Jack Webb and Ben Alexander, the two television icons of "Dragnet," made this 1954 film. As an inducement to get people to see it, the film was colorized. The television show was black and white.
The story centers on a runner who is rubbed out at the beginning. Unlike the television show, the killers are shown at the beginning so there is no guessing game. More action was needed. This film was made as if it were for television.
There are two very good supporting performances by Virginia Gregg, as the widow of the murder victim. Her scene of utter despair and drunkeness was memorable. When it showed her on one foot, your heart could give out. Also noteworthy was Georgia Ellis' portrayal of the murderer's wife, hard-boiled and abusive to police, she soon changes her ways when her husband is knocked off.
We have the usual elements of police harassment, but this time it's more than justified, a witness who is scared off, thereby making the case harder to get to the guilty.
When the head of the mob falls victim to cancer at the end, we can all say, "He deserved it."
Speaking of the latter dread disease, the film is marred in a way by Joe Friday's (Webb's) chronic smoking. The latter probably led to his early demise from a coronary some years ago.
The story centers on a runner who is rubbed out at the beginning. Unlike the television show, the killers are shown at the beginning so there is no guessing game. More action was needed. This film was made as if it were for television.
There are two very good supporting performances by Virginia Gregg, as the widow of the murder victim. Her scene of utter despair and drunkeness was memorable. When it showed her on one foot, your heart could give out. Also noteworthy was Georgia Ellis' portrayal of the murderer's wife, hard-boiled and abusive to police, she soon changes her ways when her husband is knocked off.
We have the usual elements of police harassment, but this time it's more than justified, a witness who is scared off, thereby making the case harder to get to the guilty.
When the head of the mob falls victim to cancer at the end, we can all say, "He deserved it."
Speaking of the latter dread disease, the film is marred in a way by Joe Friday's (Webb's) chronic smoking. The latter probably led to his early demise from a coronary some years ago.