Way back in 1984, my girlfriend told me excitedly about this new cop show that she thought was the coolest thing ever. It was music-driven and hip and edgy, and one of her professors had linked it to Last of the Mohicans (which was prescient).
The show was called Miami Vice, and, sure enough, it became appointment viewing for a bunch of us through college.
I wasn’t really into the aesthetic; I’m not a pastel kinda feller, and ol’ Sonny Crockett was a little too well-coiffed for my tastes. I did like his Bren 10 and iconic Galco shoulder rig though…
I did like the dark storytelling and the action though.
Anyways…
You’re probably wondering about the Last of the Mohicans thing, so I’ll get to it. This UC Berkeley prof opined that Miami Vice was tapping into a long American tradition of frontier storytelling, what with the Crockett name and all. He figured that Sonny Crockett was Natty Bumppo, with Rico Tubbs acting as his dark-skinned sidekick Chingachgook. This being a Berkeley professor, he was looking a little askance at all this — but he wasn’t wrong (although I think he wasn’t entirely fair to Tubbs).
The funny thing is, Miami Vice was run in its first couple of seasons by Michael Mann, who would go on to direct Last of the Mohicans in 1992. Which, it occurs to me, also features a male lead with great hair. I have read that Mann initially wanted an electronic soundtrack for LOTM to contemporize the 18th Century setting. Thankfully, that terrible idea did not gain traction, and instead we got perhaps the most epic soundtrack ever created.
Anyways…
Crockett and Tubbs were, in fact, operating on a Wild Frontier. In real life, Miami in the 1980s was the primary transshipment point for 70 percent of the cocaine entering the United States, and there was a violent, dangerous and mind-blowingly lucrative free-for-all going down. It was the perfect setting for a new kind of crime show, and Miami Vice resonated powerfully.
As Edward James Olmos (Lt. Castillo) said:
Miami Vice was a glamorized and romanticized production. It created a style that went around the world, something that resonated throughout the entire planet.
Sure did. Now it’s getting a reboot. Per Deadline:
Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler are set to star in Miami Vice ’85 with Joseph Kosinski directing. The film will be shot for Imax and is set to bow on August 6, 2027 [other sources have it pushed back to May 2028] .
The film explores the glamour and corruption of mid-’80s Miami in an all-new version of Miami Vice, inspired by the pilot episode and first season of the landmark Universal Television series that influenced culture and set the style in everything from fashion to filmmaking.
*
My favorite scene in Miami Vice is a tense stalk in the brush where Crockett and Tubbs are going after Captain William Maynard aka Captain Real Estate, played by none other than Watergate conspirator and all-around lunatic, G. Gordon Liddy. It’s a long, dialogue-free set-piece run to The Doors’ My Eyes Have Seen You.
Still kinda cool, ain’t it?
The Bren 10 is long gone. The girlfriend is even goner. Time has marched on, and binge-watching has replaced appointment viewing. The 1980s are a historical epoch now, and I don’t miss ’em, really. But it’ll be fun to visit again, with a new Crockett & Tubbs venturing out onto those moody, colorful, mean streets…
Matthew says
I’ve only seen a few episodes MV but I liked them. It did have a tendency to be style over substance but it what style! (That said it may look dated to some people.) It did have stories a lot better than some its critics say…generally.
The 1980s comic Jon Sable, Freelance and cameo of Crockett and Tubbs (who weren’t called that for obvious copyright reasons.)
My favorite anime Cowboy Bebop (which I reviewed here) was also heavily influenced by it and Mann’s work.
Matthew says
Off topic, I found this interesting video on Delta Force:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0QFRPQRshI
Since Delta is open to the entire military SEALS can try out for it but they don’t get often get in even ex-DEVGRU. There is some controversy whether it is Army bias or that they just have different operating philosophies. Probably, both.
Gregory A Walker says
Viewed the video – full of errors and misinformation.
To name a few –
The DELTA (CAG, Combat Activities Group) selection course is held at Camp Dawson in West Virginia.
ST6 (DEVGRU) emerged after CDR Richard Marcinko, a close friend of Colonel Charlie Beckwith, visited Beckwith at Fort Bragg as DELTA was being stood up. Dick brought the concept back to Little Creek, Virginia, and built the unit from there.
“Surf training” – that section of the video is BUDs, not ST6. All SEALs must successfully graduate from the Basic Underwater Demolitions course in order to move on to their next phase of SEAL training.
Teamwork – both DELTA and ST6 have perfected working in teams. “Teams survive where individuals die” is the shared mantra. Counter-terrorism work is a team effort – if you cannot adapt to that concept you’re out of either program.
“Singletons” – A singleton is an operator, whether DELTA or ST6, who is selected and specifically trained to conduct a variety of missions by him or herself. The concept originated from the OSS during WW2 on the American side. Singletons possess both clandestine and covert logistical and communications support (Teamwork).
