AllMovie

Anyone who thinks that the cost-cutting strategy known as "the clip show" is unique to TV sitcoms should take a gander at this vintage black and white Dragnet episode. During a New Years' Eve party at the home of police detective Frank Smith (Ben Alexander), Frank and his partner Joe Friday (Jack Webb) recall their most memorable cases. Not surprisingly, the two detectives' "flashbacks" consist of highlights from such previous Dragnet installments as "The Human Bomb" (the series' 1951 pilot episode), "The Big Sorrow", "The Big Mother", "The Big White Rat", "The Big Chance", "The Big Cop", "The Big Dance", "The Big Gangster" and "The Big Jump".