Ep 33. The Big Moustache

The Big Moustache is the 33rd episode of the fourth season of the classic police drama Dragnet. The episode, which first aired on May 19, 1955, follows the investigation of a string of robberies committed by a man with a distinctive facial feature.

The episode opens with Detective Sergeant Joe Friday (portrayed by Jack Webb) and his partner Detective Frank Smith (played by Ben Alexander) being called to a pharmacy that has just been robbed. The perpetrator is described as a man with a big moustache, who brandished a gun and demanded money from the cash register. After collecting the witnesses' statements, Friday and Smith begin their investigation.

Throughout the episode, Friday and Smith track down leads and interview witnesses, eventually discovering that the same man with the big moustache has robbed several other pharmacies in the area over the past few months. Each time, he uses the same M.O. - he walks into the store, shows his gun, and demands the cash from the register.

Friday and Smith work tirelessly to find the culprit, even enlisting the help of a sketch artist to create a composite drawing of the suspect's face. They also interview local barbers in the hopes of finding someone who has recently given a man with a big moustache a haircut.

As the investigation progresses, Friday and Smith discover that the robberies are not random - they are all connected to a larger criminal enterprise that involves a group of drug addicts who are stealing pharmaceuticals to sell on the black market. The ringleader of this group, a man named Tony, is eventually identified as the perpetrator with the big moustache.

The episode climaxes in a tense standoff between Tony and the police, during which he threatens to kill himself if they don't back off. Friday manages to talk him down, and Tony is eventually brought to justice.

Like many episodes of Dragnet, The Big Moustache is a gripping police procedural that focuses on the hard work and dedication of the detectives involved in the case. It highlights the importance of thorough investigative work, clever detective strategies, and a deep understanding of criminal psychology in solving complex cases.

Overall, The Big Moustache is a prime example of the classic TV drama that captivated audiences in the 1950s. Its realistic portrayal of crime and policing, combined with its compelling characters and story, has made it a beloved classic that continues to be celebrated to this day.