Search - Dragnet on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Brief Nudity, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Adult Humor Movie Release: 1987 DVD Release: 10/27/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 46 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 6 Genres: Comedy, Parody/Spoof, Odd Couple Film, Police Comedy

Dan Aykroyd must have practiced for months to perfect his Jack Webb inflections for Dragnet. Screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz's directorial debut (also written by Mankiewicz, along with Aykroyd, and Alan Zweibel) is a gentle spoof of the legendary '50s television police drama -- pitting '50s conservatism smack up against the attitudes of the '80s. Basically, the film is another 48 Hours or Beverly Hills Cop clone. Aykroyd stars as Joe Friday, the nephew of the original Friday. But with his brown suit, fedora, and lockjaw, he could just as well be the incarnation of Jack Webb. He is involuntarily assigned a smart alecky, street-wise partner, Pep Streebeck (Tom Hanks), and they are appointed to investigate a series of religious cult murders in L.A. The two cops follow the trail to a phony televangelist, the Reverend Jonathan Whirley (Christopher Plummer). From there, they are only at step away from uncovering an Orange County-based religious cult calling itself P.A.G.A.N. (People Against Goodness and Normalcy). After sneaking into a secret ceremony, Friday falls in love with the sacrificial victim Connie Swail (Alexandra Paul). So much so that even after his superior Captain Gannon (Harry Morgan, reprising his role from the '60s revival of the Dragnet program) orders him off the case, Friday continues on, with the requisite car chases and crashes that usually climax any '80s cop movie or comedy. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Dan Aykroyd - Sgt. Joe Friday
Tom Hanks - Pep Streebek
Christopher Plummer - Rev. Jonathan Whirley
Harry Morgan - Capt. Bill Gannon
Alexandra Paul - Connie Swail

This comic update of Jack Webb's classic deadpan police drama gets a fine presentation for its release on DVD. Dragnet has been given a letterboxed transfer at the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and the image has been enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Surround and viewers have a choice of three different sound tracks: the original English version and dubbed tracks in Spanish and French. The disc also features optional Spanish subtitles. Bonus materials appearing on this edition include the original theatrical trailer, notes on the film's production, and biographies of the key cast and crew members. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide