Dragnet 1966

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 powerful 1966 "Dragnet" flick marked the return of Sgt. Joe Friday to the screen (though Friday was a Lieutenant in the last black-and-white episode). This time Friday is teamed with Officer Bill Gannon played by Harry Morgan. The episode, involving young ladies murdered by a photographer, is tense and gut-wrenching. It is finely directed and features the best, most realistic performances of any 1960s episode. It received very high ratings when it was finally broadcast in 1969, after a very successful season in which the show returned to the top twenty in the Nielsen ratings for the first time since the 1950s.

Fans of this new version of "Dragnet" may be very interested to know that Jack Webb and Harry Morgan had appeared together in two film-noir movies before doing this show. The first was "Appointment with Danger," filmed in 1949, in which the two play killers and Jack Webb's character, coincidentally named Joe, kills Harry Morgan's character by smashing his head with bronze shoes. The other movie was "Dark City," filmed in 1950, in which the two play gambling cronies and constantly get on each other's nerves.

In this "Dragnet" show they don't get on each other's nerves, and, with some of the most clever investigation Joe Friday ever does (the candy bar wrapper scene and the lured confession), the two get their guy.

I have always been a big "Dragnet" fan and this was filmed in 1966 as a television movie but did not air until 1969. The reason was that the network liked it so much that instead of airing it they decided to just make another series with Jack Webb. This is a story that was filmed before in an earlier film and its based on a true story (Of course). Some lunatic (Vic Perrin) has been kidnapping women and as the investigation continues another case was solved. This film starts out with Joe Friday being called off of vacation and being teamed for the first time with Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan). They follow some clues and when a body pops up in a hotel they think it might be connected to the case. Well it isn't, but they track down the two lowlifes who did it and solve that one along the way. This was a more serious case than some of the usual episodes that the TV show aired. At one point in the film Friday actually has to use force to subdue the man they have been tracking down. As far as I know and remember, its the only time I have seen Joe Friday use physical force. The usual "Dragnet" performers that Webb likes to use are on hand here. Along with Perrin they're is Virginia Gregg and in a small role future "Adam 12" star Kent McCord plays a hotel clerk. For those who like trivia, at one point in this film Friday mentions that he had a partner named Smith. And later on the actor Herb Ellis has a small role and he actually played Frank Smith in the first "Dragnet". Also, Webb and Morgan had acted with each other before in two other films so this was the third time they had worked together. Obviously they had become friends because Webb liked working with the same people as it made him comfortable. I personally like the way Webb plays Friday. He is so by the book that he becomes a cliche' and thats part of the fun and charm of these shows. You might want to notice that when Friday walks he doesn't move his arms! I can't get enough of it! Webb milked this character for his entire career and he was right. To bad he didn't make more "Dragnet" films. This was enjoyable.

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.

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.