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Crime Investigation Australia

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Crime Investigation Australia
GenreCrime/Factual
Presented bySteve Liebmann
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes36
Production
Executive producerGraham McNeice
Running time60 minutes; some episodes 90 minutes (including commercials)
Original release
NetworkCrime & Investigation Network
Nine Network
ReleaseAugust 2005 –
2009

Crime Investigation Australia is an Australian true-crime series that first premiered on Foxtel's Crime & Investigation Network in August 2005.[1] The series is also rebroadcast on the Nine Network, and made its debut there on 14 August 2007.[2] The host of the series is Steve Liebmann.

Production

The series is produced by Graham McNeice of Moore Park NSW. In a 2008 interview McNeice said the impetus for the series was to provide an element of local content to a channel (Foxtel) that is dominated by American and European crime stories.[3]

The series (often abbreviated to CIA) examines some of Australia's most shocking and infamous crimes. It includes interviews from victims, loved ones and the investigators who brought the criminals to justice. These crimes are further examined by re-enactments shot in the actual locations where the crimes took place.

Foxtel announced that the series would be "rested" for 2010.

Episodes

Series 1

Series 2

Series 3

Reception

The show has been generally well received.

Michelle Nagy in her Editorial Review of the program writes: "Crime Investigation Australia presents an impressive package, using re-enactments, montages of real evidence, locations, maps, photos and real footage – not to mention leading Australian anchor Steve Liebmann, who lends weight and integrity to the series."[4]

Similarly: "Producer Graham McNeice's Crime Investigation Australia program revisits landmark crimes that once shocked and that remain embedded in the memories of many of us. Hosted by stern, gravelly voiced Steve Liebmann, McNeice's films skilfully dramatise the stories behind these cases, though in disturbing the past he sometimes creates a sense of dismay... It's all very noir, very tabloid, and very conspiratorial. McNeice, with his just-the-facts method, unashamedly gives us criminality, violence, gritty realism, horror and psychopathology. There is no apology and no shame here, which is what makes it such riveting TV."[5]

A recent review by David Knox explains that: "True crime television is hitting us from all corners lately. Sitting at the top of the heap, at least in Australian productions, is Crime Investigation Australia. Hosted by Steve Liebmann, it shies away from emotive, sometimes even racist, sensationalism of other players. CIA has also triggered viewers to come forth with new information – surely a measure of success for any in this genre. Hopefully, this week’s case study ... will elicit the same response."[6]

Another review asks the question: "What is it about the true crime genre that's so addictive? A showcase of the worst elements of human nature should be repellent, yet so often it's darkly compelling... Crime Investigation Australia has all the hallmarks of a pay-TV documentary – lots of stock footage, dodgy re-enactments, eerie music and talking heads – but nevertheless tells an engaging tale."[7]

The re-enactments featured on the show are very often gratuitously portrayed, as for example the Anita Cobby episode in which the moment of the murder is replayed over and over again. There are also inaccuracies and anachronisms, for example in the Beaumont Children Mystery episode where the hairstyles and hair lengths of the child actresses playing Jane and Arnna Beaumont do not match photographs of the real children.

DVD releases

The series is currently available in four sets: Series 1 (Volumes 1–5), Series 2 (Volumes 6–10), Series 3, and Box Set (Series 1 and 2).

Series 1

Vol 1–5 DVD cover
Vol 1–5 DVD cover

CIA Series 1 – 5 DVD Boxed Set became available in late October 2007. Series 1's running time is approximately 670 minutes. The Set is classified MA 15+.

Volume 1

  • The Backpacker Murders – Ivan Milat (75 mins) (M)
  • The Kimberley Killer – Joseph Schwab (45 mins) (M)

Volume 2

  • The Anita Cobby Murder (45 mins) (M)
  • The Moorhouse Horrors – David and Catherine Birnie (30mins) (M)
  • The Call Girl Killing – Roslyn Watson (20 mins) (M)

Volume 3

  • Snowtown – The Bodies in the Barrels (50 mins) (MA15+)
  • The Greenough Family Massacre (48 mins) (M)
  • The Killer Punch – Dean Waters (30 mins) (M)
  • The Will of Death – Ludwig Gertsch (15mins) (M)

Volume 4

  • The Wanda Beach Murders (30 mins) (M)
  • The Beaumont Children Mystery (25 mins) (M)
  • Kid for Ransom – The Graeme Thorne Case (50 mins) (PG)
  • Tears for Daniel – Disappearance of Daniel Morcombe (25 mins) (PG)
  • No More Grannies – John Glover (50 mins) (M)

Volume 5

  • Death in a Heartbeat – Murder of Victor Chang (60mins) (M)
  • The Body in the Bag – Jane Doe (20 mins) (M)
  • Contract to Kill – Megan Kalazcich (25 mins) (MA15+)
  • The Mornington Monster – John Myles Sharpe (25 mins) (MA15+)

Series 2

Vol 6–10 DVD cover
Vol 6–10 DVD cover

CIA Series 2 – 5 DVD Boxed Set is now available. Series 2's running time is approximately 250 minutes. The Set is rated MA 15+.

Volume 6

  • The Disappearance of Donald Mackay – (M)
  • Headless Body – The Kim Barry Murder – (MA15+)

Volume 7

  • Thrill Kill – The Janine Balding Murder – (M)
  • The Night Caller – Eric Edgar Cooke – (M)
  • The Body in the Sports Bag

Volume 8

  • The Killing Fields of Truro – (M)
  • The Butchered Boys
  • The Devil Inside – John Ernest Cribb – (M)

Volume 9

  • No Mercy – The Killing of Virginia Morse – (M)
  • Hunt for a Killer – The Claremont Murders – (M)

Volume 10

  • The Gonzales Family Murders – (M)
  • The Assassination of John Newman – (M)

Series 3

series 3 cover
series 3 cover

CIA Series 3 – 4 DVD Boxed Set became available in early October 2011. Series 3's running time is approximately 619 minutes. The Set is rated MA 15+.

Disc 1

  • The Predator – Leonard John Fraser
  • Evil Heart – The Murder of Donna Wheeler
  • The Girls Who Knew Too Much – Sallie-Anne Huckstep and Juanita Neilsen

Disc 2

  • Blood Sport – The Bondi Gay Murders
  • A Killer Amongst Us – The Norfolk Island Murder
  • Night of Terror – The Bega Schoolgirls

Disc 3

  • Murder of Innocence – Sian Kingi
  • Date with a Serial Killer – Rodney Cameron
  • Shoot to Kill – Michael Kanaan

Disc 4

  • Cop Killer – The Winchester Assassination
  • Buried Alive – Luckman and Reid
  • The Mystery of the Homestead Murders

See also

References

  1. ^ Foxtel details programs for Summer and beyond knowfirst.info Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  2. ^ Media Releases eBroadcast.com.au Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  3. ^ QUT interview Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  4. ^ Editorial Review citysearch.com.au Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  5. ^ Review by Graeme Blundell theaustralian.news.com.au Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  6. ^ TV tonight review Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  7. ^ Editorial Review citysearch.com.au Retrieved 25 September 2009.
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