Dragnet 1966 (1969)

Initially intended as a pilot for the Dragnet 1967 TV series, featuring L.A. police detective Joe Friday and his partners, but not aired until 1969.

Director:

Jack Webb

Writer:

Richard L. Breen

Stars:

Jack Webb, Harry Morgan, Vic Perrin

Cast

Cast overview:
Jack Webb	...	Sgt. Joe Friday
Harry Morgan	...	Officer Bill Gannon
Vic Perrin	...	Don Negler, alias J. Johnson
Virginia Gregg	...	Mrs. Eve Kruger
Gene Evans	...	Capt. Hugh Brown
John Roseboro	...	Sgt. Dave Bradford
Bobby Troup	...	George Freeman
Tom Williams	...	Melvin Gannon
Jack Ragotzy	...	Carl Rockwell
Roger Til	...	William Smith
Jean-Michel Michenaud	...	Claude LeBorg (as Gerald Michenaud)
Bruce Watson	...	Freddie
Herbert Ellis	...	Rico 'Ricky' Markell
Eddie Firestone	...	Max Shelton
Elizabeth Rogers	...	Eve Sorenson

Storyline

Sgt. Joe Friday is called back from vacation to work with his partner, Off. Bill Gannon, on a missing persons case. Two amateur female models and a young war widow have vanished, having been last seen with one J. Johnson. In the course of tracking down Johnson and the young ladies, the detectives wind up with two different descriptions of the suspect, one of which closely resembles a dead body found in a vacant lot. But the dead man, later identified as Charles LeBorg of France, proves not to be J. Johnson, when a third young model disappears.

---

Plot Keywords:

los angeles police department | dragnet series | detective | death | homicide | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Did You Know?

Trivia

This tele-movie was to serve as the pilot episode of Dragnet 1967 (1967). However, it didn't air as originally planned, as Jack Webb decided to change the pace and tone of the series from this film. Webb finally decided to allow the pilot to air during the series 3rd year, in 1969.

---

Goofs

Carol Freeman was married but her husband was killed in Vietnam, it is very possible that she went back to her maiden name.

---

Quotes

Claude LeBorg: ...Trouvez-les!
['Find them!"]
William Smith: [Translating] The boy implores you to find whoever it is that did this to his father and see that they are punished for what they have done.
Sergeant Joe Friday: [Claude wraps his arms around Friday's legs and cries hard] You don't have to translate any more.

---

Connections

Follows Dragnet 1967 (1967)

---

Soundtracks

Theme From Dragnet (Danger Ahead)
Composed by Walter Schumann

User Reviews

This Is the Dragnet I Love!

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

World Premiere: Dragnet

Filming Locations:

Colonial Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mark VII Ltd., Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1