The discovery of skeletal remains on Roosevelt Island leads to a new trial for a former Wall Steet junk bond broker now serving time in the victim's murder. The defendant chooses to act as h... Read allThe discovery of skeletal remains on Roosevelt Island leads to a new trial for a former Wall Steet junk bond broker now serving time in the victim's murder. The defendant chooses to act as his own counsel.The discovery of skeletal remains on Roosevelt Island leads to a new trial for a former Wall Steet junk bond broker now serving time in the victim's murder. The defendant chooses to act as his own counsel.
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- Dr. Elizabeth Olivet
- (credit only)
- Phillip Swann
- (as Željko Ivanek)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on the 1984 Ron Levin murder case. In 1984, Joseph Henry Gamsky, also known as "Joe Hunt," was believed to have murdered Ron Levin, a con artist who had allegedly swindled Hunt and other members of the Billionaire Boys Club (BBC) out of over $4 million. The plot of this episode even includes a scene of Swann's making a note in his planner to commit the murder, just as Joe Hunt had penned "Kill Ron Levin" in his daily agenda. In 1987, Hunt was found guilty of the murder of Levin and was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Hunt remains in prison but has maintained his innocence. (The Hunt-Levin case was also the subject of a 1980s telemovie, Billionaire Boys Club (1987))
- GoofsLogan says that they found a surgical pin in the victim's knee but that the pin was generic and there was no way it could help them trace the identity of the body. All implantable medical hardware, even something as small as a pin, screw, plate or a rod have serial numbers on them that identify the name of the patient and also the name of the surgeon/doctor that implanted it.
- Quotes
Ben Stone: I guess you just weren't clever enough.
Phillip Swann: I got this far, Ben.
Ben Stone: A lot of effort to wind up right back where you started. And in polite society, Sir, you don't call people by their first name unless they ask you to - I didn't do that. You're not a friend, and you're certainly not a colleague.
- ConnectionsReferences Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
It turned out to be more than good. Would actually go as far to call "American Dream" amazing. Not just one of the top 3 best episodes of Season 4, but also an early season standout. One of Stone's best episodes, that saw him shining even more so than usual, too and with one of his most fascinating and creepiest opponents. The episode also is a masterpiece of character interaction, which is great as that is one of the biggest pleasures of the 'Law and Order' franchise at its best.
"American Dream" is a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started (never was it a problem but it got more fluid with each episode up to this stage). The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole.
The script is full of tension, intelligence and tautness. Swann has some truly chilling lines and the exchanges between him and Stone leave a big impression in the dialogue and in the delivery. As said too the episode is masterful when it comes to how the characters interact. Not just Stone and Swann but also Stone and Kincaid, which was getting stronger and stronger all the time (likewise with Kincaid herself). Schiff's concern and amazement at how such a strong person like Stone was so easily gotten to is also telling.
Furthermore, the story is extremely clever and absorbing, with tension galore and some clever references to real life cases. Helped by the huge impression Swann leaves, giving Stone a run for his money on the juiciness factor. It never comes over as too easy to solve, neither does it become over-plotted or incoherent and also appreciated its change of pace (from highlighting mostly two characters and being less of a half-police half-legal story and instead being procedural heavy). The ending satisfies immensely, in fact to me the story was so good that for me it was easy to forgive how contrived one of the big clues is.
Can't fault the performances either. Michael Moriarty gives one of his ever performances of the role, the intensity, authority and torment beautifully balanced and riveting to watch. The other standout is Zeljko Ivanek, bone chilling in one of Season 4's (and early seasons) standout guest turns that is also classic 'Law and Order'.
In summary, amazing and a top 3 best episode of the season. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 16, 2020