Dragnet 1967 (TV Series) D.H.Q.: The Victims (1970) User Reviews

The series finale....and it's a heartbreaker.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 14 February 2021]

"D.H.Q.: The Victims" is the final episode of "Dragnet" and it's most unusual because it doesn't involve any one case but several robberies as well as murders. As such, it's a tough night for the detectives. The first is at a cheap hotel, where an elderly man is murdered for just a few dollars. The second, an real crazy robbery...just $.76! The third, an old woman is severely beaten, kicked and mugged. The fourth, two are shot at a grocery store...the first guy is shot three times for no reason, as he'd already given the robber the money!

As you watch the cases, you can't help but have your heart pulled into them. It's a story that's tied together because the focus is on the victims....and it's tough to watch at times. Be sure to have some Kleenex handy! Overall, very well written...and the speech Friday makes to the cocky young police officer is a classic.

"D.H.Q.: The Victims" marked the final ep of "Dragnet 1970" and therefore, Jack Webb's final time as Sgt. Joe Priday

[tonyvmonte-54973 · 9/10 · 3 May 2024]

When my mom switched cable companies a few weeks ago, we suddenly got access to MeTV as one of the channels. So I've been recording many of the classic reruns that have been showing on it. With that in mind, I'm reviewing many of the classic cop/detective shows that air on that channel. This one is on what turned out to be the final episode of "Dragnet" produced, directed, and starring that show's creator Jack Webb. As Sgt. Joe Friday he and partner Officer Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan) are investigating a series of crimes from a surprise murder at a low rent motel to a grocery store robbery. In between, there's also a just-sobered man who got robbed of 76 cents just as he was going to get dinner. That got an amusing exchange between Friday and Gannon about Gannon suddenly not wanting to eat! As with many eps of this show, this was touching in places and exciting with the delivery of lines done in the usual clipped-tone one gets from this show. Webb would mostly drop acting after this to devote more time to producing his other shows like the hits "Adam-12" and "Emergency!" though before he died in 1982, he was planning to once again bring this show back and playing Friday again with possibly Kent McCord from "12" as his new partner. With his passing the real-life Los Angeles police dept. Retired his badge number 714. There were a couple of revivals with other actors but no one could match Jack Webb, that's for sure! Oh, and Harry Morgan subsequently reprised his role as Gannon in the 1987 spoof theatrical feature film called Dragnet starring Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd as Friday's same-named nephew. In that one, Gannon was now their superior as a captain.

Joe Friday's finale episode

[Jimmy_the_Gent4 · 30 October 2017]

Friday and Gannon investigate several crimes, showing the effect on the victims.

The last episode of the classic series, this is often a very powerful one with a great deal of empathy for crime victims. The first case involves an elderly man stabbed to death. His brokenhearted only friend gives the officers the details, the suspect is missing an earlobe. Next we meet a pathetic homeless guy robbed of 76 cents. When Bill says he will skip dinner, Joe suspects he gave the victim his dinner money. Then a old lady is beaten and robbed of her purse, a young officer is scolded by Friday when he says does not think much of patrol work. The final case is a young punk who robs and kills a hard working grocery store owner. The finale shows that the suspect with the deformed ear is sentenced to life and grocery store shooter is sent to the gas chamber.