Dragnet

Dragnet



Dragnet was an American radio, television and motion picture series, enacting the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers. Actor and producer Jack Webb's aims in Dragnet were for realism and unpretentious acting; he achieved both goals, and Dragnet remains a key influence on subsequent police dramas in many media. The show's cultural impact is such that after five decades, elements of Dragnet are familiar to those who have never seen or heard the program: The ominous, four-note introduction to the brass and tympani theme music (titled "Danger Ahead") is instantly recognizable (though its origins date to Miklós Rózsa's score for the 1946 film version of The Killers). Another Dragnet trademark is the show's opening narration: "Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." This underwent minor revisions over time. The "only" and "ladies and gentlemen" were dropped at some point, and for the television version "hear" was changed to "see". Variations on this narration have been featured in subsequent crime dramas, and in parodies of the dramas (e.g. "Only the facts have been changed to protect the…


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349 Episodes

Dragnet 52-10-05 ep172 The Big Jolt

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise…

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated…

24 August 2020 | 00:29:16


Dragnet 52-09-28 ep171 The Big Brain

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise…

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated…

24 August 2020 | 00:25:10


Dragnet 52-09-21 ep170 The Big Shot

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise…

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated…

24 August 2020 | 00:29:21


Dragnet 52-09-14 ep169 The Big Bull

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise…

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated…

24 August 2020 | 00:29:34


Dragnet 52-09-11 ep168 The Big Tear

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise…

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated…

24 August 2020 | 00:27:33


Dragnet 52-09-04 ep167 The Big Ray

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise…

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated…

24 August 2020 | 00:29:32


Dragnet 52-08-28 ep166 The Big Test

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise…

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated…

24 August 2020 | 00:29:29


Dragnet 52-08-21 ep165 The Big Paper

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise…

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated…

24 August 2020 | 00:30:36


Dragnet 52-08-14 ep164 The Big Drive

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise…

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated…

24 August 2020 | 00:29:18


Dragnet 52-08-07 ep163 The Big Impression

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise…

The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated…

24 August 2020 | 00:30:30