (7 episodes, 1997-1999)
Scott M. Siegler	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1997-1999)
Steve Turner	....	associate producer / co-producer (3 episodes, 1997-1999)
Randall Zisk	....	co-executive producer (2 episodes, 1999)

Series Original Music by
Roy Hay		(11 episodes, 1997-1999)
Angelo Badalamenti		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Roy H. Wagner		(16 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Film Editing by
Michael Ripps		(6 episodes, 1997-1999)
Stan Salfas		(4 episodes, 1997-1999)
Paul Trejo		(3 episodes, 1998-1999)
Martin Nicholson		(2 episodes, 1997-1998)

Series Casting by
Molly Lopata		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Jeffrey L. Goldstein		(12 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Art Direction by
Nanci Noblett		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Susan Mina Eschelbach		(13 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Costume Design by
Florence-Isabelle Megginson		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Terry Robbins	....	key hair stylist (1 episode, 1997)
Adam Brandy	....	additional makeup artist (1 episode, 1999)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carol Bawer	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Rodney Allen Hooks	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Timothy J. Lonsdale	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Ian Woolf	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Daniel Brewer	....	construction coordinator (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Thomas R. Cahill	....	property master (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Kent Kidman	....	construction foreman (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Marc Meisels	....	leadman (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Douglas Machala	....	set buyer (13 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Sound Department
Rick Hinson	....	supervising sound editor (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Raymond E. Spiess III	....	supervising sound editor (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Jim Fitzpatrick	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Marilyn Graf	....	foley mixer (unknown episodes)
Mike Marchain	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Michael Miller	....	adr recordist (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Gilley Grey	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1997)
Jennifer Badger	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Brad Martin	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Chris Palermo	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
James Jermyn	....	film loader (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Kurt Johnson	....	gaffer (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Steve Savage	....	grip (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Colin Mayo	....	lighting technician (10 episodes, 1997-1998)
Dale Alexander	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
David A. Armstrong	....	camera operator: "b" camera / first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Allen D. Easton	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Anthony M. Gutierrez	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Brian Knappenberger	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Karen Korn	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Matthew Livingston	....	dolly grip: "b" camera / grip (unknown episodes)
C. Shipley	....	grip (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Molly Lopata	....	casting (2 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Catherine Wall	....	wardrobe supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Teresa Garber	....	director of post-production (unknown episodes)
Tad Nyland	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Mike Flicker	....	music supervisor (unknown episodes)
Jilien Smith	....	music supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Ken Plumlee	....	transportation captain (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Michael Avallon	....	driver (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
R. Scott Poole	....	assistant location manager (8 episodes, 1997)
Jerry Beck	....	technical consultant (unknown episodes)
Barry Gremillion	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Adam Mann	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Deanna Mulvihill	....	assistant to executive producer (unknown episodes)
Billy Pittard	....	title designer (unknown episodes)
Quincy Rose	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Monica Strater	....	assistant to executive producer (unknown episodes)
Catherine H. Vlasuk	....	assistant production office coordinator (unknown episodes)
Wes Williams	....	stand-in (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Granada Entertainment
• Kushner-Locke Company, The

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1997-1998) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• A&E Television Networks (1999) (USA) (theatrical) (previously unaired episodes)
• Goldhil Home Media (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Cracker" - USA (original title)
"Cracker: The Complete Series" - International (English title) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

60 min (16 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Granada Entertainment

Movie Connections:

Remake of "Cracker" (1993)

Boring

This excruciating remake of the excellent British series is not worth wasting your time on.

The police in the original had skepticism coming out of their ears when it came to having a psychologist on the team, exactly as many real police officers would. The American version has them fawning after Fitz at every opportunity, which is not only unrealistic, it also set up little dramatic tension.

While the English version has quirky, interesting, believable characters, the American one has typical American pretty people. Particularly disappointing is the lack of characterisation of the police. The original has a range of people we came to know well: Penhaligon, the young officer trying to cope with an inept boss and pathetic "lad" culture. Beck, the old-fashioned copper whose unpleasant exterior barely covers his mental instability. Bilborough, a nice guy, but so soft he has to get Penhaligon to do the talking when visiting people with bad news. What do we get from the American version? A token black character whose name escapes me and a chicky-babe who looks like Pamela Anderson's cousin.

The actors who play Fitz and Penhaligon (renamed to something unmemorable) could easily be replaced by wooden blocks and no-one would have noticed the difference. There's no spark between them. You don't care about them and you aren't convinced by them. Same with the Fitz/Judith pairing - he says something soppy and she simpers "sentimentality becomes you, Fitz". The "real" Judith would have laughed or sneered.

I could go on, but it just isn't worth the bother. Take from me: if you don't want to see a great show trashed, avoid this load of drivel.