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"Dragnet" The Big Little Jesus (1953)
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Overview
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"Dragnet" (1951)Original Air Date:
24 December 1953 (Season 3, Episode 17)Plot:
It's Christmas Eve when Father Rojas at the Old Mission Plaza Church in Los Angeles discovers that the... more | add synopsisUser Comments:
The Big Little Jesus is a touching Christmas episode of "Dragnet" moreCast
(Episode Complete credited cast)| Jack Webb | ... | Sgt. Joe Friday | |
| Ben Alexander | ... | Officer Frank Smith | |
| Harry Bartell | ... | Father Xavier Rojas | |
| Joe Carioca Jr. | ... | Paco Mendoza | |
| James Griffith | ... | Claude Stroup | |
| Ralph Moody | ... | Mr. Flavin | |
| Herb Vigran | ... | Desk Clerk | |
| Walter Sande | ... | Captain Barnard | |
| Billy Chapin | ... | Joseph Heffernan |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
30 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Pathécolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)Filming Locations:
Old Mission Plaza Church - Sunset Boulevard at N. Main Street, Los Angeles, California, USAFun Stuff
Trivia:
Remade for the series sequel Dragnet 1966 (1969) (TV), Season 2, Episode 15 entitled "The Christmas Story." moreFAQ
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Having just seen the more tragic "Dragnet" holiday episode-"The Big .22 Rifle for Christmas"-I'd thought I'd check the more positive-influenced one called "The Big Little Jesus". In this one taking place on Christmes Eve-which is the same day of when this was broadcast in 1953-Friday and his partner Frank Smith (this time played by Ben Alexander) have promised Father Rojas (Harry Bartell who was born in New Orleans in my home state of Louisiana) to recover the stolen baby Jesus statue for the church nativity by the Christmas Day mass the next morning. I'll stop there and just say that this was a more lighter episode concerning the holidays as evidenced by Friday and Smith's banter about presents in the beginning scenes and that the ending was one of the most touching in the series history. Also appearing are Walter Sande, who died in my birthtown of Chicago, Illinois, as Captain Bernard and child actor Billy Chapin as Joseph Hefferman. His sister, Lauren, would later become one of the stars of the hit show "Father Knows Best". Now I'm going to watch the remake for "Dragnet 1967"...