Land navigation phase – each candidate is given a compass and a start point; he or she is not given a time to reach that point, or how many additional points remain. The candidate must go as fast and hard as he can to each point, at which he is provided the grid coordinates for the next point. Not only is this test physically taxing to the maximum it is meant to test the candidate’s mental strength – the mind will quit before the body will and this is what is really being tested.
Candidates – DELTA is open to a wide variety of candidate pools to include those coming from the Army’s Ranger Regiment. Rangers are all about teamwork and mission accomplishment and they do quite well, historically, during DELTA selection.
Dropping out – most seasoned candidates self-terminate the course because of their egos. “I don’t have to take this crap!” is the thought process. It is an ego thing – the challenge is can the candidate submit his or her ego coming from any previous unit or “the outside” to pass Selection? Injuries during Selection take out more candidates than anything else.
OTC – the Operators Training Course is a six-month crucible which produces fully qualified DELTA operators. To get to it you must pass Selection. OTC will ferret out those who simply don’t or can’t meet the OTC criteria.
Matthew says
Thanks for the correction.
Gregory A Walker says
Love Miami Vice – and who can ever forget this epic song from Glen Frey?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LM8n_V4wLs&list=RD8LM8n_V4wLs&start_radio=1
JimC says
Ah, yes… Smuggler’s Blues. Politics of contraband.
J.R. says
For some context of era check out
Cocaine Cowboys on Netflix
Also on YouTube look for Tim McBride saltwater cowboy. Interesting stuff.
The Black Tyrone says
True fans remember “Phil the Shill”. Do you?
Quixotic Mainer says
My folks were huge fans of Miami Vice, I’ll bet I’ve seen most of the show. It was definitely leagues ahead of it’s contemporaries as far as it’s mature tone and twists. My brother actually named one of our Setter puppies after Trudy.
I haven’t run a true 10 mm in my ballistic adventures, though it’s somewhat neutered and now largely defunct descendent was my issue for all my rookie years. The only 10mm in my vicinity is a G29 belonging to a marginal shooter, whose efforts to control it through training are often in vain.
Det. Crockett and Col. Cooper surely made it look good though!
deuce says
“My favorite scene in Miami Vice is a tense stalk in the brush where Crockett and Tubbs are going after Captain William Maynard aka Captain Real Estate, played by none other than Watergate conspirator and all-around lunatic, G. Gordon Liddy.”
There was also the ‘Definitely Miami’ episode featuring Ted Nugent. Ted’s character bitch-slapped Sonny early in the episode.
I was a big fan of the series–not so much of Tubbs; there HAD TO be a better black actor out there–until they jumped the shark with UFO stuff, etc.
The series also gave Denis Farina his big break in a classic episode.
JimC says
I always liked Farina. He had a short lived show set in Chicago that I liked.
The Black Tyrone says
Phil Collins, was Phil the Shill a small time West London con man. On second season, also added his iconic music to several episodes. (Wonderful.)
I believe it was 1982. Incidentally the great Phil Collins was an avid collector of Alamo artifacts which he donated to the Alamo museum you might be very surprised what was included.
JimC says
His Alamo obsession is immense. Always liked that about him.
Black Tyrone says
He is in very poor health and his treasures will not be stored away. He did donate out of respect for those heros and love for those of like interest. I suspect Jim, the demographic around your campfire is shall we say…youthful
Black Tyrone says
Ah yes… Del Shannon and Run Away. Sorry Del with his mink guitar strapl never made it to the Traveling Wiburys. G H liked his music and was a good fit for Farina,s short lived series.
Rick Schwertfeger says
Marcia and I were huge fans. Probably saw every episode. For most of those years we lived in Vermont – there primarily for the x-c skiing. During Nov/Dec through Mar/Apr, on Friday night I’d wax our skies for Saturday’s expected conditions, then retire to the living room for Miami Vice. It was a nearly unbreakable ritual.
The Black Tyrone says
I am not certain the young “partisans” realize how popular the series was with the “baby boomers” The business about the probably woke professor, the series and Last of the Mohicans is I believe poppycock. Tubbs a Chingachgook figure??? (racial drivel) Don’t make me laugh! Okay now I have had enough fantasy. Bye One last comment…did any one compare the production timelines for both? Hit a nerve with this posting on me.
Jobert says
I had the unfortunate experience living in LA for one year in 1984/1985. Up at 0430 to a laborious commute, work all day, then home by 1900. Miami Vice ran every Friday at 2100. I usually saw the colorful and exotic opening credits but was rarely able to stay awake beyond the second set of commercials.
Jonathan Hanson says
Miami Vice was way ahead of its time in terms of gun handling (okay, Rico’s sawed-off shotgun was idiotic). Given Mann’s later, legendary film Heat, one wonders whether it was he who insisted on the authenticity.
I badly wanted a Bren Ten when they were announced. Once the magazine issues (um, there weren’t any) surfaced I cooled off, thankfully.
JimC says
Heat is highly regarded for its gun handling. Last of the Mohicans is pretty impressive in that regard, too, so I reckon we can credit Michael Mann.