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» » Dragnet The Big Hate (1951–1959)

Short summary

Gordon Miller, a young pianist, is found near an abandoned freight car holding the dead body of a woman in his arms. He claims he has killed her. Called to interrogate him, Friday and Smith remain skeptical.

Sam Edwards was born in 1915, Jack Webb was born in 1920. Sam portrayed a character 25 years old when he was actually 38.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Gavinrage
    "The Big Hate" is one of the most sad and pointless episodes of "Dragnet" that I have seen. There are no winners here--just losers.

    The show begins with a guy named Gordon being discovered holding the body of an older woman in his arms. He initially talked a bit to the police, but when Smith and Friday get involved, Gordon has shut down completely and will say nothing other than that he killed her. Because the guy wouldn't talk, Friday calls his family and the story then comes out--the dead woman and Gordon were in love but his family was against it. It wasn't just the age different--the older woman was a chronic alcoholic.

    If you watch this one, you'll find out what's next--how the woman died as well as what ultimately happened to Gordon. It ain't very pretty--very sad and pointless. But, such is life. Just don't watch this one if you're feeling depressed! Well done but so sad.
  • comment
    • Author: Mr_Mole
    Review - The Big Hate Aired 2-12-53 This is a story from police files, as with all the others, depressing, but we are in a police station, not backstage in a play. The suspect is brought in to the station for questioning because he was found by police holding a dead woman in his arms in a rail yard's box car. The police know who he is from his driver's license, unable to get anything from the man on the woman's identification. Only fingerprints and a record of drunken arrests, six in fourteen months, give the officers the woman's identification. Now it is Friday's job to find out why he killed her, or did he? The sister is brought in after police call for a phone number based on the address given on the license. The suspect is less than cooperative, the sister comes into the station and the father. The father is belligerent, making a quick exit. The sister provides some insight to the relationship between her brother and the dead woman. The suspect gives more explanation to why he loved the dead woman, despite she was 52, he 25. It was a case of the suspect finding comfort from her which he could not get from a mother that was gone when he twelve. The suspect friend was a drunk, he realized he wasn't to be person she goaded him into thinking he was. The relationship was doomed from the start, but he did not kill her. She died of natural causes brought on by her lifestyle with alcohol. He was a lost soul clinging to someone who had less feeling for him, and more for the bottle. He was exonerated for her death; the coroner's report helped release him from custody. He unfortunately took his own life less than two years later. Gordon Miller is portrayed as age 25, but he has a hard time hiding his actual age of 38. The actress, playing the sister, with few acting credits, is obviously older; Herb Vigran is back, this time as the father. This episode is one of many in the file Dragnet chose to use, because that was basis of the program, real police file stories. Sam Edwards does a strong job acting as the suspect. Good acting overall by all, but a pathetic story to tell. Title likely is from the feelings the father and daughter had for the son's friend.
  • Episode cast overview:
    Jack Webb Jack Webb - Sgt. Joe Friday
    Ben Alexander Ben Alexander - Officer Frank Smith
    Sam Edwards Sam Edwards - Gordon Miller
    Lillian Buyeff Lillian Buyeff - Lillian Miller
    Herb Vigran Herb Vigran - Henry Miller
    George Sawaya George Sawaya - Sgt. Lopez
    Joe Cranston Joe Cranston - Policeman
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