The Sopranos is fiction. Underbelly is not. These stories are based on real events. Australia, 1976. A generation before the Melbourne Gangland Wars, an even bigger crime wave rocked Australia. Hard drugs hit Australia like a tsunami. Drug money flooded the underworld. With the new money came a new breed of hard men and beautiful women.This is their story... Acclaimed Australian crime drama, UNDERBELLY, comes to DVD in the UK with the release of A TALE OF TWO CITIES, a 13 part series based on actual events that took place from 1976-1987.A Tale of Two Cities is the true story of how two men changed the face of organised crime in Australia. Aussie Bob Trimbole and Kiwi Terry Clark are an unlikely pair. One an overweight Italian-Australian who loves his food and marijuana crops; the other a charming young New Zealander, in love with money, power and beautiful women.But at their first meeting in 1976, Trimbole and Clark click. Together, they mastermind the large-scale importation and distribution of heroin into Australia. The easy success of their plan results in the underworld becoming awash with drug money, and a shift in the nature of organised crime in Australia. Old style crims, such as standover boys Les and Brian Kane in Melbourne, and illegal casino operator George Freeman in Sydney,find their criminal livelihoods suddenly overwhelmed by heroin.For Trimbole and Clark, the success of their Organisation is dependent on Clark s charm, the contribution made by his lover Allison Dine in recruiting the drug couriers, and a network of corrupt NSW Police andjudiciary. And for a time, they get away with murder lots of it, starting with the assassination of NSW politician and anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay.But not every cop in NSW and Victoria is corrupt, and when the Commonwealth Police join forces with their State counterparts they place heavy heat on the Organisation s members. All it will take is for the Organisation to get sloppy, and for somebody to spill the beans...Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities Australia s hottest new drama, based on real events
A**S
A must watch.
I am saving the series for the Xmas period so i don't have to watch the rubbish on tv, i gave 5 stars recommend by my brother.
O**N
Made for riveting viewing.
As an expat from Australia living in the UK - series like this tend not to be shown abroad (although I did manage via iTunes to catch it's predecessor).I had been looking forward to watching this series a lot, and I wasn't disappointed.Based on the 'colourful' or otherwise plain criminal shenanigans of some of the senior crime figures in the free wheeling 1970s and 1980s - the actors playing people such as Trimbole and Freeman (and MacPherson) pretty much hit the nail on the head. Of course, being a dramatic adaption of what actually (or was perceived to have happened) in the NSW criminal arena in the 1970s - some of the outcomes may have varied a little from the actual reality, but there's enough there to be believable enough when viewed in a mini series such as this.Although it helps to know the background news articles from that era - it's not essential in the enjoyment of this series.Gritty.Realistic.Absorbing.Occasionally funny.Recommended to lovers of crime drama.NB: Pretty much every episode does contain nudity - pointed out here for completeness.Looking forward to finishing the successor to this series (Underbelly - The Golden Mile, Season 3).
J**N
Not to be missed
As a lover of the Aussie true story drama series, I have eagerly awaited this season being released on dvd. This is brilliant, not to be missed and all at a fantastic low price. It really gets down to the underbelly of Melbourne during the seventies, giving the viewer a true picture of the drugs culture/smuggling and brutal murder. Not for the feint hearted dare I say.
C**Y
underbelly
This is good viewing if you liked the sopranos, or the godfather. Its based on a true account of gangs in Australia. Not bad acting, normally I would not purchase Australian dramas. I'm not keen on cheesy soaps like neighbors or home and away, but this is not bad.
W**O
Four Stars
The first series was the best still thoroughly enjoyed it though. 4/5
L**-
G'day mate - I either have a full bottle in front of me - or is it that I've had a full frontal lobotomy.
Quite possibly the worst series I have ever seen onDVD. Vulgar violent misogynistic Australian rubbish. The series is set in the 1960’s and purports to recount the Aussie underworld. I found the stories and characters depressing. Quote: ‘Hey babe, you are a bit of a bunny, can I check out your burrow, I bet it’s furry‘. This is typical of the drama quality of the scripts – utter rubbish and not even worth the one point which Amazon issue as mandatory.
M**D
Gripping underworld drama.
Season 2 of Underbelly does not disappoint. The tale of gangland crime in Australia is portrayed magnificently, equal to anything i,ve watched before. The Sweeney meets The Sopranos. Wow.
M**E
Great series
I bought this as a present for someone, ive not seen it myself, but person I bought it for was more than happy with it. Fast delivery too.
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