Editing Dragnet (franchise) (section)

==Film versions==
===''Dragnet'' (1954)===
{{main|Dragnet (1954 film)}}

In 1954, a theatrical [[feature film]] titled ''Dragnet'', an adaptation of the series, was released with Webb, Alexander, and [[Richard Boone]]. [[Dennis Weaver]] plays R. A. Lohrman, a detective captain. The film begins with the shooting of small-time hood Miller Starkie ([[Dub Taylor]]) on orders from his boss, Max Troy ([[Stacy Harris]]). Friday and Smith's superior is LAPD Intelligence Division Captain Jim Hamilton (Boone), a department member and the film's technical advisor. The Intelligence Division focused on the pursuit of organized-crime figures, and some of Max Troy's habits resemble that of [[Mickey Cohen]], the known Los Angeles underworld boss; for example, Troy's LAPD file reads that he could be found at "[[Sunset Strip]] taverns and joints", as could Cohen. The film depicts the working relationship between the LAPD and the [[Los Angeles County District Attorney]]'s office; Friday and Smith work to gather evidence that the DA's office deems sufficient to gain the indictment and ultimate conviction of Troy and his fellows. One scene contains a violent fist-fight involving the two detectives, with the [[close-up]] cinematic technique typical of Webb's style of direction. The movie's ending represents a departure from most ''Dragnet'' stories; no arrest is made at the story's conclusion. Chester Davitt ([[Willard Sage]]), Troy's underling and Starkie's killer, is killed by underworld figures, and Troy succumbs to cancer before the detectives, having gathered sufficient evidence against him, can make the arrest.

The film earned an estimated $4.7 million at the North American box office during its first year of release.<ref>"The Top Box-Office Hits of 1954", ''Variety Weekly'', January 5, 1955</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/73581/dragnet#articles-reviews |title=TCM.com |access-date=April 12, 2025 |archive-date=August 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809183853/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/73581/dragnet#articles-reviews |url-status=live }}</ref>

===''Dragnet'' 1966 (aired 1969)===
''Dragnet 1966'' is a made-for-TV movie that initiated the return of the ''Dragnet'' series to television. It was produced as the TV pilot for ''Dragnet 1967'', but was not broadcast until 1969. The movie stars Jack Webb as Sgt. Friday and Harry Morgan as Officer Bill Gannon. The story focuses on crime more typical of the 1960s than of the previous ''Dragnet'' era; the detectives are assigned to find a voyeuristic serial killer similar to [[Harvey Glatman]] (played by [[Vic Perrin]], who appeared in the 1954 film as an assistant district attorney). Also appearing is [[Virginia Gregg]], who had a role in the 1954 feature and was a frequent guest actor in the 1951–59 series and the 1967–70 episodes, and [[John Roseboro]], a [[catcher]] for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], who dabbled in acting in the off season; Roseboro played a plainclothes detective who had been the target of racial slurs by a child molester until Friday came to his aid.

===''Dragnet'' (1987)===
{{Main|Dragnet (1987 film)}}

In 1987, a comedy film version of ''Dragnet'' was released starring [[Dan Aykroyd]] as the stiff Joe Friday (nephew of the original Sergeant Joe Friday), and [[Tom Hanks]] as his partner, Detective Pep Streebeck. The film contrasted the terse, clipped character of Friday, a hero from an earlier age, with the "real world" of Los Angeles in 1987 to broad comedic effect. Apart from Aykroyd's spot-on imitation of Webb's Joe Friday and Harry Morgan reprising his role of Bill Gannon (now Captain), the film version has few similarities with previous incarnations. This ''Dragnet''  parody was a hit with audiences, though no sequel was produced. LAPD Lieutenant Dan Cooke, who had served as technical advisor for the Jack Webb series, was also technical advisor for this production.