Product Details

• Actors: Jack Webb
• Format: Box set, Black & White, Dolby, NTSC, Full Screen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 5
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Madacy (Music Distributor)
• DVD Release Date: January 11, 2011
• Run Time: 660 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000NOKJD6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,786 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

One of the greatest shows in the history of television is now available in this exciting five-DVD boxed set edition, featuring the very best episodes from the original series. A genuine collectible, it’s sure to become a “must-see” favorite in your home entertainment library. This pioneering police drama starring the great Jack Webb set the standard for all future “cop shows.” Opening each episode with its famous theme song, always delivering fascinating and fast-moving stories, DRAGNET profiles the cases of Sgt. Joe Friday, the tough-minded detective who did his job, with little glory or thanks. Drawing their stories directly from LAPD files, the show’s documentary-like realism makes you feel like you’re on the job with Friday – and the final shoot-out and capture of the criminal is even more exciting!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just the facts about this Dragnet box set, February 24, 2008

By 

excellent-literature "Excellent Literaure" (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragnet (DVD)

To address the previous reviewer's concerns, here is more detailed product info
25 Episodes from 1952-1958, black and white starring Jack Webb
5 DVDs in a collectible tin box. Includes a booklet with a bio of Webb and history of the show. Bonus disc features include a trivia quiz and direct scene access
Episode titles from the back of the box:
The Big Cast
The Big hands
The Big War
The Big Trunk
the Big Break
The Big Phone call
The Big Frame
The Big Frank
The Big False Mate
The Big Little Jesus
The Big Betty
The Big Bar
The Big .22 Rifle for Christmas
The Big Boys
The Big Seventeen
The Big Crime
The Big Girls
The Big Thief
The Big Shoplift
The Big Show
The Big Bird
The Big Hit and Run Killer
The Big September Man
The Big Producer

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A taste of the original., August 14, 2008

By 

J. Hoelscher "debater7" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragnet (DVD)

This Dragnet set is a compilation of episodes from the original TV show that ran from 1951 to 1959. They entered the public domain due to an oversight in maintaining the copyright and now we have a sample of some of those many episodes which have never been released. The scripts in this series are nearly unmodified radio scripts and the actors were chosen more for their voices and delivery than for their looks. Each story is based on actual events, making the early Dragnet one of the first "reality" shows.

These episodes are much more noir-ish than the later shows that most of us are familiar with. The show is less pessimistic than most film noir, but still gritty and deliberately realistic. Jack Webb is outstanding, showing the passion that was robbed from him after filming hundreds of episodes and seeing his career stagnate into one role. This is a brilliant taste of the original, archetypical cop show, that, as Webb observed, "was as real as a guy pouring a cup of coffee." If you like Dragnet from any era, want to see how it became the much copied and much parodied phenomenon, know how cop shows got started, or just enjoy an outstanding bit of 50s drama, then you should drink a big gulp of Joe Friday and buy this set.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Webb is TERRIFIC, September 28, 2008

By 

G. Thorson "Film Score Fan" (Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragnet (DVD)

We spent this weekend watching all 25 episodes all of which are 50+ years old. There has been NO, digital cleanup & picture quality/sound varies from episode to episode. Some actors & clips are used in multiple episodes in different roles which you will see. Jack Webb is terrific with his acting, dialogue & story lines. The key factor for me is Webb's/Joe Friday is believeable. Friday comes across as the real thing, GREAT! You also get an early performance from future Oscar winner Lee Marvin as a nut killer. Dennis Weaver ("McCloud"), Frances Bavier ("Aunt Bee/Andy Griffith") & a very young Martin Milner ("Adam 12") show up. Nice package job & price make this a good set to have.