Product Description

Led by an Emmy Award-winning cast (James Spader William Shatner and Candice Bergen) "Boston Legal" tells the professional and personal stories of a group of brilliant but often emotionally challenged attorneys. Fast-paced and darkly comedic the series confronts social and moral issues while its characters continually stretch the boundaries of the law. This five-disc set contains episodes from Season 1. Episodes: Disc 1: Head Cases Still Crazy After All These Years Catch and Release Change of CourseDisc 2: An Eye for an Eye Truth Be Told Questionable Characters Loose LipsDisc 3: A Greater Good Hired Guns Schmidt Happens From Whence We CameDisc 4: It Girls and Beyond Til We Meat Again Tortured Souls Let Sales RingDisc 5: Death Be Not ProudSystem Requirements:Running Time: 739 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 024543241133 Manufacturer No: 2234113

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2910 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2006-05-23
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Dubbed in: English, French
• Number of discs: 5
• Dimensions: .75 pounds
• Running time: 739 minutes

Amazon.com
The classic combination of James Spader and William Shatner is just one of many reasons to savor the inaugural 17-episode season of Boston Legal. Making its highly rated ABC debut on October 3, 2004, this darkly comedic spinoff from The Practice looked like a formulaic reworking of creator David E. Kelley's previously successful series Ally McBeal, with similar plots and quirky characters enmeshed in personal and professional affairs of the heart at the prestigious Boston law firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. It quickly became apparent that Kelley, co-executive producer Bill D'Elia, and the show's magnificent ensemble cast were onto something equally fresh, funny, and infectiously entertaining.

Red Carpet Video: The Boston Legal cast gives Amazon.com some behind-the-scenes scoop and recommends their favorite DVDs and music. High |Low

Both Shatner and Spader won Emmys for their original roles on The Practice, and the priceless pairing of the erratic, egomaniacal senior partner Denny Crane (Shatner, doing the best work of his career) and ethically challenged attorney Alan Shore (Spader, likewise) signaled the arrival of one of the finest comedic duos in TV history. Waging a two-man war on political correctness, the boisterous has-been Denny loves the sound of his own name (the mere mention of "Denny Crane" qualifies as ego-stroking foreplay), unabashedly subjects female associates to his lascivious advances, and (in creator Kelley's words) "trades on the currency of his reputation" as an undefeated trial attorney. As the show's fascinating heart and soul, Alan Shore is a walking contradiction, and Spader plays him perfectly as a charismatic, self-loathing lothario who'll bend the law to suit his higher purposes. Deeply cynical yet fiercely committed to his own complex and compassionate moral code, he's brazenly open about his sexual appetites as he savors the affections of smart, sexy associates Sally Heep (Lake Bell), and Tara Wilson (Rhona Mitra), whose relationship with Shore grows strained as the season progresses.

While senior partner Paul Lewiston (Rene Auberjonois), senior associate and ex-Marine Brad Chase (Mark Valley), and junior associate Lori Colson (Monica Potter) struggle to maintain the firm's lofty reputation, the appearance of founding partner Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen) elevates Boston Legal to an even higher plane of serio-comic perfection. A former flame of Denny Crane's, Schmidt arrives in episode 11 (appropriately titled "Schmidt Happens") as common-sense negotiator with a rapier wit and a clanking pair of big brass cojones, fully capable of holding her own against the Crane/Shore juggernaut. And while "An Eye for an Eye" (episode 5) is a sublime example of Boston Legal's deft combination of lunacy and courtroom complexity, it's the deeper implications of episodes like "Tortured Souls" (15) and season finale "Death Be Not Proud" (tackling a dubious death sentence in Texas) that cast these rich and wonderful characters into sharper relief, baring their souls and the courage of their convictions.

