The Kidnapping

Peggy Webber as "Janet Orhmann" was the star of this somewhat bland-but-still decent episode. Most of the show revolves around Friday (Jack Webb) and Gannon (Harry Morgan) interviewing this woman. She was interesting to watch, because her dialog was very realistic and believable. If you check out her biography, you'll find that this was just one of many appearances she had on this program, including most of them in the earlier versions in the 1950s.

Her boss was being kidnapped and held for ransom at home. The kidnapper told her to go to the bank and bring back $75,000 in cash or he'd kill the woman. Friday and Gannon find out what they have to find out and do what they have to do and wind up keeping tabs of the guy as he drives away from the house after receiving his money.

The cops fake an accident to prevent the kidnapper from going on the freeway. They said if he made it to the freeway, they'd probably lose him. Boy, does that tell you how times have changed. Now, with helicopters overhead, every car chase in Los Angeles in on TV but, I guess, 40 years ago, a major crook could get away with little problem. (These "Dragnet" episodes are all true stories.)

This is one of my favorite episodes but not necessarily because of the storyline. Most of this episode looks like it was filmed live on the streets of Los Angeles which gives a great view of what the city looked like in the late 1960's. They even show and talk about many streets and intersections, going so far as to show street signs that include block numbers. I can't say for certain but it appears that even the inside of the bank was a real building and not just a movie set and studio.

My other big reason for liking this episode so much are the vehicles. In addition to all the cars you get to see in the regular street scenes, there are a few classic cars that are prominently featured. Of course there's the run of the mill Ford Galaxie type unmarked police and patrol cars but the real real stars to me are the gold 1966 Chrysler Imperial, the white Mercedes Benz that Janet Ohrmund was driving, the 1966 or 1967 Oldsmobile Toronado that was parked on the street behind Gannon and Friday whole they waited, and the black Cadillac Coupe DeVille that was in front of the Imperial during the on ramp scene at the end.

This episode is a must see for anybody who is nostalgic about the 1960's and especially if you're a classic car buff.