La cover-girl a disparu

Seven years had elapsed since the end of the original incarnation of Dragnet, and the show's popularity in syndication helped persuade Jack Webb to film this 1966 telemovie, which became the basis for the full-time return of Joe Friday to duty as telefilmdom's most famous working detective for the LAPD, this despite the fact the actual Richard Breen-scripted telefilm was kept in the can until 1969.

Dragnet 1966 alludes to the 1950s series when Joe mentions having a previous partner named Smith. This is a nice touch that helps bridge the two decades of Joe's detective duty together, though it does raise the question of why Friday, who'd been promoted to lieutenant, was reassigned as a sergeant. In any event, Joe's return to duty is welcome, and his interplay with new partner Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan) and the other detectives of LAPD's Homicide Division (later merged into the Robbery Division) remains engaging.

Friday is recalled to duty from a vacation by the visit of Russian VIPs, but that lasts all of two minutes before Homicide chief Captain Hugh Brown (a miscast Gene Evans; Art Balinger normally played Hugh Brown but is curiously cast as another officer here) assigns Friday and Gannon to help with the tracking of three missing young models.

As with Breen's previous Dragnet film, we see in the prologue the actual commission of the crime - the three girls are bound and gagged, their suffering filmed and photographed by the perp responsible. Unlike the 1954 Dragnet, however, here we do not see the face of the killer, though his rear profile gives us an indelible image nonetheless. Friday and Gannon get a name - J. Johnson - who'd been dating one of the missing models and had seen her at a ritzy dating service run by a sometimes-intemperate woman, Eve Kruger (veteran Dragnet actress Virginia Gregg), whose description of the man is at variance with that given by the missing woman's brother.

Friday and Gannon get what looks like a break when a body matching J. Johnson's description is found in a rundown out of the way area, brutalized and shot. A book of matches on the body helps identify the body and leads the two officers to the man's brother and the man's young son - this is among the most gut-wrenching scenes in the entire Dragnet series; making it all the more powerful, the dead man's young son sings Way Down Upon The Swanee River - in French! Such mildly comedic touches are common to the color Dragnets and help humanize the characters more.

Joe and Bill find the two men responsible - one is played by Herb Ellis, the original Officer Frank Smith of the Dragnet series in 1952 before being replaced by Ben Alexander in 1953; Friday also "pulls dropsy" in a sense; he tricks the perps into copping out to the crime - but after apprehending the two perps the original J. Johnson strikes again.

But as Friday laments the lack of a good clue to J. Johnson's identity, he promptly finds a good clue - one so good it leads to a cliffside confrontation amid driving rain between a small batallion of LAPD squad cars and the real killer, who has his latest victim hostage in a trailer he intends to push over the cliff - which can give way any minute in the downpour - if the cops don't amscray in five minutes.

Another link between Dragnets 1950s and '60s comes near the end - as in the 1954 movie, a toolbox proves instrumental in wrapping up the murder case, containing as it does all the evidence needed to pin the crime on the right man.

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.

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.

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.