Customer Reviews

Dragnet [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the best collection available of classic Dragnet episodes. The set features 25 Dragnet episodes on 5 one-sided DVDs in a fold-out package with an attractive slipcase. The most complete of the many first-run Dragnet sets available. Here is a list of the episodes on each disc, followed by a list of all 25 episodes in order of broadcast:

Disc 1
05. THE BIG CAST (2/14/52; Watch for a young Lee Marvin)
42. THE BIG HANDS (5/21/53)
12. THE BIG PHONE CALL (5/22/52)
66. THE BIG TRUNK (1/7/54)
64. THE BIG LITTLE JESUS (12/24/53)

Disc 2
226. THE BIG WAR (4/10/58)
81. THE BIG FRAME (4/22/54)
40. THE BIG FRANK (5/7/53)
86. THE BIG FALSE MAKE (5/27/54)
33. THE BIG BREAK (3/19/53)

Disc 3
51. THE BIG BETTY (9/24/53)
94. THE BIG BAR (10/14/54)
21. .22 RIFLE FOR CHRISTMAS (12/18/52)
68. THE BIG BOYS (1/21/54; Watch for a young Leonard Nimoy)
18. THE BIG SEVENTEEN (11/6/52)

Disc 4
89. THE BIG CRIME (9/9/54)
78. THE BIG GIRL (4/1/54)
90. THE BIG PAIR (9/16/54)
63. THE BIG THIEF (12/17/53)
75. THE BIG SHOPLIFT (3/11/54)

Disc 5
25. THE BIG SHOW (1/22/53)
134. THE BIG BIRD (10/27/55)
76. THE BIG HIT-RUN KILLER (3/18/54)
11. THE BIG SEPTEMBER MAN (5/8/52)
87. THE BIG PRODUCER (8/26/54)

IN ORDER OF BROADCAST
Episode/Title (Air Date)

05. THE BIG CAST (2/14/52; Watch for a young Lee Marvin)
11. THE BIG SEPTEMBER MAN (5/8/52)
12. THE BIG PHONE CALL (5/22/52)
18. THE BIG SEVENTEEN (11/6/52)
21. .22 RIFLE FOR CHRISTMAS (12/18/52)
25. THE BIG SHOW (1/22/53)
33. THE BIG BREAK (3/19/53)
40. THE BIG FRANK (5/7/53)
42. THE BIG HANDS (5/21/53)
51. THE BIG BETTY (9/24/53)
63. THE BIG THIEF (12/17/53)
64. THE BIG LITTLE JESUS (12/24/53)
66. THE BIG TRUNK (1/7/54)
68. THE BIG BOYS (1/21/54; Watch for a young Leonard Nimoy)
75. THE BIG SHOPLIFT (3/11/54)
76. THE BIG HIT-RUN KILLER (3/18/54)
78. THE BIG GIRL (4/1/54)
81. THE BIG FRAME (4/22/54)
86. THE BIG FALSE MAKE (5/27/54)
87. THE BIG PRODUCER (8/26/54)
89. THE BIG CRIME (9/9/54)
90. THE BIG PAIR (9/16/54)
94. THE BIG BAR (10/14/54)
134. THE BIG BIRD (10/27/55)
226. THE BIG WAR (4/10/58)

I purchased this despite previous disasterous experiences with titles produced by Madacy. This one was a pleasant surprise: although the video quality ranged from fair to poor (which was expected), there are at least a couple of real gems in this collection. The sole reason I decided to purchase this is the fact that it includes an adaptation of one of the "Dragnet" radio series' best, most dramatic episodes, ".22 Rifle for Christmas." This is almost as good as the original radio episode - it's really a punch to the solar plexus. Another winner is "The Big Cast" (Madacy does strike again here, though - they have juxtaposed this episode with "The Big Little Jesus" on the menu page. If you click on one episode, you will get the other). "The Big Cast" is, literally, a three man play in which Friday and his partner coax and cajoal a confession from a young (and wonderful) Lee Marvin. "The Big Boys" features a very young Leonard Nimoy. Here is a list of the episodes (another warning: these are not presented in chronological order and there is a lot of crossover with other collections):

The Big Cast
The Big Hands
The Big Phone Call
The Big Trunk
The Big Little Jesus
The Big War
The Big Frame
The Big Frank
The Big False Make
The Big Break
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 Pair
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

I am not sure if this problem is across the board, but my collection
featured an electronic sound problem on the episode "The Big Pair".
The sound is way out of sink. It is pretty hilarious though, as
little Beverly Washburn opens her mouth and Ben Alexander's voice comes out. LOL
And vice versa.

It would be nice to know specifically what episodes are being offered.

Don't want to buy the same ones I already have.