DRAGNET

US, 1987, 106 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hanks, Dan Aykroyd, Christopher Plummer, Elizabeth Ashley, Harry Morgan, Alexandra Paul, Dabney Coleman.
Directed by Tom Mankiewicz.

Dragnet is a 1980s homage and spoof of the earlier '50s films and the television series. A Los Angeles police department took itself very seriously in Dragnet days. It still does, though there are oddballs on the force.

The film works fairly well as a police action thriller with comic touches. It is quite watchable. Whether the satire on the LAPD and the original series is as effective is another matter.

Dan Aykroyd is very good as Sergeant Joe Friday, the nephew of the original. He offers the deadpan interpretation of the policeman, working by the book. (This is all parodied in the Police Academy series.) By contrast, Tom Hanks offers his usual genial style as an officer who is not so hidebound by the rules.

Christopher Plummer does a guest role as one of the most smarmy of television evangelists - who is corrupt and ambitious. Elizabeth Ashley is the police commissioner. Harry Morgan has a guest role as Lieutenant Gannon. Alexandra Paul is an attractive heroine.

The film combines social comment about a Hugh Hefner type of tycoon and the double standards of the tele-evangelists as well as police corruption. Direction is by the writer Tom Mankiewicz. (And there are spoofs and humorous comments on many other films.)

1. A popular film, homage to the original series? Spoof? '80s style?

2. The streets of Los Angeles, the use of the city? The mansion, the car chases, the observatory? An authentic feel?

3. The stunt work, the car chases, the shootouts? The musical score - and the original theme? The humorous references to other movies and stars?

4. The LAPD, the credits, the badge, the voice-over, the comments about the city, the change from the '50s, the rules and the by-laws? Times and places with accuracy?

5. Dan Aykroyd's portrait of Joe Friday: his dress, speech, the voice-over, times and places, with his work, his meeting Pep, ordering him to change, with Lt. Gannon? The episode in the zoo and the stealing of the animals, going to Caesar's mansion and the presence of the girls, his matter-of-fact observations? Watching the television show and his admiration for the Reverend Whirley? Reading his magazines? The visit to the landlady and her vulgar language? Finding Emil Muzz, the chase and Pep's violation of the road rules? The interrogation of Emil, his smile at the torture? The punk disguise, the PAGAN meeting, the virgin Connie Swayle and their diving into the water? Trying to explain to Gannon in the early hours? The commissioner and everything disappeared? The car explosion, going to the strip joint for coffee, his moral observations? Encountering the gang on the street and defeating them? The raid on the milk factory? Taking his granny out for dinner, Connie and her testifying against Whirley, his arresting him, having to hand over his badge and gun? Alone with Connie, the car being overturned by Emil? Prisoner in the observatory, having to wait outside the party? The raid, his getting his badge back, the arrest? The car chase to the airport, the plane and his downing Reverend Whirley? The happy ending - with Connie Swayle?

6. Pep and his undercover style, Tom Hanks and his comic manner, wisecracks and observations, at the zoo, knowing the girls at Caesar's, the driving, the torturing of Emil with the drawer, the punk disguise, diving in to rescue Connie, fighting with the snake? Explanations to Gannon, the commissioner? His girlfriend? The strip joint, invading the milk factory and his mistake? Watching the television in the car? Out with Granny, on the back of the bike? The appeal to Gannon for Friday? His imitating his severe manner? Going to Muscle Beach, finding Emil, his advice to Joe not to join the raid? The final raid and the arrests? The happy ending? The discussion on friendship and calling him by his first name?

7. Caesar and the parody of Hugh Hefner, the mansion, the sex and the girls, his going to the meeting with Whirley, the plan, the party, his being rescued?

8. Reverend Whirley and his smarmy style, Los Angeles as the porn capital, his presence at the PAGANs and his being their leader, his speech about Caesar? Public denunciations? Speech with the mayor? The dinner with the commissioner and Gannon? His arrest and his antagonism? At Caesar's mansion, the cheque, leaving, his conspiracy for the gas, burning Caesar's mansion? The explosions, the chase to the airport, leaving the commissioner behind, taking Connie? His being downed by Friday? The finale and his sentences - and quick parole possibilities?

9. The commissioner, her relationship with Whirley, threatening Friday, her speech against the mayor, her planning, being left behind?

10. The PAGAN meeting: People Against Goodness And Normalcy? The goats, the dance, the rally, the virgin? Leaving their card? The robberies, the sacrifice, the conspiracy?

11. Connie, the virgin, into the pool, being rescued, in love with Friday, the evidence against Whirley, Friday losing his job, kidnapped again, happy reconciliation?

12. Gannon and the police force, his belief in Friday and Pep? Emil and his violence, the bogus cops at the PAGAN meeting, the landlady and her foul mouth?

13. The deadpan humour, the wisecracks, the spoof? Enjoyable action comedy?