Best known as the production house behind the long running reality program COPS, Langley Productions is one of the U.S.’s premiere independent non-fiction production companies.
Originally founded in 1983 as Barbour-Langley Productions, the company produced the award-winning documentary feature COCAINE BLUES. The critical success of Cocaine Blues lead to a series of highly rated specials for network and first-run syndication, including the live Geraldo Rivera programs AMERICAN VICE, INNOCENCE LOST, SONS OF SCARFACE, DEVIL WORSHIP, MURDER: LIVE FROM DEATH ROW and MODERN LOVE and the AMERICAN EXPOSE series of specials with Jack Anderson, including WHO KILLED JFK? and TARGET USA, an inside look at terrorism.
In 1988, after years of rejection, Langley finally found a home for COPS on the newly launched Fox Broadcasting network. The long-running “reality” program was truly groundbreaking at the time, and pioneered the often-emulated video verite technique. Other documentary-style projects soon followed including improv comedy series NIGHT PROWLERS and real life rescue series CODE 3.
Following his partner’s retirement in 1995, John Langley quickly expanded the company into multiple media enterprises:
• Langley Productions would continue creating and producing non-fiction and scripted television series and specials, including true crime series COP FILES hosted by Richard Roundtree, 26 documentaries under the ANATOMY OF CRIME umbrella, clip-driven series VIDEO JUSTICE, and the verite style JAIL.
• Langley Films was established to produce independent theatrical motion pictures. Films produced include TIPTOES, starring Matthew McConaughey, Kate Beckinsale, Gary Oldman and Patricia Arquette; WILD SIDE, with Anne Heche, Christopher Walken and Joan Chen; SEARCH & DESTROY with Martin Scorcese as executive producer and DOGWATCH, starring Sam Elliott, Esai Morales and Paul Sorvino, directed by John Langley.
• Real Entertainment was launched as a new media company and direct-to-video producer and distributor. The company was a pioneer in the early days of “transactional” television and released over 40 home video titles including the successful “Too Hot for TV” series.
