Posted on 03/06/2013 1:43:10 PM PST by llevrok
Mid week nonsense time-
what was a better TV cop show in the 50's and early 60's - Highway Patrol (1955) or Dragnet (1951)?
Pls keep your comments to those two shows
‘Sea Hunt’, with Lloyd Bridges, would have the same sort of thing at the end of their shows.
Broderick Crawford lost his drivers license and had to film his driving in the studio’s back lot.
Love them both. But I choose “Highway Patrol.” Like most Ziv shows, it was filmed out and about in real locations (not Hollywood studio bound), and serves as a marvelously visual cultural document of the mid-to-late-1950s. Season One is out on dvd, and next month, seasons 2,3 and 4 are coming out (and at a very reasonable price, too).
I love the unpretentious, no-nonsense attitude and approach to storytelling of “Highway Patrol.” It’s almost the polar opposite of everything we see in modern culture nowadays. Take HP’s fellow Ziv hit, “Sea Hunt” as well. Those are unapologetically ‘guy’ shows. No bravado, no whining, just steel-nerved competence. That whole era was brimming with such fare.
I think if I were locked in a room for 24 hours and had to choose which one to watch, it would be HP, but I never missed Dragnet in its 1950s iteration. The later series (in color) shows were not as good.
Dragnet.
Jack Webb, with his staccato line of questioning and his stiff mannerisms was the classic L.A. Cop, 1950s style.
Meant Merc Cruiser. Don’t be so picky.
Jack Webb could lecture people about as well as it is possible. When I was watching the series in the original airings, I loved it.
Now it seems just a little bit silly.
Agreed...... Webb and Dragnet, on radio, TV in 1951 or 1967 was/is simply the best cop drama.
I was like 5 or 6 when both of these shows were on so I don’t remember much about them but Highway Patrol showed a little eastern seaboard kid what California (and the western U.S.) was like. Couldn’t wait to see it for myself.
I heard he was a great guy when he was sober... and that was April 4th, 1956 from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM approximately.
“Just the facts, maam.”
“TEN-FOUR!”
Dragnet’s acting was a little stiff. HP had more action.
I liked M SQUAD with Lee Marvin.
And I liked a British detective show DETECTIVE’S DIARY in which a detective had one arm.
Highway Patrol . Somebody has uploaded a bunch of full episodes to Youtube .
‘54 Buick Special.
My first car was a hand-me-down ‘53 Buick Special. Straight 8, dynaflow tranny. Zero to 60 in....100mm cigarette.
Great on a date though. heh,heh
I can remember the theme song from Highway Patrol so clearly. My Dad never missed an episode. Brings back memories of my childhood. Can’t really say which was better. I loved them both.
Harry Morgan was preceded by Ben Alexander as Sgt. Friday’s partner.
That’s easy. Dragnet. No contest.
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