Dragnet (1967 TV series)

Cast

• Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday
• Harry Morgan as Officer Bill Gannon

Actors playing multiple roles during the series run include Don Ross, Olan Soule, Marco Lopez, Herb Vigran, Clark Howat, Art Balinger, Alfred Shelly, Art Gilmore, Ralph Moody, Virginia Gregg, Ed Deemer, Howard Culver, Bert Holland, Don Stewart, Bobby Troup, Len Wayland, William Boyett, Stacy Harris, Stuart Nisbet, Kent McCord, Robert Brubaker, Harry Bartell, Jill Banner, Robert Patten, Sidney Clute, Anthony Eisley, Virginia Vincent, Don Dubbins, James McEachin, Peggy Webber, Jack Sheldon, and Vic Perrin.

Series overview

Typically, each episode begins with stock footage of Los Angeles over Sgt. Joe Friday's introduction, "This is the city." Friday then specifies the day and time with a description of the watch, or shift, he and Gannon are working. The two investigate each case that arises with Friday, usually, the lead investigator. Although always polite and professional, Friday's manner of questioning witnesses, or suspects, is terse, clipped and rigid, resulting in rapid dialogue. If a witness begins providing irrelevant details, Friday often responds, "Ma’am (Sir), we just want to get the facts." At the end of each episode, the legal fate of the arrested suspects is revealed. Friday and Gannon are rarely shown outside their professional relationship. Gannon occasionally refers to his wife, Eileen, and family; and, sometimes encourages Friday, who is single, to have more of a social life. In a rare departure from the crime drama, a 1968 episode titled "Homicide: DR-06," depicts Friday inviting the Gannons to his apartment for a steak dinner, only to have the evening constantly interrupted by other tenants seeking Friday's assistance.

TV movie

In 1965 Jack Webb was approached by Universal Pictures to produce a Dragnet television movie to air on NBC. NBC programming director Mort Werner was impressed with the film and decided there was more value in developing Dragnet as a weekly TV series. Webb was more interested in continuing the franchise with TV movies, but ultimately agreed. The movie would not be released until January 27, 1969 (midway through the third season of the TV series) on The NBC Monday Movie, with the promotional title World Premiere: Dragnet.

The working title in the film's script was Dragnet 1966, although the official title is simply Dragnet. The movie is commonly referred to as Dragnet 1966 to distinguish it from other works in the franchise. This movie is included as an extra in the Dragnet 1968 DVD set.

Episodes

All episodes of the series were directed by Jack Webb.

Season 1 (''Dragnet 1967'')

Main article: Dragnet (1967 series) (season 1)

Season 2 (''Dragnet 1968'')

Main article: Dragnet (1967 series) (season 2)

Season 3 (''Dragnet 1969'')

Main article: Dragnet (1967 series) (season 3)

Season 4 (''Dragnet 1970'')

Main article: Dragnet (1967 series) (season 4)

References

References

1. ''[http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shows/Dragnet-1967/1261 Dragnet (1967)] {{webarchive. link. (2011-04-12 '' at [[TVShowsOnDVD.com]])
2. Reinstein, Mara. (August 13, 2023). "The Greatest TV Cops of All Time". [[Parade (magazine).
3. (2001). "My Name's Friday: The Unauthorized but True Story of Dragnet and the Films of Jack Webb". Cumberland House.
4. (1969-01-24). "Television, Theater, Cinema, Books: Jan. 27, 1969".
5. "Dragnet (1966)".
6. {{IMDb title. 0064257. Dragnet 1966
7. [http://www.retroist.com/2010/05/27/dragnet-1968-season-2-arrives-on-dvd-july-6/ Dragnet 1968 DVD info] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-04-01 at Retroist.com)