Dixon of Dock Green

PC George Dixon died just 21 minutes into the film _The Blue Lamp (1950)_ (qv). When filler was needed after a season of _"Fabian of the Yard" (1954)_ (qv) ended 'Ted Willis' (qv) wrote six scripts with PC Dixon back in Dock Green. The series was steady, authentic, and even down to checking that: a) The helmet is kept on when entering a house, but b) is, out of courtesy, when addressing elderly ladies, and c) is removed and held neatly under the right arm when addressing a bishop. [not sure how many bishops where in the programme though] At a time when New York City would see more murders inn a week than Great Britain would in a year it is not surprising that Dock Green was a series of low-level crimes. A gentle series which meant George Dixon's promotion to sergeant in 1964 was a big change , caused in part by 'Jack Warner' (qv)'s arthritis and by his age . (70-year-old coppers don't walk the beat). This allowed the younger characters to come to the fore, although the violent crime rate was never increased just to keep ratings share. Jack's age and arthritis meant his character rarely left the station, and in the final seasons, rarely came from behind his desk. In 1976 the newer, more violent, cop shows won, and Dock Green Station finally closed its doors. Still, 21 minutes to 21 years isn't bad. Evenin' all

"Evening All." Dixon of Dock Green-which ran for 21 years and about 429 episodes-was a fine show about a salt of the earth copper called P.C. George Dixon who was played by Jack Warner. He looked far to old to be a police officer but that didn't matter to me.

I believe this is the longest running British police show ever (although that record may be beaten by The Bill in a few years time). It was entertaining stuff and I wish someone would release it onto DVD.

Watching the show now, you may think Dixon is an old fashioned relic but back when this show was broadcast, that is the way coppers were. The police has evolved since then but I will always have a place in my heart for P.C. Dixon.

P.C. Dixon was a good copper-he was honest, he was firm but fair when doing his job and he was a friendly local bobby. The stories were extremely interesting as was the dialogue. And the ending of the episodes were good as Dixon stood beneath the police stations lamp giving his thoughts for the day before walking off and whistling.

Eventually, Dixon was promoted to Desk Sergeant and the younger officers did the legwork but the stories were still top-notch.

This is probably the best representation of the police force in TV history and I urge anyone to try and get their hands on any of the episodes. It really was good.

The most beloved of British serials that ran for 430 episodes for an entire generation - and no-one appears to have thought this worth commenting on! No series before or since has generated the viewer affection that PC George Dixon managed.

An extension of the tremendously popular Basil Dearden film of 1950 entitled THE BLUE LAMP, brit actor Jack Warner was so typecast in this role, he received truck-loads of fan-mail for almost twenty years addressed simply to "PC Dixon." He was loved and idolised by millions right up until his death from pneumonia in 1981.

I remember clearly the first episode in 1955, it was just one week after we got television...a tiny 12" screen in grainy black and white! I watched that show all my childhood. I grew up with the characters in it, yet PC Dixon NEVER changed. The epitome of one's concept of British dignity and decency, PC Dixon had a heart bigger than any. Selfless, tireless, incorruptible and representing pretty much everything that modern society has rid itself of, the stalwart of fictional Dock Green Police Station rode his bike from adventure to adventure. No smart comments, no punch-ups, bad language ANYTHING vaguely indelicate. Yet you KNEW after each episode that crime really does not pay and that we all had a choice in life.

I wish more than anything that I could meet PC Dixon today. He alone could re-establish my childhood beliefs and dreams.

I appeared in the 1973 episode "Eye Witness". Chatting inbetween takes with him Jack Warner told me that Raymond Burr (Perry Mason, Ironside) visited BBC Tv Centre at Shepherds Bush in the early 1970's and while there insisted on meeting Jack due to the fact that at the time Dixon of Dock Green was the longest running police drama in the world. Respect! Jack Warner was a real gentleman. He was also a brilliant snooker player for his age and I remember being surprised at losing to him This particular episode is of interest in that it features a speedboat chase, a car chase, a helicopter and a light aircraft all in the same story at a time when the likes of Miami Vice hadn't even been thought of!

I've watched the available episodes, and enjoyed them all, what I did enjoy, was the progression of it, the early ones seem so much more gentle, the crimes reflect the era, in the 70's episodes, time has changed, so has society, and ultimately so did the crimes, the episodes from what I saw, got a little more gritty, with Warner perhaps a little less visible. Compared to The Sweeney and The Professionals though, it was so much milder.

I must commend the acting of Jack Warner, absolutely brilliant throughout, what a talented actor, it's no wonder millions tuned in to watch him. The supporting cast each play their part, an array of well known faces appeared. I loved Dixon's addresses to the camera, I wonder if people did actually take note of the messages, the one that stood out, was a message about allowing strangers into your home.

This must be one of the earliest Police crime dramas, it's certainly one of the longest running. I wish all remaining episodes would get a DVD release. It's a shame they haven't made all on hand commercially available.

The Doctor Who fan in me is eternally sad that so many episodes (97) are missing, however when you dig into the history of this show, and realise that 400 of the 432 are missing, that is heart breaking. We can only hope one day that more are found, sadly it seems the earliest are lost to history.

I can understand why it's so loved by fans, I thoroughly enjoyed the episodes I've seen, 8/10.