Films Based on a T.V. Series - Part Two

This on going feature looks at films based on a T.V. series. The good, the bad, and the shite. To keep this feature on going we are counting sketches and shorts as well.

Part Two is Dragnet.

One of the most famous and influential cop dramas actually began on radio in 1949 created by Jack Webb who also starred as the shows main character Sergeant Joe Friday. The show became one of the most famous radio serials, Friday’s straight talking and attention for details were entertaining and the story’s were often based on true events, with the opening lines "The story you are about to hear is true; only the names have been changed to protect the innocent" and at the end of the episodes the announcers would tell the fate of the suspect.

In 1951 Dragnet was brought to Television with Webb still playing Friday, as Webb was also the creator and producer he was able to bring the radio staff on board allowing for a great synergy between the mediums. Friday’s partner Sgt Ben Romero was also brought into the show but the actor Barton Yarborough died after only three episodes were filmed, Friday would have two more short time partners before Ben Alexander took over the role and became a more permanent fixture of the TV Show and radio series which would continue its broadcast until 1957.

In 1959 Webb also decided to pursue other projects and the TV show ended. After seven years Webb decided to bring the show back, he couldn’t get Ben Alexander back to be the light comic relief to the extreme straight man that Friday was. A new partner was found in Bill Gannon who was played by Harry Morgan, the show was well received but never gained the popularity it had in the original version and ended in 1970 after its fourth season. In 1982 Webb once again tried to bring Dragnet back to the screens, he had produced five scripts picked his new partner but unfortunately died that same year from a heart attack.

Then in 1987 a parody homage film was made starring Dan Akroyd as Sgt Joe Friday the nephew of Jack Webb’s Friday. Akroyd was joined by Tom Hanks as Pep Streebeck, Harry Morgan also reprised his role as Bill Gannon who is now a Captain. The Film took the old fashioned character of Friday who did everything by the book and put him right in the middle of 1987 LA crime. The deadpan nature of Friday was used to great comedic effect against the setting, below are two of my favorite scenes that depict what I’am talking about:

The film was a moderate success making about $57 million domestically but wasn’t received well by critics, to me it’s one of my favorite comedies, the dialogue is so sharp and Akroyd’s delivery is superb, it has some of the best quotable lines ever and has a rap song at the end with Hanks and Akroyd that received regular airplay on MTV.

In 1989 The New Dragnet with all new characters tried and failed and then in 2003 Dragnet was brought back with Ed O’Neil as Friday the series ran for 12 episodes in the original format and then reshaped to L.A. Dragnet and was cancelled after two seasons.

The Verdict: whilst the new season failed Akroyd’s 1987 outing is one of the most underrated comedies of the 80’s, the film uses a formula that The Brady Bunch movies also used of taking the classic old fashioned characters and inserting them into modern day. As it wasn’t necessarily a very treasured film with legions of fans there is no potential here for a remake so it’s a film that if you haven’t seen you can enjoy it without the threat of having to watch a crappy reboot of it in five years. A lot of fun to be had here, enjoy it.

To round off this article I'm going to list some of the best lines from the Akroyd film:

I don't care what undercover rock you crawled out from, there's a dress code for detectives in Robbery-Homicide. Section 3-605. 10. 20. 22. 24. 26. 50. 70. 80. It specifies: clean shirt, short hair, tie, pressed trousers, sports jacket or suit, and leather shoes, preferably with a high shine on them.
-Joe Friday

Your attention, please. The story you are about to see is true; the names have been changed to protect the innocent. For example: George Baker is now called "Sylvia Wiss. "
-Narrator

Look Muzz, we've got you on 87 violations of the motor vehicle code, it's only a matter of time before we tie you into one of those PAGAN jobs, not to mention that you stole your landlady's wedding dress which so far is the only endearing thing about you. So why don't you talk to us?
- Pep Streebeck

My partner and I witnessed that little torchlight picnic you threw last night, we're gonna put you where your kind always ends up - in a seven by seven foot grey-green metal cage in the fifteenth floor of some hundred-year-old penitentiary, with damp, stinking walls and a wooden plank for a bed. Sure, this city isn't perfect, we need a smut-free life for all of our citizens; cleaner streets, better schools, and good hockey team. But the big difference between you and me, mister, is you made the promise, and I'm going to keep it.
- Joe Friday

Now if those lines don't sell the film did you know that you can buy it off amazon for only $10! Right Here