Film Summary CLXXVIII (Dragnet)



The city 'Calgary Alberta'.
Canada's third-largest municipality.
318.65 sq mi
This is 'the Forest Lawn Community'

It's was Friday May 26, 7:48 p.m. I was sitting in front of my personalized computer engaged in the entertainment that is ''Dragnet'' the motion picture.

Plot summary for this movie is simple, a man is shot dead by an assailant with a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun, fired twice at close range. Whoever shot the man didn't just want him dead they wanted him turned into a box of pudding.
Sergeant Friday and his partner officer Frank Smith investigate the situation and attend to bring the murderer to Justice.

As the movie goes it's a bit lackluster it's doesn't have any particular flare to it and it's filmed like it should be on a TV set.
it's more or less it's just a very long episode of Dragnet which I suspect would not be interesting for most people, unless you're me and absolutely adores Dragnet. One very positive note, 'the opening score is fantastic! Hearing the traditional and simple Dragnet theme played out to a Cinematic Orchestra is something to behold.

The greatest thing about Dragnet is Joe Friday, the no-nonsense, down to the ground, basic police-officer. He's not hard boiled, charismatic, fanatical, quixotic or flamboyant.
It's his greatest strength and it makes for some terrific straight-to-the-point stories, no useless filter or drama.
At the end of the day the Alexander era of Dragnet may still be my favorite, that's to say nothing of Henry Morgan who's a fantastic actor. Dragnet was in it's prime in the mid-sixties in late 50s.
But I always felt like Ben Alexander was the perfect add-on for Joe Friday, he adds a bit more Flair than the No Name police officers of the radio era, He interacted with Friday so well, they really felt like they had chemistry.
Able to add a slight bit of Comedy without being overbearing and never subtracting from the overall case.

if you like Noir Style crime dramas you may find a little to enjoy within this movie but I would look elsewhere. If you're a Dragnet fan then you should be pleasantly amused, it won't knock you off your feet but it's a good spot of entertainment.


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