Description

Jim Moore is a tough-as-nails Drill Instructor with a chip on his shoulder: Pvt. Owens, who isn't quite up to snuff. Sgt. Moore is convinced that "there's a man underneath that baby powder" and sets out to force the private to rise to the occasion. Instead, he drives Owens to bail out altogether. Things only get worse when the Captain steps in and givesMoore three days to make the a Marine out of the petrified private. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A great glance behind the scenes of 1950s Parris Island
Jack Webb portrays a tough Marine drill instructor trying to mold his platoon of recruits into United States Marines. Resistance from one of the recruits provides dramatic interplay. Webb's infrequent visits to town include a not-well-developed romantic angle. The training shown is for real, though understated -- the viewer doesn't see how tired and hungry and frustrated a recruit can get. Anyone who has been through Marine boot camp will identify with many of the scenes in this film. Of historical interest to former Marines: the credits show Webb playing a "Tech Sergeant" and several of the advisors to the film hold that grade, yet Webb is called by the more familiar "Gunny" throughout the movie. Yes, Gunnery Sergeants officially disappeared from the Corps for a few years, though Marines never let go of the term. This film is highly recommended, both for Marines who want to remember and for those who have not served in the Corps who want to catch a glimpse of what it takes to make young men into Marines.

One of the Best
This film having been produced in 1957, was seen by me in 1958 while serving as a D.I. AT P.I. It showed for two consecutive nights and I think every D.I. on P.I. somehow arranged to see it. We wanted to see if they got it right I guess. I viewed it again recently and it was most nostalgic. A most memorable time and the film was reasonably accurate for the times. I highly recommend it.

Greatness In Film Making -- Why Not On DVD?
Pardon me for venting... Why is a great film like this not in DVD? Or for that matter, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo"? Or "Battle Hymn"? Or "The Last Days of Patton"? It makes me wonder why idiotic drivel like "American Idol" or "The Real World" pop right onto DVD, and the best things are left in the can in a dusty archive waiting for a building fire.

I walked the walk and talked the talk
I served as a Marine Drill Instructor at Parris Island S.C. from 1978 to 1981. In my opinion this is the best movie depicting what it takes to be Marine second only to the Discovery channel following real recruits in boot camp.

Fan for 45 years
I love this movie. I saw it with my brother when it first came out and I loved it then. I had it on tape from a TBS showing but the tape was poor quality and I was happy to buy it on amazon. I heard the actor who played the D.I. in Full Metal Jacket (he was a real DI) mention on the radio he liked Jack Webb as a DI in the movie. I have often wondered what happened to the real Marines who played the platoon. I know that Dan Dubbins was a Marine in real life and died quite a while back. He was one of Webb's recurring character actors on Dragnet. The actor who played the Captain is still alive and living with one of his kids in LA. Anyway, great film. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of those unsung little gems....
"Night and the City" "Dragnet" even "Deadline USA"(the Bogart film) this is a somewhat overblown "Real Life" look at the lives of the people that make up a big city newspaper from the era when even women,were called newspaper men.What these people have to go through to get the news out,how it effects their lives.It attempts to give insight to the personal lives of these people as well.Jack webb the editor who is strapped with a V.I.P tour during a hot news day.His loving but world worn wife,played by Meredith Baxter's real life Mom(look her name up in the credits good trivia),William Conrad as the cynical reporter who is trying to turn copy boy David(Ozzie's kid)Nelson in to a newspaper man and a solid who's who of character people,who will grab you in, keep you going, and let down softly at the end.I never get tired of watching this one from the first time I saw it in a theater. You'll remember this one too I think It'll kinda get to you,a little,and might make you smile.

A classic classic
If you want to see some very famous stars at an early age this is the movie for you. Jack Webb is more human than his Joe Friday, William Conrad is excellent as the city desk editor. This movie is loaded with "future stars" giving a top notch performance. The plot is a little clunky, but the actors really make the movie. This is one for everyones tape library. This movie is seldom seen on tv. ... Read more

Description

A Kansas City singer and his jazz band bow down to pressure from a local gangster and take on the thug's alcoholic girlfriend as a singer. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Only The Facts
Peggy Lee as Rose: "Is there a place called Coffeyville?"
Jack Webb as Pete Kelly: "Yes, it's in Kansas."
Peggy Lee as Rose: "Don't go there. It's full of bad people."

