For me, an episode like this is somewhat maddening. On one hand it points up the real strength of the series. At its best, Dragnet was about strong human interest stories, not details of police procedure, and here there is considerable human interest as portrayed by that consummate actress and series regular Virginia Gregg. Wisely, Friday and Smith fade into the background, allowing her personal drama to occupy center stage. And that dilemma is handled with uncommon sensitivity and skill by everyone involved, making the entry potentially one of the series' best. However, the conclusion is much too facile and pat, perhaps reflecting the 50's concern with happy endings. The result is a fine 30-minute drama robbed of its full impact by a typical 50's fade-out. On a minor note-- catch the clever bit of humor superimposed at the beginning by the WC Fields look-alike. Too bad the series was seldom this inventive with its attempts at levity.
