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Dragnet

Play trailer Poster for Dragnet Released Aug 18, 1954 1h 29m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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43% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Sgt. Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and Officer Frank Smith (Ben Alexander) are Los Angeles Police Department detectives, and they need every bit of skill they have to solve their latest case: the shooting death of low-end bookie Miller Starkie. While initial evidence points to gangster Max Troy (Stacy Harris) and his trigger-man, Chester Davitt, Friday and Smith have trouble getting an indictment. Only through their own tenaciousness can they make sure justice is served.
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Dragnet

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety In making the transition from radio-TV to the big screen and color, this is spotty in entertainment results. Jun 15, 2020 Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times The atmosphere is harsh and real. But Mr. Friday is not a nice policeman to anticipate as a regular hero on the screen. Mar 25, 2006 Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl The storytelling in Dragnet is as straightforward as Joe Friday himself-this leads to that which leads to that other thing which eventually leads to the conclusion you knew was coming all along. Rated: 6/10 Nov 17, 2020 Full Review Anne Brodie What She Said Beautifully shot by Edward Colman. Nov 13, 2020 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Television's Jack Webb, under his own fast-paced direction, effectively but rather monotonously portrays the bleak and brutal plain-clothes man Joe Friday in this Hollywood whodunit. Dec 10, 2019 Full Review TV Guide Staff TV Guide Based on actual L.A. police files, the film manages to still deliver plenty of suspense. Rated: 2.5/5 Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Martin B The theme song, style, Sgt Joe Friday all familiar but this movie is a complete bust. Circumstantial evidence was never going to fly. The emptying the pockets harassment time after time was boring. Following them around was boring. Pointing headlights at the house of a suspect and him comeing out like that ever works ridiculous. Then when they put some solid evidence together it's anounced their main target dies in an operation for a physical condition that was never hinted at. Waste of time. The TV show far better. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/20/24 Full Review Audience Member The dialogue and acting is so absurd I couldn't stop laughing. ACAB, but sometime's they're so un-self-aware they're hilarious. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member This movie was based on the 1950's version of Dragnet. This was the heyday of Black and White TV. The only way to do a color version of Dragnet was to show it in movie theaters. The 1950's version of Dragnet had a more pessimistic view of Los Angeles. The 1960's color TV version was more upbeat and tried to show LA as modern American city with a professional modern police force. The buildings and furniture were new. The 1950's version showed LA as a grimy depression era city. The buildings and furniture was old pre-war vintage. Most of the stories came from the 1930's and 1940's. The LAPD had gotten very corrupt during the depression and World War II. Cops weren't paid well during the depression and during the war the young guys were off fighting the war. Police departments all over the country were plagued with corruption that started with the prohibition era. Starting 1950 the LAPD started to clean house and used the Dragnet TV show to improve their reputation. The 1954 movie told the story of a gangland murder. The movie showed how the LAPD was fighting organized crime in the 1950's. The movie kind of looked like the 1960's TV show with all the bright colors but the clothes and cars were old style. The men all wore hats and the cars were pre 1954 models. The woman all had long dresses. Since the movie was based on a true story the ending had the killers dying before they could be tried. The ring leader died of cancer in a run down old hospital. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Such a great and classic television show brought to the big screen. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Like the actual police work it strives to portray, this film is interesting but not particularly rewarding. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member If you like the Dragnet series, you will like this movie Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Sgt. Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and Officer Frank Smith (Ben Alexander) are Los Angeles Police Department detectives, and they need every bit of skill they have to solve their latest case: the shooting death of low-end bookie Miller Starkie. While initial evidence points to gangster Max Troy (Stacy Harris) and his trigger-man, Chester Davitt, Friday and Smith have trouble getting an indictment. Only through their own tenaciousness can they make sure justice is served.
Director
Jack Webb
Producer
Stanley D. Meyer
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 18, 1954, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 25, 2007
Runtime
1h 29m
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