Dragnet 1968 –
Season 2 (Shout Factory DVD Set)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: B Episodes: B+
A blast
from the past, in the metropolis city L.A.
of 1968 where millions of people reside, work, play, grow... someone’s got to
uphold the law and protect it's citizens.
Join Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Officer Bill Gannon as they
patrol the streets of L.A.
No crime is too small, no mob is too
large as these two gumshoes find the facts, server and protect the cities
citizens and up hold the public trust in the Second Season of Dragnet
1968.
This is a crime drama about mainly two Los
Angeles police detectives, as they shift through the
day how they stop, prevent or protect various people from crimes and how catch
those who would commit crime. Filmed in
it's day on location, it shows how police work was done back then, the series
paint a semi-realistic day to day function of what the police to in their daily
jobs. From sitting out on a stake out,
to talking with it's community citizens, it shows being a cop is more than just
playing cops and robbers, that it takes hard work, courage, dedication, and a
cool and level head to not only be another person in uniform, but what it takes
to be a good cop.
This series (a revival of the previous hit TV version of the show that began as
a hit radio drama) is old school, unlike current day police dramas like NYPD Blue or Law and Order,
you won't find good looking cops kicking down doors or having a police car
chase scene. That the police do more than the TV drama shows, it's also a lot
of paperwork, foot work and follow up is part of being a cop too. Being a cop
doesn't mean you are the law, but a servant for the people, that a police's job
isn't just stopping crime, but also preventing and sorting out a crime. The
series takes various case files and tells their stories, and at the end of each
episode it concludes how each case is handled by the law afterwards. The series
gives it's viewers a tribute and the feelings to how the real-life policeman
works. Extras include Jack Webb - the man behind Badge 714, the
pilot telefilm/TV movie and a commemorative booklet.
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Pilot Movie: A series
of young women models are turning up missing, Joe and Bill take up the case to
find these missing young ladies.
Episode
1: The Grenade
The police arrest a young man from throwing acid on another man, but then when
they release him and learn the young man is a troubled youth, things turn for a
bit more serious when discover he has a live grenade.
Episode
2: The Shooting Board
Friday is under investigation when he discharges his weapon and the
investigation squad is unable to find the bullet that was shot at Friday. Police cannot discharge their weapons without
good cause.
Episode
3: The Badge Racket
A pair of con artists are posing as policemen, conning business men for their
money. Sergeant Friday and Officer
Gammon lay a trap to catch these impersonators.
Episode
4: The Bank Job
A man forces several women to rob banks with him, Friday and Bill get some
unexpected help from an involuntary citizen.
Episode
5: The Big Neighbor
Friday and Bill takes a night off and just want to watch the football game on
TV, but it's a little hard when the entire neighborhood comes knocking for the
neighborhood policeman (-men).
Episode
6: The Big Frustration
A fellow policeman is feed up to with all the red tape, cases, and injustice
that remains uncorrected and disappears. Friday and Bill must find him before he does
some permanent damage to his career.
Episode
7: The Senior Citizen
A day-time burglar is on the prowl, Friday and Bill must figure out his pattern...
turns out he's a lot older than them!
Episode
8: The Big High
A young couple thinks it's ok to do drugs and get high once in a while... but consequences
catch up to them when they forget about their son.
Episode
9: The Big Ad
A man desperate puts in the ad "Will do anything for $1000", but what
will he do if it is a killing?
Episode
10: The Missing Realtor
A realtor is missing but someone is still using her credit cards, Friday and
Bill retraces her steps to find her.
Episode
11: The Big Dog
Stealing purses is nothing new, but when it turns out to be dogs, that
something Friday and Bill must get to the bottom of.
Episode
12: The Pyramid Swindle
Sergeant Friday and Officer Bill must prove how a woman's pyramid scheme is
actually a rip-off.
Episode
13: The Phony Police Racket
Bill and Friday must catch a man who is soliciting ads in a magazine (supposedly)
for the benefit of police widows and orphans.
Episode
14: The Trial Board
Undercover cops witnesses a cop accepting money from a known bookie, but when
the cop says otherwise, Friday and Bill gets to the bottom of the case, who is
telling the truth and who is lying?
Episode
15: The Christmas Story
Sergeant Friday and Officer Bill must find a stolen Christ child for a local
church in time for Christmas.
Episode
16: The Big Shipment
A small charter plane crashes with several pounds of drugs and marijuana on
board. Friday and Bill want to catch whom it was being delivered to.
Episode
17: The Search
Two young girls are missing, Friday and Bill search the neighbors, a local
pedophile, the divorce alcoholic father... but turns out to be something they
didn't expect.
Episode
18: The Prophet
Sergeant Friday and Officer Bill warns a religious cult the dangers using drugs
with religion and that drugs aren't really a good way to meet God.
Episode
19: The Big Amateur
"Officer Dengle" is shining example of a policeman, and all the
people love him and want to honor him. Only
problem for Sergeant Friday is there is no "Officer Dengle" on the
police payroll...
Episode
20: The Starlet
A young girl runs away to Hollywood
to seek stardom, but often seeking stardom is a trail of tragedy... leading to
the pornography industry.
Episode
21: The Big Clan
Sergeant Friday and Office Bill must stop the string of gypsy fortunetellers
rip offs organized by the various gypsy clans.
Episode
22: The Little Victim
Sergeant Friday and Officer Bill must protect innocent, specially a baby who
can't even fight back from his abusive parents.
Episode
23: The Squeeze
Friday and Bill must somehow get a known extortionist to confess targeting of
an electronic business. With the usage
of new technologies they get him tripping over his lies.
Episode
24: The Suicide Attempt
A man's mother calls the police and tells her son is going to commit
suicide. Friday and Bill must find him
before it's too late.
Episode
25: The Big Departure
A string of burglaries are taking place all over town, turns out a group of
kids want to start their own utopia... but is it really possible?
Episode
26: The Investigation
New recruits are signing up for the police force. Sergeant Friday and Bill must do extensive
background checks... especially when 6 months are missing from a man's
resume.
Episode
27: The Gambler
A company is being audited for $100,000, someone is stealing from the company. Friday and Bill find a compulsive gambler, anyone
who gambles can lose big.
Episode
28: The Big Problem
Sergeant Friday and Officer Bill give a talk to the community about 'Police
Brutality', but talking about it and actual officers in the field are two very
different things.
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This is
our first look at the series as we missed the first season when Universal
issued it back in 2005 when they put it out on its own, which we just
missed. This new set has a 1.33 X 1
color image and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono sound, but it can look and sound a
little worn throughout. Otherwise, this
is a good set.
- Ricky Chiang
