Films with: Webb, Jack

Dragnet

DVD 3439

Dragnet

The sparse, stunning style of the classic series "Dragnet" has influenced the police genre for over fifty years. Director/star Jack Webb struck new ground through his pursuit of authenticity, extracting the stories from actual LAPD cases and focusing on deductive and investigative police work. Begun in 1949 as a radio program, the original television series ran from 1952 through 1959 and was the most popular detective series of the decade. Three movies were produced featuring Joe Friday, including one in 1987 starring Dan Aykroyd. The series returned to the air in the 1960's for a second series and the legacy continues with the contemporary series starring Ed O'Neill. Some episodes based on radio plays by James E. Mosen.

DVD 5761

Sunset Blvd.

Pursued by creditors, Joe swerves into a driveway of a seemingly abandoned Sunset Boulevard mansion. He finds Norma, an ex-screen queen dreaming of a dramatic comeback and her husband/servant living there. She takes a fancy to Joe and, learning that he is a scriptwriter, persuades him to help her with her comeback screenplay. Being broke he accepts. He falls in love with a young script reader, but Norma breaks up their romance. Thinking she is mad, he tries to leave, but Norma kills him in a scene which she believes is the highlight of her comeback movie.

DVD 3688