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Pioneers of Television

Stephen Cannell on the "Dragnet" Style of Acting

Clip | 36s

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Writer and actor Jack Webb believed realism on the small screen heightened the natural dramatic tension of a show, so when he created the crime drama series "Dragnet" in 1951, he wrote fast-paced, clipped dialogue. But it was difficult for some actors to master, and in this video clip, writer Stephen J. Cannell recalls how Webb coached an actor into delivering the performance he most wanted.

Aired: 01/03/11 | Rating: NR

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