Those of us who grew up with and loved the 1960s version of Dragnet are in for a pleasant surprise. The 1950s version is grittier, more true-to-life, and even more "no-nonsense" than the later series. The black-and-white photography makes everything look downbeat and harder, and truly portrays the underside of society, rather than sunny Los Angeles. It's detectives in hats, records in pen and ink, milk in bottles, and cigarettes everywhere. High-tech means sending out a "radiogram." You don't get Friday lecturing hippies, but the 1950s series is, in my opinion, better.
I have many original Dragnet episodes on VHS, but this DVD set is quite a buy. Although some of the episodes have incorrect titles, you cannot beat the price. Fans of the 1960s series will enjoy seeing... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Jack Webb - Ben Alexander Director(s): Jack Webb DVD Release Date: Released the 05 August 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This might not be the very best Dragnet DVD available on the market today, but it does feature four good episodes, including:
1. The Big Show 2. The Big Shoplift 3. The Big Hit-Run Killer 4. The Big Crime
Dragnet focused on the methodical procedures used by the police to solve cases and employed a documentary film approach to tell its stories. The 1950s black & white version of Dragnet is generally recognized as being superior to the color version that appeared in the late 1960s and was largely based on the radio version of Dragnet that began in the late 1940s. Although Sgt. Joe Friday (Dragnet creator Jack Webb) had several different partners in the 1950s series, all episodes on this DVD feature Ben Alexander as Officer Frank Smith, arguably Friday's best known partner, and... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Jack Webb - Ben Alexander Director(s): Jack Webb DVD Release Date: Released the 21 January 2003 Usually ships within 24 hours
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I have to say from the onset that the quality of this set was extremely good. But, I also have to say that I was expecting more. SHAME ON YOU, AMC!! I was expecting (hoping) to see the original (1949) opening credits and theme song. But, what I got was a cleaned up version of the distribution opening like the ones that TV Land used. I would have gladly given up quality for the original opening and closing. If you are a true, and by that I mean older, fan of The Lone Ranger and are looking for the pure, genuine TV show, this is not for you. More Info about this DVD Director(s): George B. Seitz Jr. - Wilhelm Thiele - Oscar Rudolph - Charles D. Livingstone - Earl Bellamy DVD Release Date: Released the 20 January 2004 Usually ships within 24 hours
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