Dragnet 1966 (1969 TV Movie) User Reviews

Joe Friday Returns To Duty To Help Track Killers

[stp43 · 8/10 · 28 January 2003]

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.

Fans of the Series Will Enjoy This Effort

[ClassixFan · 8/10 · 19 February 2003]

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!

Just the facts, Ma'am!

[rosscinema · 7/10 · 28 April 2003]

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.

The Best "Dragnet" EVER

[Michael-202 · 28 June 1999]

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.

Dragnet 1966: The Pilot Movie

[Scarecrow-88 · 8/10 · 18 November 2011]

Sgt Joe Friday (Jack Webb) is on vacation, just dropping by the station to check his mail, and is subsequently placed back on duty with three days still left. He is to partner with Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan), set to retire because he failed his physical, working a "missing girls" case, where three beautiful models had been kidnapped and presumed as possibly deceased. This case—the basis for the 60s reprisal of Jack Webb's celebrated cop show "Dragnet"—is as grueling as Friday has worked, the evidence is non-existent, eye witnesses of the man responsible for these abductions often hinder them (such as the insufferable, extremely difficult, practically uncooperative Mrs. Kruger (Virginia Gregg, whose character is a cipher), proprietor of a "lonely hearts club", matching "Adams and Eves" together, whose establishment might have been used by the suspect), and leads often come up either short or entail further difficulties (the man used an alias of "J. Johnson", provides the lonely hearts club with a false address, and didn't provide a phone number). A composite drawing by a police sketch artist (one from a brother of a missing girl, the other probably a dud by Kruger who wants the cops to quit "harassing" her (she's more concerned with the welfare of her business than of female abduction victims)) is the first real assistance Friday and Gannon have at their disposal, as the pursuit of their kidnapper/killer winds up sending them into another completely different case even! The composite drawing is similar to a man named Leborg, from France, who has a child and fits the description, but this might just be coincidence, a coincidence that could actually lead to Friday and Gannon solving a second crime they weren't even assigned to. There's even a third case that might be associated with the one Friday and Gannon are working, but a tattoo with a rose doesn't seem to fit the mold of their suspect. That's the point of this pilot movie: to have Friday and Gannon often on a wild goose chase because the evidence and facts give them little to go on because the psychopath (he has camera equipment, a detail from the brother of the kidnapped sister gives the police) covers his tracks well. Amazing that at their most desperate, Friday can find a break through candy wrappers and a receipt! If you love the Dragnet series (either the 50s or 60s incarnations), I imagine this pilot movie will be right up your alley. Anyone familiar with Law & Order can relate to this series as Webb used many actors/actresses over and over again in other parts throughout the 60s reprisal of his hit 50s show, such as Bobby Troup, Virginia Gregg, and Vic Perrin (particularly memorable as the creep our heroes are out to catch, showcasing his ability to get under the skin at the end). Disturbing photos are revealed (bound and gagged women, pics taken right before the cretin killed them) and the show does provide subtle hints as to the deranged nature of such lurid crimes; that "race against time" attitude to get this scumbag off the streets is applied and we see the tough toll this case has on our detectives. Because this show, as so many we see on our televisions today, is so dedicated to presenting details and procedures in a realistic way, I think Dragnet stands the test of time, touching on themes that continue unto this day. Probably the most memorable scene (other than a depressing scene where a murdered man's son must be told his father's dead, the child hugging a saddened Friday), could be when Friday and Gannon must go to a lonely hearts club gathering to ask clients about J. Johnson...clearly an uncomfortable mission that must be done.

Great pursuit scene

[vtcism1 · 9/10 · 6 May 2007]

This is a typical Jack Webb movie, with most of his quirks in it. However, the scene near the end where multiple police units are in pursuit of the killer is wonderful and masterfully done, showing what an under-rated director Jack Webb really was. The only police car you see - until the pursuit is over - is 1-K-80 (Friday and Gannon's unmarked unit) racing through the rain in the night. You hear all of the action over the radio in the detective unit, but never see a black and white sliding around a corner, or racing down the road. Just the same, the scene builds tension and you feel the tension of the pursuit, perhaps better than if you actually saw it portrayed. I think it's one of my favorite scenes in any movie I've ever watched.

