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Summary: Now I Know Jack
Review: Jack Webb was one of my heroes growing up in the Mississippi Delta. I discovered "Dragnet" listening to the radio one night and it was years before I missed an episode. By the time I graduated from high school, I thought I knew everything there was to know about the show and its star.
Turns out I didn't know Jack.
Learning of the book by Michael J. Hayde,I ordered it through Amazon. Receiving it in days, I found it to be an easy read, especially if the readers was a fan of Jack and "Dragnet." The author is obviously as much of a stickler for the facts and accuracy as Jack himself. Every facet of Jack's life is included in the book. Every facet of "Dragnet" is included in this book. The book is a textbook on the two subjects. Actually, one can't discuss one without the other, for if you're discussing Jack Webb, you are discussing "Dragnet" and vice versa.
But, you learn there is more to Jack than "Dragnet" and you learn that Jack suffered failures in his life, both personal and professional. But, you learn that he learned from his failures. He was a great man; a pioneer in both radio and television.
After reading Michael J. Hayde's book, I can now say that I now know Jack!
Date: 2010-05-03
Rating: 5
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Summary: a lost opportunity
Review: Sadly, I cannot recommend this book. Certainly not for Jack Webb fans, and certainly not for those who appreciate finely-crafted entertainment on the screen.
In the first place, it is poorly written. My best guess would be that it was written at about an 8th grade level, which makes it somewhat of a chore to get through. Secondly its approach to Webb's feature films is rather snide, lacking in sound critical judgment and astonishingly uninformed. We are basically shown negative reviews from contremporary periodicals of excellent Webb films followed by the author's lemming-like agreement with them. No effort is made to discuss the films intelligently or to tell us why the author didn't like them. It is that kind of criticism which is so off-putting to a reader genuinely interested in the cinema.
The author's observations about Webb's television work are basic, and nothing else. Once again, many opportunities to discuss the pros and cons of Webb's TV work are simply not taken.
I'd pass on this one. And let's hope that some day someone does a decent biography of a very, very underrated talent.
Date: 2010-04-03
Rating: 1
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Summary: The Man Who Made Joe Friday and So Much More
Review: My Name's Friday is an enjoyable romp through the world of Jack Webb. From his days portraying hardboiled radio detectives Pat Novak and Johnny Madero to Hollywood Success, Failure, and a big comeback, Friday takes us through the highlights and lowlights of Webb's life.
Michael J. Hayde comes to the book with a great deal of respect for Webb and his work, which is an essential element in a work such as this. Hayde's work first and foremost is a Webb fan book. He gives a synopsis of each of Webb's movies and then provides a critique of them. While appreciating Webb's contributions, Hayde spares no criticism of the late 1950s Dragnet episodes, Pete Kelly's Blues, and other less than successful Webb projects. While I don't agree with all of Hayde's criticism (I loved the "Night School" episode and he didn't), his criticisms are reasoned and measured rather than spiteful. Whatever criticism Hayde has for Webb is mild compared to the well-deserved critique he slams down on the 1987 Dragnet movie with Dan Akroyd.
If there was one criticism I'd had of Hayde's book, it was where he went from TV fan to armchair psychologist, buying Webb's statements that he didn't miss having a father around as a youth. I actually after reading the book and of Webb's difficulty letting himself act believably on screen particularly in romantic scenes, as well as history of broken marriages might not have been influenced by never having a father around. Kind of off-topic from the subject of the book, I know. However, if one is going to engage in psychology, it shouldn't be done haphazardly.
Still, the book is incredible fun as a fan resource and provides a rare glimpse at a radio and TV genius that's been typecast as a stiff clown. Read it to recapture a vital part of America's television history.
Date: 2008-05-31
Rating: 5
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Summary: An excellent look at a unique person and his style
Review: This is an excellent book. While not a true biography, it does take a look into Webb's personal life because Webb was such a workaholic that it had an effect on all that he did and who he was.
Unless you're an old time radio fan like me, you may not know that Webb started early and young. He had many outstanding shows before Dragnet and even Dragnet started in 1949 on radio. For a while, it was on both radio and television at the same time.
Webb was in many ways a brilliant man. Yet he had many failures --- both in his business life and certainly in his four marriages.
To say he was an interesting man may be an overstatement. But his body of work is so extensive, that one has to be impressed.
I started to become interested in Webb when looking for metaphors for my own writing. I didn't want to use stuff that everyone knew. And I kept hearing them on his old radio shows --- especially the ones written by the incredible Richard Breen.
I liked Webb's delivery and unemotional approach to acting. In most people, that would be considered bad acting. But somehow with Webb it was something special.
This book makes Webb and his entire career, his stock of actors and his many incarnations come to life. While his life was short, he accomplished so much.
Dragnet started on radio in 1949 and still today, in 2007, I know of no one who doesn't know what it means to hear, dum - de-dum -dum. And few people do not know of Dragnet and at least seen it on television. To me, that's amazing.
This book dwelt mostly with Webb's body of work and not his personal life or his personality. It does deal with it to some extent. But if you're interested mostly in that area of Webb's life, you might prefer another book.
The book has an excellent and exhaustive appendix that included a list, along with dates and other valuable information on each show on both radio and television. The appendix also includes other valuable informations. Well worth saving.
For Dragnet fans and Webb fans or those who are interested in radio and/or television history, this is a must-read. Oh, it has lots of great photos too.
Highly recommended.
Date: 2007-12-16
Rating: 5
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Summary: Great book if you are looking for the what the title describes
Review: I bought this book expecting fluff based on the reviews. I am a big fan of Dragnet the radio show but did not think the book would cover much of it in depth. I was wrong. Although it spends more time discussing the television series and movies, I was happy with the information on the radio show.
This book details the Dragnet radio show, both Dragnet television shows, and Mark VII movies. It does this through the central person in all of these productions, Jack Webb. However, the reader also learns about the regulars on the shows, and we get to know a bit about them as well.
"My Name's Friday" does not claim to be a biography on Webb and if that is what you are looking for, this is the wrong book for you. If you are looking for a bio of Jack Webb, there are many other books that you would probably enjoy more. However, If you are interested in the multiple incarnations of Dragnet and Pete Kelly's Blues, this is the book for you.
In addition to the main text, the appendixes include titles and brief descriptions of each Dragnet radio and television show in addition to police terms used in the shows and movies.
Date: 2007-06-18
Rating: 5
