Adam-12 - Season Five (1972 – 1973/Shout! Factory DVD Set)
Picture: B- Sound: C+
Extras: D Episodes: B-
Shout! Factory continues its excellent line of
nostalgia television releases with this latest volume of Adam-12. The show was created by Jack Webb, who was
previously responsible for the Dragnet series. In much the same style of that program, these
episodes are based on real LAPD case files, and revolve around officers Malloy
and Reed as they police the Los
Angeles area.
The episodes are rooted in fact and are largely responsible for the public’s
knowledge of actual police terminology and practice. However, this show is hardly the hard-edged
crime drama such as we see on television today. There is a charm to this, and
it can be preferable to the endless wave of murder and rape seen on the crime
shows that pervade the airwaves now.
Such programs are purported to be realistic, but most are too glossed over in
their approach to how policing actually works. Not that this show in any way offers any more
insight than they do, but its simpler nature means that there are fewer
stretches to be made. In a strange way,
it offers a greater sense of realism because of this.
In this season, there are featured guest appearances from cast members of another
Jack Webb series, Emergency!. There
is also an amusing turn from Mickey Dolenz, here portraying a rude but mostly
well-intentioned member of a biker gang. This alone will ensure that all die-hard fans
of The Monkees will consider this season an essential purchase.
After this, Adam-12 would run for another two seasons on NBC, and then
enter syndication. A poorly received
revival would take place in the early ’90s, this one billed as The New
Adam-12.
The image is presented in its original television aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Picture quality on the set is good - these
prints have held up well over the years, and they have been treated to a nice
transfer. Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono sound
is adequately recorded and transferred.
There are no extras included with this set, which is unfortunate. Nonetheless, it is good to have this
collection at all, and synopses are provided for each episode, along with a
listing of their original airdates.
Fans of the program will in all likelihood be quite happy with the quality of
this set. The episodes all look and sound great. This will make an excellent a tide-over, as
they would be a good candidate for a future release in HD.
- David Milchick