Great Transition between old and new

[uncg2002 · 9/10 · 7 July 2010]

I would honestly say that I think this is one of the best things Jack Webb has ever done. It maintains the feel of the original series and especially the 1954 film, while mixing in elements of the upcoming 1967 series, I would even go so far as to say this was better than the 1954 theatrical feature (which tended to be a bit dry). I loved Joe Friday's reaction when the child hugs him, controlled as Friday always is, but you can tell when you look at him that he is fighting back tears. I also liked the tribute to former partner Frank Smith (blink and you'll miss it). The rain played a big part in the climax of this movie as it did in the climax of the 1954 film. Check it out. Thankyou Shout Factory for including this in the latest box set.

Finally it's on DVD!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 12 November 2010]

At last, this film is available on DVD! This hour and a half pilot episode of "Dragnet 1967" was included as a DVD extra with the "Dragnet 1968" set. It's odd that they didn't put it with either the previous season or the following season (as the pilot was aired in 1969--though it was made in 1966).

In most ways, this movie is very much like the subsequent TV series. However, one way that it is very different is the sort of case. Instead of the usual stories (such as fraud, community relations or murder), this is a story about a serial killing sex offender! This is far from the sort of content you'd expect from "Dragnet"--or any other show in this era. Also, the end of the film is VERY different in that Friday actually becomes more like an action hero--with a dirty and violent fight--something you'd just never see in the TV show. And, sadly you don't know exactly what happened to the criminals apprehended in the movie--though you can pretty safely assumed the final guy who was arrested was executed or sent to the loony bin!

Joe (Jack Webb) is called off his vacation and a soon to retire Bill (Harry Morgan) are are called for special duty--there is just too much happening and the force needs them. While many of the men are there to cover security for the upcoming Krushchev visit, this team is needed to get to the bottom of a sick case. Some sick guy going by the name of 'Johnson' (no pun intended) is photographing and then killing pretty ladies--and it's assumed that a recent missing persons report is yet another one of his victims. While it's obvious he's a serial killer, this term is not used (and wasn't in vogue until at least a decade later). And considering they know almost nothing about the guy AND Johnson could also easily be an alias, it looks like it will be very tough to get to the bottom of this case. And, along the way, they pick up another case involving a dead Frenchman.

Overall, this is an exceptional and realistic police movie. It shows so much of the ordinary police legwork you don't see in normal cop films as well as the interrogation of the creep near the end. Non-glamorous but compelling from start to finish. And quite different from Jack Webb's previous "Dragnet" movie--a very noir film from the 1950s.

By the way, it's interesting that a detective named 'Danny' is played by John Sebastian. That's because in the subsequent series, Sebastian ALWAYS played scum--never a cop! For series fans, this is a rare treat. However, Virginia Gregg and Vic Perrin play EXACTLY the sort of awful characters they played in the show! In particular, Perrin plays a great little psycho!

Also, you may notice Friday talking about his old partner, Officer Smith. This is a nod to the 1950s version of "Dragnet" where Smith was teamed with Friday.

Feeling run down? Try Pismo clams.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 9 July 2010]

This pilot is feature length and the writer, Richard L. Breen, seems to have packed about three half-hour stories into it. There are sub-plots about some French guy, a child molester, Russian visitors, Gannon's tooth and Gannon's temporary retirement, but the A story involves the kidnapping and probable murder of four attractive young women.

All these narrative threads lead Friday and Gannon on chases through such places as lonely hearts clubs, the home of a recent French immigrant proud to become an American, who has a nephew who sings "Suwanee River" in French (the killer should have nailed HIM), and a housing development in the pouring rain, where the climax takes place.

If you like the usual episodes in the series, you'll like this pilot too. Friday and Gannon are their reliable selves, with Gannon making confident pronouncements about the restorative properties of Pismo clams and Friday making witty ripostes.

But -- what with this being a reintroduction of the characters and their milieu -- the must be more action to keep the viewer watching. Friday pulls his gun twice but doesn't fire it. And see Friday climb the side of a muddy mountain and almost be buried in a landslide. See Friday get into an actual fist fight and wind up looking almost as bad as the other guy.

