Polizeibericht: Fall Johnson aufgeklärt

This TV-Movie hasn't been seen in decades,until recently when cable's AMC brought it back,and to me this was the resurrection of one of the best cop shows of all time,and it also marked the return of the straight-laced tough as nails police sergeant Joe Friday,brilliantly portrayed by the great Jack Webb. On this new version of "Dragnet",it had the same situations and all,but this time around it was shot in gorgeous Technicolor,and it would serve as the format for the new versions to the color version of the "Dragnet" series,which ran for three seasons on NBC-TV from 1967-1970. As for the Made For-TV Movie,this was written by the same writer,Richard Breen,who was the screenwriter for the 1954 theatrical version of "Dragnet"....this was the film antidote to the theatrical production,when starred Jack Webb and Ben Alexander and Richard Boone,but this time around it would be made for television,titled "Dragnet:1966",produced and directed by Jack Webb under his production company,Mark VII Productions and under the powers that be at Universal Television which was made in 1966,but NBC,the network that ran the series,didn't showed it until 1969. In other words,Webb's production shot this TV-Movie around the sights of Los Angeles and around the backlot of Universal Studios in Universal City,California. Trivia: Jack Webb's production offices for Mark VII were on the private lot of Universal Studios where several of Webb's shows were created including "Adam-12",and "Emergency".

This was indeed the best "Dragnet" that Jack Webb ever did,and for those who wants to know why Webb's "Dragnet" was so successful,THIS is the film to see and even after years out of circulation it remains to stake the claim that "Dragnet" remains to be one of the greatest cop shows of all time. This time around,Friday is teamed up with a new partner,Officer Bill Gannon,played by Harry Morgan,and this time around it pits Friday against one of the toughest cases he ever had. Sgt. Friday and Officer Gannon goes after a killer pervert who is a sex deviant who photographs young,inexperienced models before he rapes them and kills them,leaving behind a trail of clues and facts. As they close in on the killer pervert,they got their hands full on another case,instead its another murder;that of a jewelry salesman from France who bears a striking resemblance to their suspect. The plot is so gripping and well-acted,not to mention directed by Webb,the cameras doesn't hold no punches as they deal with the unexpected and closing in on the killer. One of the greatest moments comes when Friday consoles the young son of a murdered jewelry salesmen in one of the most emotional "Dragnet" ever produced. Its a rarely that Webb displays emotion here,and its ONLY in the TV-Movie that you see this with such grace. The dialogue is true-to-life,and so the supporting characters-even the only who provide the comedical support,and since this is highly charged-drama,its no wonder that after all these years,"Dragnet" has stood the test the time.

FACTOID:When NBC Executives saw this,they wanted Jack Webb back on the job,full time as Joe Friday.

Question: When will this be available to the public on DVD or Video? True devoted fans of this landmark series would love to know.

Although it's written by the same writer as "Dragnet" (1954), this film is the antidote to the theatrical production, and the best "Dragnet" Jack Webb ever did.

The actual case had occurred in the late 1950's, and had been worked by then-Sgt. Pierce Brooks, who served as technical consultant. (Wambaugh's "The Onion Field" was also a Brooks case.) A sex deviant photographs young, inexperienced models before raping and murdering them. Sgt. Friday and Officer Gannon try to find the killer pervert, and in the process they solve ANOTHER murder; that of a jewelry salesman from France who bears a striking resemblance to their suspect. The plot is gripping and (of course) well acted and directed. A great moment comes when Friday consoles the young son of the murdered jewelry salesman. It's a rare display of emotion for the "cop's cop." The dialogue is true-to-life, and so are the supporting characters - even the ones clearly played for laughs.

For anyone who wants to know why Webb's "Dragnet" was so successful, THIS is the film to see.

FACTOID: The film aired in 1969, but was actually shot in 1966. It wasn't intended as a pilot for a new series, but when NBC saw it, they wanted Webb back as Friday full time.

I'd never heard of this made-for-TV film and was fortunate enough to catch a broadcast on TV and I must say, it was very well done! I've been a fan of the 60s/70s series with Webb and Morgan and this is very much along the same vein, but better in that it's expanded and more in depth than the usual 30 minute episodes could ever be. I'd definitely say if you were or are a fan of the 60s/70s series, this is a film you'd enjoy. Many of the usual familiar faces are included in this film and it's a lot like revisiting old friends. Worth a look-see!

This 1966 film was a pilot that starred Jack Webb and Harry Morgan made as a pilot to relaunch Webb's classic Dragnet series for network TV. One thing with Jack Webb and Dragnet you know exactly what you are getting.

The only addition is color. Joe Friday got a new partner in Bill Gannon played by Harry Morgan. Ben Alexander who was the partner on the original Dragnet was doing another police series called Felony Squad. Morgan fitted nicely into the role of the talkative partner with Webb maintaining the strong silent persona.

Webb and Morgan work two cases the death of a French tourist and the missing, presumed dead case of four women answering an ad for models.

There is one very well staged confrontation scene with suspect Vic Perrin during a driving rainstorm and a potential mudslide. Not usual for the TV series.

Nicely done police drama.

However Jack Webb stretched the truth a wee bit with this one. The story is based on the case of Harry Glatman who murdered 2 aspiring models and one woman he met through a lonely hearts club over the course of 1957-58. The police weren't hot on his trail and were just working it as a missing persons case. Nor was he cornered on a rainy hillside with his 4th victim inside a trailer. Instead, he got into a struggle with his 4th intended victim on the side of a Orange County highway and was arrested after a passing CHP motorman, on his way home, stopped to investigate. Glatman confessed to the 3 murders and Orange County notified the LAPD since 2 of the victims were from LA and Sgt.Pierce Brooks was assigned the case to clean up their end. Still it's a pretty good Dragnet episode.