The Big High
Encyclopedia
The Big High was an episode of the American
television
series Dragnet
. It aired on the NBC
network on November 2, 1967, the program's second season. It starred Jack Webb
(who also produced and directed the episode) Harry Morgan
, Tim Donnelly
, Ed Prentiss, Merry Anders
, Brenda Scott, Kent McCord
and James Oliver
. It is sometimes called "Grass Kills" and is considered comparable to Reefer Madness
in terms of exaggerating the marijuana threat.
police officers Joe Friday
(Webb) and Bill Gannon (Morgan) are visited one day by one Charles Porter (Prentiss), a wealthy man who's very concerned about the welfare of his only grandchild, Robin Shipley. Porter's concern rises from the fact that his daughter Jean Shipley (Scott) and her husband, computer programmer Paul (Donnelly) admit to using marijuana.
Friday and Gannon pay a call on the Shipleys at their posh home in the San Fernando Valley
. Though Jean refuses a search of the home, she admits that she does in fact smoke marijuana as does Paul, who comes in mid-interview, looking upset. The Shipleys resent the intrusion of Porter and the police, but as there is nothing to arrest them for, Friday and Gannon leave a little frustrated.
Friday and Gannon approach policewoman Dorothy Miller (Anders) who specialises in cases of child abuse
. Though Miller is sympathetic, she is loaded down with some very serious cases (including a child who was beaten with a garden shovel) and since there is no evidence the Shipleys are abusing Robin, there is nothing she or the others can do.
Time passes and Friday and Gannon get a break. One Fred Ludden (Oliver) is arrested for possession and the two detectives get him to admit he got the marijuana for free from the Shipleys. In short order, the police raid the Shipley home, where a pot party is still in progress. The Shipleys, both high, seem more annoyed than anything else at first, even when Gannon retrieves a bag of reefer, about 1 ounce. But when Gannon notices Robin is missing from her playpen, Paul Shipley can't remember where she is, Jean tries to remember, but is having trouble - then runs fearfully to the bathroom. When she gets there she and the detectives see the bathtub is overflowing, Robin still in there, drowned. Jean and Paul, both heartbroken, break down crying. Gannon has to leave the room to throw up, leaving Friday, still holding the bag of grass, to walk towards the camera, his face out of shot. As the familiar Dragnet theme plays, Friday's hand tightens around the bag in rage.
In the end, Paul Shipley is found guilty on a charge of involuntary manslaughter and is placed on probation. Jean Shipley, apparently driven mad by her grief, is not charged but sent to a mental institution.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series Dragnet
Dragnet (series)
Dragnet is a radio and television crime drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners...
. It aired on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
network on November 2, 1967, the program's second season. It starred Jack Webb
Jack Webb
John Randolph "Jack" Webb , also known by the pseudonym John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet...
(who also produced and directed the episode) Harry Morgan
Harry Morgan
Harry Morgan is an American actor. Morgan is well-known for his roles as Colonel Sherman T. Potter on M*A*S*H , Pete Porter on both Pete and Gladys and December Bride , Detective Bill Gannon on Dragnet , and Amos Coogan on Hec Ramsey...
, Tim Donnelly
Tim Donnelly
Timothy David Donnelly , not to be confused with California Republican politician Tim Donnelly, is an American actor and director, and is the younger brother of Jack Webb stock director Dennis Donnelly....
, Ed Prentiss, Merry Anders
Merry Anders
Merry Anders is an American actress who has appeared in a number of television programs and films since the 1950s. In 1954, she succeeded Ann Todd as Stuart Erwin's daughter in the final season of his TV series, The Stu Erwin Show.In the 1955-1956 season, she joined Janis Paige in the 26-week CBS...
, Brenda Scott, Kent McCord
Kent McCord
Kent McCord is an American actor best known for his role as Officer Jim Reed on the television series Adam-12.- Biography :...
and James Oliver
James Oliver
James Oliver may refer to:*Jamie Oliver , English chef*Jamie Oliver keyboards player of Welsh band Lostprophets*James C...
. It is sometimes called "Grass Kills" and is considered comparable to Reefer Madness
Reefer Madness
Reefer Madness is a well-known 1936 American propaganda exploitation film revolving around the melodramatic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try "marijuana" — from a hit and run accident, to manslaughter, suicide, attempted rape, and descent into madness...
in terms of exaggerating the marijuana threat.
Plot summary
Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
police officers Joe Friday
Joe Friday
Detective Sergeant Joe Friday is a fictional detective of the LAPD.-Original Series:The Joe Friday character was created and played by American actor, television producer, and writer Jack Webb on Dragnet...
(Webb) and Bill Gannon (Morgan) are visited one day by one Charles Porter (Prentiss), a wealthy man who's very concerned about the welfare of his only grandchild, Robin Shipley. Porter's concern rises from the fact that his daughter Jean Shipley (Scott) and her husband, computer programmer Paul (Donnelly) admit to using marijuana.
Friday and Gannon pay a call on the Shipleys at their posh home in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
. Though Jean refuses a search of the home, she admits that she does in fact smoke marijuana as does Paul, who comes in mid-interview, looking upset. The Shipleys resent the intrusion of Porter and the police, but as there is nothing to arrest them for, Friday and Gannon leave a little frustrated.
Friday and Gannon approach policewoman Dorothy Miller (Anders) who specialises in cases of child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
. Though Miller is sympathetic, she is loaded down with some very serious cases (including a child who was beaten with a garden shovel) and since there is no evidence the Shipleys are abusing Robin, there is nothing she or the others can do.
Time passes and Friday and Gannon get a break. One Fred Ludden (Oliver) is arrested for possession and the two detectives get him to admit he got the marijuana for free from the Shipleys. In short order, the police raid the Shipley home, where a pot party is still in progress. The Shipleys, both high, seem more annoyed than anything else at first, even when Gannon retrieves a bag of reefer, about 1 ounce. But when Gannon notices Robin is missing from her playpen, Paul Shipley can't remember where she is, Jean tries to remember, but is having trouble - then runs fearfully to the bathroom. When she gets there she and the detectives see the bathtub is overflowing, Robin still in there, drowned. Jean and Paul, both heartbroken, break down crying. Gannon has to leave the room to throw up, leaving Friday, still holding the bag of grass, to walk towards the camera, his face out of shot. As the familiar Dragnet theme plays, Friday's hand tightens around the bag in rage.
In the end, Paul Shipley is found guilty on a charge of involuntary manslaughter and is placed on probation. Jean Shipley, apparently driven mad by her grief, is not charged but sent to a mental institution.
Cultural references
- In the SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode "Weekend at Burnsie'sWeekend at Burnsie's"Weekend at Burnsie's" is the sixteenth episode of The Simpsons thirteenth season. It first aired in the United States on the Fox network on April 7, 2002. In the episode, Homer Simpson is prescribed medicinal marijuana after getting pecked in the eyes by a murder of crows. While his...
" the scene where Mr. Burns is found dead in his bathtub is apparently inspired by this episode.