Otherwise the ethos and eidos are familiar. Friday wears his gray jacket and dark slacks. He walks without swinging his hands. The dialog is unembroidered, but Friday gets to make an angry speech to a child molester who uses the N word.

Plenty of fun to be had.

An unexpected, pleasant surprise (mild spoilers)

[kathynv · 10/10 · 4 June 2003]

Spoilers ahead, but if you've seen even one episode of Dragnet, you know how

the film ends!

I thought I had seen every episode and incarnation of the second Dragnet

series, but was pleasantly surprised to find the "pilot" on AMC. Regular

character actors from the series pop like old friends, and we get a few glimpses of Bobby Troupe and a very young Kent McCord, who later end up in other Jack

Webb productions.

As usual, Joe Friday seems uncomfortable with any "soft" emotions, and the

scene in which he has to tell a boy his father is dead is classic. Watch for

unshed tears in Joe's eyes and his uncomfortable, stiff demeanor as the crying child spontaneously hugs him. True to form, Joe can't manage to muster up

anything more comforting than a stiff pat on the shoulder.

Bill Gannon's personality is fully formed in this movie, making him the partner/ best friend/pain in the neck/comic relief that worked so well when played off Friday's deadpan demeanor. Even Gannon's quirky cures for illness, real or

imagined, are firmly established. He provides a necessary amusing touch to an otherwise oppressive movie.

This movie is a good deal grittier and slightly more disturbing than the series episodes, and provides rare scenes of Joe Friday actually using force with a

suspect! Add in the requisite Joe Friday interrogation speech, addressing racial relations and child abuse (in one talk!), and you have a truly amazing television movie.

My only gripe is that AMC seems to have cut the movie for commercial breaks,

leaving a few odd loose ends. Most glaring is the requisite ending showing all the suspects and their sentences when they are invariably found guilty. It would be wonderful to have this treasure available on VHS or DVD.

"Just the facts ma'am"

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 19 January 2021]

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 Is the Dragnet I Love!

[akatune · 8/10 · 20 July 2010]

I've only seen this film once before. Thanks to the recent DVD release of season two, this was included as a bonus feature and I re-visited this, today.

All I can say is, if you're a fan of the 60s series, you probably will find this film an easy watch. It takes the same route that the TV episodes do and simply expands upon them.

As any fan of the 60 TV series is aware of, Jack Webb was faithful to his friends and fellow actors and so familiar faces from the TV series, abound in this film.

Sure, by today's standards, this is not really a shocking and over-the-top effort, but the film is familiar and enjoyable and Webb and Morgan are really great as partners.

re: Just The Facts

[michaelcarraher · 7/10 · 30 July 2007]

One small correction to the review posted 28 April, 2003: Harry Morgan appeared regularly in the original Dragnet radio series in various roles. Webb did employ a regular "stock company" of actors, some of whom he had worked with since his days in radio in San Francisco, through the Dragnet radio series, the first TV series, a theatrical movie, a made for TV movie and the second TV series. Richard Boone (Paladin) was also heard regularly on the radio series, and came back for the theatrical movie. However, contrary to the IMDb listing, Harry Morgan did not appear in the first TV series. Other long-time radio actors who appeared in the Dragnet TV movie (and both series) were Olan Soule (usually as a "forensic chemist" from the "crime lab" - what we now call CSI) as well as Sarah Selby, Harry Bartell, Vic Perrin and George Fenneman (the announcer).

This was the beginning of an return classic,and it was the return of Joe Friday

[rcj5365 · 15 September 2004]

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.

The second wave of "Dragnet" in top form.

[yarborough · 11 October 2001]

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.

The Story You Are About to See is True

[joed1667 · 6 April 2001]

However Jack Webb stretched the truth a wee bit with this one. The story is based on the case of Harry Glatman who murdered 2 aspiring models and one woman he met through a lonely hearts club over the course of 1957-58. The police weren't hot on his trail and were just working it as a missing persons case. Nor was he cornered on a rainy hillside with his 4th victim inside a trailer. Instead, he got into a struggle with his 4th intended victim on the side of a Orange County highway and was arrested after a passing CHP motorman, on his way home, stopped to investigate. Glatman confessed to the 3 murders and Orange County notified the LAPD since 2 of the victims were from LA and Sgt.Pierce Brooks was assigned the case to clean up their end. Still it's a pretty good Dragnet episode.

