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Dragnet

The precursor to today's abundance of quality crime dramas, "Dragnet" has secured a solid place in television (and radio) history. One of "Dragnet"'s most enduring imprints is the theme song, with its signature "dum de dum dum."

Jack Webb, who starred as Joe Friday, also wrote many of the scripts, commonly basing them on actual L.A. Police Department cases with enough details changed to make them barely recognizable. Similar to today's "Law & Order," details of the characters' personal lives were revealed sparsely, although Friday never hesitated to let anyone know exactly what he thought. (full profile available at Mysteries on TV.)

A lot of shows go for the easy laugh or action scenes. "Dragnet" actually had a very real moral lesson, especially in certain episodes. It wasn't just the crime doesn't pay bull, but some hard calls. Several shows dealt with teenage drugs and related crime. Joe came down pretty heavy on parental responsibilities. There was no supercop, but emphasis on the heroism in the routine and the fact that cops are human.

What did you like about the show? What do you remember most about it? Post your comments about "Dragnet" by entering them in the box at the bottom of the page and clicking "Post Message."

(46 previous messages)

II. JOHN COOPER - 03:41pm Jan 20, 2004 PST(#47 of 56)

Hi Y'all, I dig that wild 1966-67 FORD FAIRLANE 500 4-DOOR SEDAN driven by OFFICER GANNON in the 1967-70 version of "DRAGNET" & I wish to inform you that my cousin TOM "MAC" McMILLAN (as in "McMILLAN & WIFE") is working an entire series of police type screenplays with movie theatre potential in he plans to move BILL GANNON from the rank of officer to Commissioner! Among the script ideas is a theatrical screenplay version of the JACK WEBB book entitled "THE BADGE". It's mostly stories from the L.A.P.D. files which are so graphic on a violent type level that he did not dare turn them into DRAGNET episodes in the 1950'S. Ofcourse, he plans to bring in SONNY SHROYER to recreate SHROYER'S role of ENOS STRATE from "THE DUKES OF HAZZARD" in the rank of inspector from the Detective Headquarters Division. More details to follow at a later date in time! Over & Out for now.

jack noyes - 03:08am Aug 26, 2004 PST(#48 of 56)

Hey everyone...

Jack Noyes here at KNBC TV in Burbank California.

I'm doing some research regarding Dragnet.

Does anyone happen to know what episode went in depth on Parker Center (LAPD headquarters)?

Thanks,

Jack Noyes 818.840.4321

Jeandiata - 03:58pm Aug 26, 2004 PST(#49 of 56)
It's time to try defying gravity

Try reading through the info at tvtome.com

Without more info - it could be several of them.

Patrick Briddon - 01:29am Aug 29, 2004 PST(#50 of 56)

I'm sorry that this is an elementary question to ask of Crime and Mystery enthusiasts but I need to know for certain who first used the catch phrase 'Just the facts, Ma'am'. Am I right in thinking that this was Joe Friday in Dragnet. Many thanks for anyone's reply.

D vanwinkle - 12:38pm Sep 18, 2004 PST(#51 of 56)

does any one know which episode featured a fight scene, with jack webb and ben alexander. Thanks.

keith adams - 06:19am Nov 6, 2004 PST(#52 of 56)

I am doing research for faculty here at Seton Hall University regarding the Prisoner's Dilemma game theory concept (example: http://www.open2.net/trust/dilemma/dilemma_game.htm) as represented in film and tv. Some elements of Dragnet would be perfect, mainly interrogation scenes...More specifically, scenes with two suspects that Friday and Gannon are trying to get to confess...Any ideas?

Thanks for the help!

george pollard - 01:16pm Nov 18, 2004 PST(#53 of 56)

Am researching the background of "Sgt. Joe Friday" for an article.

Does anyone have any idea where I mind relevant information.

In the original radio and tv versions, it's implied, more than once, that he lives with his mother; later he lives alone in the house where he grew up. Also in the original runs, he was a university graduate; someone thought in Sociology. In the Ed O'Neil version, I believe he had a degree in Philosophy.

I note these examples only to provide a sense of what I'm after.

Thanks in advance.

R. Snyder - 12:14pm Feb 21, 2005 PST(#54 of 56)

I teach a communications class. I'm attempting to locate the episode in where an officer is accused of being rude and unprofessional. Several civilians came to the station house to spek with Sgt/Lt Friday about the officer. Any ideas??

Hippie Chick - 02:40pm Mar 18, 2005 PST(#55 of 56)

God, I loved that show!

Carol Meyer - 12:51am Feb 2, 2006 PST(#56 of 56)

I just watched 2 episodes of DRAGNET. THE BIG BETTY (9-24-53)& BIG THIEF (12-17-53)Of interest to note: In BIG BETTY Gloria Saunders played the villainess, and then in BIG THIEF she played the villainess again. Also, in BIG BETTY a member of Gloria Saunders'gang was played by Robert Clarke, and then in BIG THIEF he also played the hotel clerk. (name not in credits for this episode). Does this happens in many episodes? Seem odd.