With surprising departures (Lake Bell, in episode 13), new arrivals (Kerry Washington, as new associate Chelina Hall, in episode 15) and stellar guest stars including Larry Miller (as the eccentrically unstable founding partner Edwin Poole), Philip Baker Hall, Frances Fisher, Carl Reiner, Freddie Prinze Jr., Shelley Long, and late-season regular Betty White, Boston Legal gained a large and loyal following with exceptional writing, timely social relevance, and that rare quality of chemistry that guarantees long-term appeal. Nowhere is this more apparent than the now-famous Spader/Shatner "balcony scenes" that quickly became an episode-closing tradition, with staunch Republican Denny Crane and passionate Democrat Alan Shore reflecting upon their careers, current issues, and their own devoted friendship over brandy and cigars. With these two actors together, virtually every episode ends on a high note of pensive introspection, and Boston Legal becomes even greater than the sum of its parts. DVD extras are minimal (two featurettes with cast and producers, plus deleted scenes from episode 1) but enjoyably worthwhile. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Court of the Absurd
What started out as a good show evolved into a political forum for the far left. In addition, characters are routinely seen drinking tumblers of scotch. The office of this law firm would be 'gold mine' for AA.

Denny Crane!
I was initially "turned on to" "Boston Legal" around season three or four, and immediately fell in love with it. I couldn't get enough of Alan Shore's (James Spader) biting sarcasm, borderline sexual harassment, and hilarious banter. Furthermore, the character of Denny Crane (William Shatner) always left me curious as to his fall from grace, as Alzheimer's slowly and gradually robs him of his legal genius, replacing it with hilarious eccentricities that never cease to amuse me. I had many questions about the show, "How did Alan come to work in Boston? How did Denny contract "Mad Cow" (as he claims)? How did the show start?" Season One didn't disappoint any of my expectations.

Episode one immediately throws you into the story of "Crane, Poole, and Schmidt" and gives you very little exposition, focusing mainly on the stories of the cases and letting you figure out the character details on your own as the relationships play out through the caseloads of the lawyers. While this was initially frustrating, it nonetheless became highly entertaining.

Even if you've never seen the show before, I would highly recommend it. "Boston Legal" is like many David E. Kelly shows in that it shows off lush parties with music, political agendas (mostly "leftist"), and witty, back-and-forth, dialogue that is reminiscent of a funnier Aaron Sorkin.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend Season One as it is the genesis of one of the best shows on TV, has loads of great cameos (Freddie Prinze Jr., Elizabeth Mitchell (of "Lost" fame), and Larry Miller amongst others), and plenty of hilarious and poignant cases.

"I Love Solitude... Mostly in a Relationship"
The above quote from this amazing show is a true testament to David E. Kelley's brilliance. Now, I have not seen The Practice, Picket Fences, or Ally Mcbeal, so I am without prejudice, and I must say that I am very impressed.

James Spader, who plays Alan Shore, is the most interesting lead character in a decade, and plays the part to perfection. Alan is lonely, troubled, yet hides it with charisma and lewd comments. Spader is the perfect fit, and really brings out the best in his character. HE also has the best lines of the season (in later seasons Shatner has much better material) and says them with the confidence you would expect from such a character.

Denny Crane, played by William Shatner, is the indisputed star of the show. I don't think he quite knew it himself, but this was the role he was born to play. Even though in this season he doesn't have the large influx of funny lines, the ones he does have are made even funnier by his outrageous demeanor. The "mad cow" was a nice touch, and it makes for a very interesting character: a has-been lawyer who floats in and out of his prime with every new episode.

The femme trio of the season (all of which would leave quite suddenly) is composed of Sally Heap (Lake Bell), Tara Wilson (Rhona Mitra), and Lori Colson (Monica Potter). These women all want to sleep with Alan (and two do), a plot point that should have been more interesting than it was. It was almost as if Kelley said "To heck with romance" and made the show about Alan and Denny. This proved to be good for the show, but bad for the three unlucky actresses (who were all quite talented). Thus the three girls of season one got no real depth (expect Denise from seasons 2 and 3 seemed like a spin-off of Lori) and they never really got a backstory.

Last, but most certainly not least, is Candice Bergen, who plays founding partner Shirly Schmidt. When I received this set I was perplexed as to the nature of why one of the cover's participents was not in over half of the season. The first minute she was one screen I realized why. Bergen (agiain) is the perfect fit for the role she plays and also bounces of of Shatner amazingly well. She could be the star of the show, should Spader decide to leave, yet Kelley (in this season and others) decides not to write much for her. However, when she is on screen the show just flows, and she is a welcome member of the team.

In short (ironically) this show is the best thing on TV right now. It is socially relevent, funny, and brilliantly written. I highly recommend this amazing experience of a televsion program.