The brightest noir ever!

[joecline · 19 January 2004]

I saw a few episodes of the original series back when I was but a wee tyke, but have only seen one or two over the intervening years; one impression I've retained, though, has been the look of the original shows -- very atmospheric, very noir-ish lighting.

This one, however, looks like a sitcom. The sets all look as if they were lit with a half-dozen giant scoop lights, making the whole production seem completely flat.

Webb's repertoire company is in their usual over-the-top mode, but Harry Morgan really makes the flick watchable -- he may be the best deadpan comedian since Keaton.

Good movie, but GREAT Dragnet!

[cynic2all · 16 February 2012]

I have re-watched this movie a couple of times recently, and it does stand the test of time-- at least for those of us who have not lived our whole lives in the internet/cellphone age. It goes much deeper into the workings of a big city police department. For example, in either of the Dragnet series, Friday just says they check R&I about a possible suspect and what is revealed. In this movie, we see them asking a clerk at the appropriate aphabetical station to check the name J.Johnson, with her rhetorical questioning about anything more than that, then working the card files till the right bank comes up, which she says contains more than 2,000 J.Johnsons. Obviously this would be a large computer database today. And we see them looking at the "possibles" from the pervert file, auto registrations (by make, model, or color) registered or ever stopped within the city, the monicker file, and the storage of field interrogation cards. We see 2 composite artists draw different faces of the suspect from witness's descriptions-- as the officers' suspicion, which they eventually find out for sure, that one such witness is lying, who doesn't want her profitable 'lonely hearts club' to become known as a place that had a sex offender and murderer as a member (nor become a party in a civil suit for having put criminal and victim together). Although it's off-camera, this woman also does something (some kind of threat, like revoking his paid membership) to a club member witness the investigators had found who 'made' the composite of the reliable witness, as he claims to have seen him at a 'coffee meeting' or something the club holds regularly.

The story itself does not bear much resemblance to the actual case, other what the suspect was charged with, and one or a few parallels to how the case was solved-- which is typical for Dragnet. But the timeline, the 'red herrings,' and about all personalities involved are all off. But we Dragnet fans don't care, as long as we are given a good story with true police procedures-- which we are. But if you have never seen this before, you may assume at the beginning that it's going to be about an international incident, for Friday is being sought out, while still on vacation, to help with the security of a visiting Russian Deputy Premier. That's not what we expect from Dragnet. I'm glad we are quickly disabused that Joe Friday is going to have to ward off an assassination plot that might jeopardize world peace. Instead, since he has been drafted back from 3 his 3 remaining days of vacation, he is put on the case of 3 missing young women, 2 of which have second jobs as models. The most recent missing woman is the one the pervert met through the lonely hearts' club, and is not a model; but her worried, though still astute, brother is the one who supplies the description that leads to the composite that collars the right suspect-- after a murder victim who is a virtual dead-ringer for him leads to a capital crime solved along the way in just 10 hours. Now that's Dragnet!- with a little drag and a lot of net.

Sure, a few things are kind of 'swept away'-- like, Bill Gannon guarantees the personnel rep that he will be there in the personnel office to sign his retirement forms within 20 minutes, then instead he goes with Friday on a venture to identify, then arrest, 2 suspects in the secondary murder-- which he knows should take hours. Even though this is Gannon's first appearance as Friday's partner (that is, the movie, not its eventual release date), we already trust him enough to not lie that badly to an anxious personnel man, who must secure his police-issued equipment before he can leave for the day, and thus leave him hanging indefinitely. And there is clearly an error in Friday's narration when he says the dead body of the suspect's look-a-like was judged to have been killed some time Saturday morning. It is on Friday that the body is found-- if he had been dead for almost a week, then he couldn't be their suspect, who was seen within the last 2 1/2 days.