In the Shadows of the Gallows (30 Nov. 1995)

Director:

Scott Brazil

Writers:

Stephen J. Cannell (creator), Stephen Kronish (creator),

Stars:

Michael Chiklis, Theresa Saldana, Kaj-Erik Eriksen

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Chiklis	...	Tony Scali
Theresa Saldana	...	Rachel Scali
Kaj-Erik Eriksen	...	David Scali
John Cygan	...	Paulie Pentangeli
Maria Bello	...	Betsy
Steve Eastin	...	Chief Aaron Darrow
Sheila Larken	...	Patricia Allardyce
Dean Stockwell	...	Robert Allardyce
Angela Strader	...	Brenda Yates
Gillian Barber	...	Dr. Helen Mallory
Johnny Cuthbert	...	Baer (as Jon Cuthbert)
Jano Frandsen	...	Fuller
Jan D'Arcy	...	Amelia MacKenzie
Dayna Cornborough	...	Sarah Scali
Justine Cornborough	...	Sarah Scali

Storyline

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 November 1995 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stephen J. Cannell Productions, ABC Productions, New World Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Dissapointing

I always enjoyed the original Commish television series. I liked the characters, and the stories. And I enjoyed the latter because they did not follow the standard pattern of other crime/mystery series on television around the same time. Matlock, Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder- they all use the same plot device ad nausium. If you watch any of these shows, and they have a sexy female guest character in the cast of an episode you can rest assured that *she* did it (though she will be written and portrayed as the *only* likeable character in the guest cast until she is unmasked).

The Commish never followed this pattern; instead, the "bad guys" were known to the audience from the get-go, and the meat of the story, if you will, came in watching Tony catch them, not in trying to guess who did it. Sadly, this Commish TV movie, aired after the series ended, did away with the style of the original show, and opted for the wornout plot device used on those other shows, including making the murderer the only likeable guest character in the production.

The result is a plodding and predictable story that makes the Tony Scali character seem out-of-place, as the surrounding events play out like a poorly written soap-opera. It ruined the Commish experience for me. Thankfully, the *very* talented Mr. Chiklis has moved on to bigger and better things, with The Sheild.