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Reviews
Dragnet 1967: The Missing Realtor (1967)
This episode illustrates that Jack Webb was ahead of his time in one respect.
This is a different kind of review (although this is one of the better Dragnet episodes). As noted in the trivia section of the IMDb page on this episode, this show featured black real estate professionals, which was rare for a late 60's show.
Jack Webb, who has the reputation for being starchy and conservative, was actually quite progressive for that time period. If you watch Dragnet regularly, you will see black real estate agents, judges, lawyers, doctors, and nurses. Black criminals are somewhat uncommon. In one episode, the Lieutenant giving directions to Sgt. Friday is black, and Sgt. Friday is clearly displaying respect.
Moreover, the black professionals portrayed in the show are not stereotyped. They are well dressed and clearly well educated.
Yes, at times Dragnet can be inadvertently campy (e.g. "Blue Boy"), but we should also note Webb's willingness to portray blacks in a positive manner (and to make them the victims of crime, rather than the criminals).
A Song Is Born (1948)
The movie is entertaining, but the music is incredible ...
Where else can you see a jam session with Louie Armstrong on trumpet, Charlie Barnet on saxophone, Benny Goodman on clarinet, and Tommy Dorsey on trombone? Four major swing band leaders jamming out, and they do it more than once on this film. The movie is sufficiently entertaining to watch, but the real treat is the music jam sessions. Some of you may not know Charlie Barnet. Barnet was from a wealthy family, and his bands were more freewheeling than most traditional swing bands. He was the first white band leader to integrate his bands, and he gave Lena Horne her first gig with a major orchestra.
The true big band aficionado will recognize some of the other musicians, but I will not list them here as I might spoil someone's fun.