Unfairly vilified by the Simpson defense team as well as the press, former cop Mark Fuhrman has again proven his detective skills in his best-seller, Murder In Greenwich.  The tele-film, “MURDER IN GREENWICH,” has just been released on dvd by COLUMBIA TRISTAR.  While certainly far from perfect, there’s enough going for this film to recommend it.  An “unsolved” murder within the powerful elite of a rich American suburb, is exactly the kind of material that would make Dominic Dunne salivate, but it’s Fuhrman who actually put the time and energy forward, coming up with enough circumstantial evidence to support his theory of the guilty party, one of the sons of the rich and influential neighbors, the Skakels. 

15 year old Martha Moxley’s body was found, having been brutally bludgeoned, apparently by a golf club, in the backyard of her family’s sprawling estate.  After much stonewalling by the suspect’s family, the case was left “unsolved” for over twenty years, until Mark Fuhrman began to conduct his own investigation. 

Christopher Meloni does a decent job as Fuhrman, but for those disliking the Detective, “MURDER IN GREENWICH,” is less about Fuhrman than it is the actual case, a rather strong one, against Michael Skakel. 

The one flaw, which persists throughout the film, but failing to ruin it, lies in the hokey narrative device created by the writer.  It’s Martha Moxley’s voice, from the grave, narrating events as they unfold.  While some will undoubtedly be moved by it, it gives a decent drama, a heavy-handed atmosphere that’s completely unnecessary. 

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has preserved the film’s original broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1.  It’s a sharp transfer, actually looking more vibrant than in its original airing.  Colors are solid and contrast is excellent, in spite of some minor grain.  Fleshtones appear natural. 

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has presented a Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround mix for this release.  Being a dialogue-driven film, surrounds are restrained, but there’s ample use of separation in the front soundstage.  The music, capturing the various time periods of the story, is well complimented with a wide range of fidelity. Dialogue is always intelligible and free from distortion.