Excellent music, stylish camera set-ups, cornball yet riveting dialog, plus a predictable denouement verging on the pathetic. All in all, one of Webb's finest achievements. What a director. Director of tourism.

Pete Kelly's Blues
Great Music. One of Hollywood's best movies. I have it on VHS. I want it on DVD.

American midwest roadhouse heaven
Jack's the greatest. If you are not an American, Jack's your American icon, circa 1955. And you can't really argue with his friends Peggy Lee, Ella, and Miff Mole (it's his band that's featured). Other viewers and critics remark upon the versimiltude, but this misses the point; Jack captures the jazz myth. I don't care if this is the way it was; it's enough--more than enough--that this is the way I imagined it was. Jack reached into my imagination and put a part of it on screen. Wow-ow!

Musical Stars
Musical Jazz Stars save this film from the ol heap. the film boasts a veteran cast and an idiotic plot.

Once again Jack Webb gives us his impresssion of what Joe Friday would have been like as a band leader.The dialogue has not been changed to protect the writers.

Could have been a lot better

Buy it just for the music....
Peggy Lee acts quite well, signs marvellously. Lee Marvin looking quite young acts well as one of the band members (although being a muso, I was a bit worried about how they held their instruments!). Ella sings and acts well in her small roles as the owner of the 'jazz joint'. However Jack Webb appeared to be made of cardboard in most of the scenes. Maybe he shouldn't have tried to act AND direct. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

"Slop!"
"If yah wanna eat sardines, why doncha find a closet!"

That's just one of the great lines from this, the first full length Dragnet movie. It captures Jack Webb at his fast-talking best, withering crooks and witnesses alike with his famous comebacks.

"What would you do if you were me?"

"Can I wait a while - before I'm YOU?"

Or this gem:

"Sit down!"

"I'm lookin' for an ashtray!"

"You got one!"

At which point the suspect uses his hand to catch the ashes.

Then there's this:

"How'd you like your stomach all sewn together with platinum wire?"

"I'm a policeman, I can't afford platinum."

But he has a heart too. When he comes to the apartment of the victim's widow, he sees that not only is she a below-the-leg amputee (well, she tucks her leg underneath her skirt), but that she's also been hitting the bottle out of grief. She drops the glass and asks, "did it break?"

"Yes ma'am, it has a hole in it," responds Friday, pointing at the opening in the top of the glass.

There's another hilarious moment when Friday and Smith visit a talent agent who's listening to a hopeful young singer. Her song is called "Way down south, in South America."

If memory serves, some of the lines are:

"Where you can rent a cabana.
You can eat a banana"

That's priceless stuff, and should be enough by itself to convince anyone to buy this movie! Overall, this movie is vastly entertaining and proves that Jack Webb definitely had a sense of humor, despite his ultra-serious on-screen demeanor, and it's one of my all time favorites....

Not bad for 1954
I am the biggest fan on the TV show, and they cancelled it on Nick at Night, so I have to reminisce with this movie. I really actually enjoyed the plot line. It had its great moments, like when Jack Webb fights, which is hilarious even though it's not supposed to be. I recommend this movie highly if you're a fan of the TV show, as the 1980s spoof with Tom Hanks just ruins the whole seriousness of the show.

The real Dragnet in all its original splendour.
This full lengh Dragnet film was made in 1954. The actors included Jack Webb as Sgt Friday, Ben Alexander as Frank Smith and Richard Boone as the captain. I have always believed that the original series which aired in the 1950's was the better of the Dragnet films. In this film, Friday and Smith are up against the mob. The acting is superb and the plot is well done. The story moves along quite well and there is some great character performances. The viewer will be intrigued by the settings in 1950's Los Angeles. The old cars, the trolley cars moving along Wilshire Boulivard and ever prominent tough LA cops. It is a great trip down memory lane. The film has a great ending. I would recomend this film for anyone who is a fan of Jack Webb and Dragnet.

Captures the essence of one of the best crime dramas of 50s
When a two bit bookie is murdered by his associates, Sgt. Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith go after the bad guys in a methodic manner that exemplifies "Dragnet". With the help of an undercover policewoman (who, contrary to a lot of reviews I've read, is not killed; Friday comes to her rescue when she finds solid evidence against the bad guys) our detectives are able to solve the crime, only to have the perpretrators die before they can be brought to justice. The ending will be out of the ordinary for you, but still it is a good film. "Dum de dum dum!" ... Read more