''Dragnet'' is an American crime drama television series starring

Jack Webb John Randolph Webb (April 2, 1920 – December 23, 1982) was an American actor, television producer, Television director, director, and screenwriter, most famous for his role as Joe Friday in the Dragnet (franchise), ''Dragnet'' franchise ...

and Harry Morgan which ran for four seasons, from January 12, 1967, to April 16, 1970. To differentiate it from the earlier 1950s '' Dragnet'' television series, the year in which each season ended was made part of the on-screen title—the series started as ''Dragnet 1967'' and ended as ''Dragnet 1970''. The entire series aired Thursdays at 9:30–10:00 pm (EST) and was directed by Jack Webb. All four seasons of this series have been released on

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...

; Season 1 ("Dragnet 1967") by Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and seasons 2 ("1968"), 3 ("1969") and 4 ("1970") by Shout! Factory. This was the second television series in a ''Dragnet'' media franchise encompassing film, television, books and comics. It has the distinction of being one of the first examples of a discontinued American TV series being revived years later with some original cast members.

Cast

as Sgt. Joe Friday * Harry Morgan as Officer Bill Gannon *Other cast members included Don Ross, Olan Soule, Marco Lopez, Herb Vigran, Clark Howat, Art Balinger, Alfred Shelly, Art Gilmore, Ralph Moody,

Virginia Gregg Virginia Lee Gregg (March 6, 1916 – September 15, 1986) was an American actress known for her many roles in radio dramas and television series. Early life Born in Harrisburg, Illinois, she was the daughter of musician Dewey Alphaleta (née T ...

, Ed Deemer, Howard Culver, Bert Holland, Don Stewart, Bobby Troup, Emily Banks, Len Wayland, William Boyett, Stacy Harris, Stuart Nisbet, Kent McCord, Robert Brubaker, Harry Bartell, Jill Banner, Robert Patten, Sidney Clute, Anthony Eisley, Virginia Vincent, Don Dubbins, James McEachin, Peggy Webber, and Vic Perrin playing different roles.

Series overview

Typically, each episode begins with

stock footage Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures, and file footage is film or video footage that can be used again in other films. Stock footage is beneficial to filmmakers as it saves shooting new material. A single piece of stock ...

of Los Angeles over Sgt. Joe Friday's introduction, "This is the city." Friday then specifies the day and time with a description of the watch, or shift, he and Gannon are working. The two investigate each case that arises with Friday, usually, the lead investigator. Although always polite and professional, Friday's manner of questioning witnesses, or suspects, is terse, clipped and rigid, resulting in rapid dialogue. If a witness begins providing irrelevant details, Friday often responds, "Ma’am (Sir), we just want to get the facts." At the end of each episode, the legal fate of the arrested suspects is revealed. Friday and Gannon are rarely shown outside their professional relationship. Gannon occasionally refers to his wife and family; and, sometimes encourages Friday, who is single, to have more of a social life.

TV movie

In 1965 Jack Webb was approached by

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

to produce a ''Dragnet''

television movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

to air on NBC. NBC programming director Mort Werner was impressed with the film and decided there was more value in developing ''Dragnet'' as a weekly TV series. Webb was more interested in continuing the franchise with TV movies, but ultimately agreed. The movie would not be released until January 27, 1969 (midway through the third season of the TV series) on ''

The NBC Monday Movie ''The NBC Monday Movie'' was a television anthology series of films that debuted on February 4, 1963 (in the middle of the 1962-63 season). It was referred to as ''Monday Night at the Movies'' prior to the mid-1980s. Contrary to popular contem ...

'', with the promotional title ''World Premiere: Dragnet.'' The working title in the film's script was ''Dragnet 1966'', although the official title is simply ''Dragnet''. The movie is commonly referred to as ''Dragnet 1966'' to distinguish it from other works in the franchise. This movie is included as an extra in the ''Dragnet 1968'' DVD set.Dragnet 1968 DVD info
at Retroist.com

Episodes

Season 1 (''Dragnet 1967'')

Season 2 (''Dragnet 1968'')

Season 3 (''Dragnet 1969'')

Season 4 (''Dragnet 1970'')

References

* *

External links

Badge 714.com, Dragnet fan site
(Archive copy) *

(archive copy) {{Dragnet Dragnet (franchise) television series 1960s American crime drama television series 1960s American police procedural television series 1967 American television series debuts 1970 American television series endings 1970s American crime drama television series 1970s American police procedural television series American sequel television series American English-language television shows Fictional portrayals of the Los Angeles Police Department Television series based on radio series Television shows set in Los Angeles NBC crime dramas